Mission of the ARTS Organization

The mission of the Andy Rice Trade Scholarship (ARTS) Organization is to foster the development of highly-qualified tradespeople by providing opportunities and support for prospective and current students interested in prosperous and rewarding careers in the trade industry.

The ARTS Pipeline 2023-24

We would love to have your support for any of these events!

Step One: Trades Days! - REGISTRATION is NOW OPEN FOR TRADE PARTNERS!

We will host three Trades Day events this school year:

• Friday, October 27th @ Maplewood Richmond Heights- 

• The Student registration is already BOOKED to capacity! If your company is available to participate, we would love to have you!  Please register by October 2nd! 

• Friday, February 16th @ Parkway South High

• Tuesday, April 2nd @ Wentzville High School

For more information about a TRADES DAY please click on The Role of Trade Partner or visit What is a Trades Day?

Note: If you have participated in a previous Trades Day you are in good shape as we have not changed the format this year. If you are NEW to being a Trade Partner, no worries, Amy or Amber will be in contact soon to help you navigate and plan for the event. 

Step Two: Construct Your Future!- Spring

Students who have previously attended one of our Trades Day events will be invited to a “Construct Your Future” event in the Spring. This event is designed for 60-100 upperclassmen from various high schools to explore the trades in greater depth. These events are hosted onsite at large construction yards and projects. This event provides our students with first-hand experience as to what these trades look and feel like as a welder, painter, laborer, operator, plumber, and electrician, to name a few. 

Step Three: Trade Tours! (by invitation only for upperclassmen and graduates)- Summer

Trade Partners and ARTS members will select and invite upperclassmen and graduates who have completed at least one of our ARTS events to take part in a “Trade Tour” in late spring or early summer. These students will have an opportunity to visit local companies (union or non-union) as well as tour local trade training centers in small groups based on their interests and skill readiness. The students who are selected for a Trade Tour are our most serious trade students interested in applying to a training center, trade school, internships, or seeking other opportunities with our industry partners. 

Step Four: Tricks of the TRADES!- Ongoing

The ARTS will continue to be a resource for our ARTS students as they graduate and begin their post-high school pathways in the trades. 

There are many ways YOU can SUPPORT the ARTS!

In order to keep up with the growing interest in the trades, we would love to have your support this year as either a Trade Partner for one or more of our events, a Trade Sponsor, or better yet, BOTH! 

• Trade Partner

• What is the Role of a Trade Partner?  

• To register as a Trade Partner for one or more events click here.

• Trade Sponsor

• The Perks of Being a Trade Sponsor- Sponsorship Tiers. 

• To sponsor a Trade Event click here. 

General Donations to the ARTS

No matter the amount of your donation, every dollar goes toward supporting the ARTS mission. Donate Here

- “We have a PR problem.”

According to Mike Rowe, “We have a PR problem.” Andy’s wife and current ARTS Board of Directors Chair, Amber Rice, has been a high school teacher for over 18 years From her educational perspective, the trades undoubtedly do have a PR problem. Rarely does the trades industry receive recognition as a viable option for a successful future in the way higher-education does. The ARTS organization seeks to help change this culture through partnerships with trade companies as well as schools. During this academic year, the ARTS organization will be flexible in providing funding support to potential scholarship recipients. This flexibility will allow us to cultivate new ideas and processes, to help meet the needs of our students and industries, and to better connect students with employers in the trades. Our goal is to make training and employment in the trades a viable, enticing, and worthy option rather than merely a back-up plan. Though we have many of our own ideas about methods for increasing interest and support for those interested in the trades, we are seeking input from employers regarding their needs.