At American Crane & Equipment Corporation, we spend a lot of time thinking about performance—how systems operate, how facilities stay productive, and how teams get the job done safely and efficiently. But behind every successful lift, installation, and operation is something even more important: people. Skilled, capable, and committed people.
That’s exactly why we created Hoist Up!, our outreach initiative focused on introducing students to careers in manufacturing, engineering, and the skilled trades.
Why This Matters Now
Across the industry, the workforce gap continues to widen. Experienced tradespeople are retiring, while fewer young people are entering the field to replace them. At the same time, the work itself is becoming more advanced. Modern manufacturing environments demand not just technical ability, but problem-solving, adaptability, and precision.
Waiting until someone is already in the workforce to introduce these career paths is simply too late.
Early exposure changes that.
When students have the opportunity to see what these careers actually look like—how systems are built, how problems are solved, how real impact is made—it shifts perception. Manufacturing is no longer an abstract concept. It becomes tangible, engaging, and full of opportunity.
What Hoist Up! Is Designed to Do
Hoist Up! is built around a simple idea: connect students with real-world pathways before they make career-defining decisions.
Through outreach, storytelling, and direct engagement, we introduce students to careers they may not have previously considered while giving them a clearer picture of what modern manufacturing and engineering actually look like. That includes showing how innovation plays a role in today’s facilities, reinforcing the value of hands-on skills and technical expertise, and connecting that work back to the infrastructure and systems people rely on every day.
This isn’t about filling roles. It’s about opening doors.
Supporting Students Through the GRIT Scholarship
A key part of the initiative is our $1,000 GRIT Scholarship, available to seniors at Daniel Boone and Exeter High Schools. The scholarship reflects the same qualities we look for across our own teams—Perseverance, Heart, and Integrity—and gives students the opportunity to demonstrate how those values show up in their own lives.
Applicants are asked to submit a 700-word essay that brings their story into focus. That includes a real example of how they’ve demonstrated GRIT in their life, school, or community, a look at what has shaped their interest in STEAM, and the people or experiences that have influenced their direction.
The goal isn’t just to recognize academic achievement. It’s to support students who are actively building something meaningful, both personally and professionally.
GRIT Scholarship applications are open through April 24, 2026.
Building the Future, One Connection at a Time
If you zoom out, the challenge facing the skilled trades isn’t just a hiring issue. It’s a visibility issue.
Students can’t pursue what they don’t see.
Hoist Up! exists to change that. By showing what’s possible—and by supporting the students who are ready to step into those possibilities—we’re helping build a stronger, more capable workforce for the future.
To learn more about Hoist Up!, follow along on our social channels or visit our website.