The Masters Program

The MASW Masters program is the most recognizable and credible woodworking certificate program in America. To date, there have been nearly 400 people complete the program—which is incredible!

MASW is not a project school, but rather a technique school. With our diversity of workshops, it’s possible to put together a curriculum with mainstream topics taught by the best craftspeople of modern time. Workshops are balanced throughout the year to help fit your busy lifestyle. Simply choose dates, instructors and specific topics that best suit your needs. Time is not a factor; you can work at your own pace and at any time—this is “personalized education” at its best!

The Masters program is currently based on 10 classes that allow students an opportunity to interact with, imitate, and question some of the great woodworking minds and talents of our time. Please note that classes from other schools are not transferable.

2018 Masters Award Recipients

The following are the 2018 Masters Award recipients. These 29 people represent 14 different states. These 29 “Masters” have taken a combined total of over 350 classes at the MASW. I have watched all of them grow and mature as confident woodworkers. We have become good friends, and my life is enriched by having known them. I look forward to their return in the future, maybe someday as teachers. — Marc Adams

  • Paul Shoberg, Wisconsin
  • Paul Cozzolino, Illinois
  • Jeff Davis, Michigan
  • Mark Smith, North Carolina
  • David Clawson, Indiana
  • Chip Emmette, American Virgin Island
  • Mark Herrin, Ohio
  • David Nesting, Kansas
  • Dan O'Grady, Tennessee
  • David Quilhot, Indiana
  • Rob Millard-Mendez, Indiana
  • Stella Longshore, Ohio
  • Stewart Myers,
  • Benedict (Alex) Solis,
  • Judith Sclawy,
  • Paul Shoberg, Wisconsin
  • Paul Cozzolino, Illinois
  • Jeff Davis, Michigan
  • Mark Smith, North Carolina
  • David Clawson, Indiana
  • Chip Emmette, American Virgin Island
  • Mark Herrin, Ohio
  • David Nesting, Kansas
  • Dan O'Grady, Tennessee
  • David Quilhot, Indiana
  • Rob Millard-Mendez, Indiana
  • Stella Longshore, Ohio
  • Stewart Myers,
  • Benedict (Alex) Solis,
  • Judith Sclawy,
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recommended order for the masters

I’m often asked for a logical path for the order of workshops for completing the MASW Masters program. Although classes can be taken in any order, it’s recommend that the Apprenticeship class be the final workshop.

It is suggested that students start with either the Joinery or Handskills class as one of your first two workshops. Design or Finishing should be the third and fourth choices. The remaining workshops can be any of the technique workshops such as Turning, Carving, Veneering/Marquetry, any elective or Chair Making and the final workshop should be the Apprenticeship class. This order will be the best way to build a sound foundation of woodworking where one class will build skills for the next class.

masters curriculum requirements

(FULL WEEK CLASSES ONLY.) 

1. joinery
2. finishing
3. veneering or marquetry
4. design
5. carving
6. chair making
7. turning
8. elective
9. handskills
10. the two week apprenticeship

The Michael Fortune Fellowship

The Michael Fortune Fellowship program is open to anyone who has already completed their Masters. There will be no time limit for completion, and past selected in-depth classes can be applied if they meet the Fellowship requirements and were not used for the Masters program. Classes have no order of sequence other than the Artist-in-Residency program, which must be taken last. For complete guidelines on the requirements of the Michael Fortune Fellowship and detailed information on the Assistantship, Artist-in-Residency and the evaluation process, contact Marc@marcadams.com.

fortune fellowship requirements

(FULL WEEK CLASSES ONLY.) 

1. style or period furniture
2. details or inlay
3. working with or applying other materials
4. two week advanced furniture making
5. fine cabinetmaking
6. joinery ii
7. advanced studies in one area of
concentration:
a. veneering
b. carving
c. turning
d. finishing
8. assistantship
9. artist-in-residency (Two to five weeks at MASW)

Alan Lacer Woodturning Fellowship

Although there are a lot of great turning programs in America today, not one offers a sound curriculum that challenges students to achieve beyond simply learning techniques or design. Working closely with Alan Lacer as the program’s director, MASW has created a unique opportunity for woodturners. This is a chance to challenge yourself and certainly broaden your woodturning skills in exploring a wide array of different forms of woodturning. The MASW Alan Lacer Woodturning Fellowship will encourage research and exploration of the diversities of turning.

Guidelines

❱ Students are required to take specific workshops in any order, listed below.
❱ Contact Alan directly, alan@alanlacer.com for directions anytime during the process.
❱ Submit an article or tip to a publication.
❱ Submit at least one turning to a national, regional or state exhibition (must be a turning made outside of a class).
❱ Attend any turning class at MASW where you will assist the instructor AND make a short presentation of a mutually agreed upon topic with that instructor.
❱ Submit photographic images of three turnings to a panel of three professional woodturners for feedback. One object should be turned long-grain, but not hollowed (often called “spindle turning”), another object that involves face grain hollowing techniques and a final object that involves end-grain hollowing. A segmented turned piece can be substituted for one of these categories. All of these objects must be made outside of any workshop

woodturning fellowship requirements

(FULL WEEK CLASSES ONLY.) 

1. spindle turning
2. design (Any week long design class)
3. turned lidded boxes
4. bowls
5. hollow turning/vessels
6. carved turned surfaces or
laminated construction
7. finishing (Any week long finishing class)
8. elective (Any turning class)
9. assistantship

THE DAVID WORRELL SCHOLARSHIP

Young Apprentice Program

In 2018 the Worrell family started the David Worrell Scholarship. We had two incredible recipients. Grace Fundenberger attended the Stereotomy: Making a French Trestle Table class and Ryan Kihlstrum attened the Machinist Tool Chest class.

David Worrell was an Indianapolis based attorney who attended workshops at MASW for over 20 years. In 2004 he completed his Masters and was working on his Michael Fortune Fellowship when cancer became too much and on January 25, 2017 MASW lost another very dear friend and supporter of the school.

Before he passed, David and I would often share our concerns for the future of education in today’s world. We agreed that in time history will look back at the educational system that now exists and realize the horrible mistake of replacing the industrial arts program with CORE classes. David often noted the typical MASW student as being a perfect example of why applied education worked so well. The average MASW student is 50 plus in age, very successful at their job, well educated, content with their life and capable of making or fixing items around the home, including cooking and sewing. The saying is “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” but the truth is “If you are sitting while reading, thank a woodshop teacher.”

how to apply

Applicants must be between the ages of 16-25 and have a desire to learn, a creative spirit and an aptitude of self-reliance. The scholarship includes the class of choice, if there are openings available. Applications are available through the school and must be submitted before April 1, 2019. Call Paula at 317-535-4013 for an application.

how you can help

This foundation can use your help. If you know a young person who can benefit from this opportunity, please take the time to guide them through the application process. You can also help this cause through your kind, tax deductible donation, made payable to the JCCF. Make sure to write on the memo line: “Roger Cliffe/David Worrell Scholarship.”

John C. Coolidge Memorial

STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

landon norman-donald

John C. Coolidge attended MASW from 1996 until his death in August 2003 and was well known for the rubber chicken that adorned his shop apron and the jester hat that he wore nearly every day. John was from a well-established eastern family—a family that included a president of the United States. He was an attorney from Orange, Mass. and worked very hard in local charities. John was a great friend, a great leader and a true torchbearer for MASW. It is with great honor that back in 2004 several of the MASW Masters (many were close friends of John) banded together to present an annual award to someone who has completed the Masters program and/or has excelled in the craft or overcome adversity/personal challenges or gone beyond the norm to help make MASW the leader in the world of craft schools. Recipients are chosen based on perseverance, effort, attitude and ability and receive a crystal plaque. This year we are fortunate enough to present this special award to Landon Norman-Donald.

Roger Cliff

MEMORIAL FUND

Roger Cliffe was a family man, college professor, author, avid pool player, woodworker and a very dear friend. Roger died suddenly from a heart attack in 2001 while riding a bike. He had a doctorate degree in Industrial Arts and was a teacher with distinction at Northern Illinois University. Each summer during break, Roger would teach as many as five workshops, which almost always sold out. He was a born teacher who had a great impact on all he met; so much that a group of our alumni wanted to start a foundation in his memory. Today the RCMF has provided help to well over 150 students and interns to the tune of close to $300,000 worth of aid. Through generous and unselfish gifts, the RCMF continues to support people of all ages, races and nationalities in ways that help fulfill their lives as craftsmen and craftswomen. The goal of the RCMF is to keep the craft alive and available to anyone with special financial needs.

The RCMF is a public charity organized as a 501c(3) corporation. All donations to the RCMF are tax deductible to the full extent as allowed by the law. If you know someone who could benefit or if you would like to help the cause, please contact:

Johnson County Community Foundation
Attn: Stephanie Fox
PO Box 217
Franklin, IN 46131

Or call the school at 317-535-4013 and ask for Paula Bueno.

Calling on Alumni to Assist...

Just think how great it would be to assist at MASW working with great teachers, excellent students, good food, top of the line equipment and a variety of class topics. Being an assistant will provide you with a great opportunity to better your woodworking skills as well as help you to acquire teaching experiences. This is only open to alumni of the school who are at least half way through completing their Masters. Volunteers will be expected to start early and work late, help make fixtures and assist in the safe operation of daily activities.

what's in it for you?

❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱

Satisfaction of helping others and free lunches each day! How can you turn that down? For more information contact marc@marcadams.com.