HHS Virginia Ship Repair Association Maritime Academy partners with Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School

To prepare students for potential careers, one of our industry advisory board partners, Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School, worked with our faculty from the Hampton High School Virginia Ship Repair Association Maritime Academy to create and facilitate a trades rotation experience. Craft instructors created and delivered sessions in welding, pipefitting/mechanical, and rigging. Students were also instructed how to design a cell phone stand using Onshape, a 3D modeling software. They were provided drawings which they used as a reference and guide. This experience was invaluable to students as it gave them access to people who are currently working in the industry and masters of their craft. These instructors supported the work of the classroom teacher and gave validation to what was being taught in class and its value to our workforce community. Relationships were built as work skills were being developed.

The Hampton High School Maritime Academy in Hampton, Virginia is a specialized program designed to expose students to a wide range of careers in the maritime industry and to prepare them for 21st century careers in the industry. Through a combination of academic and technical courses and access to state-of-the-art technology and simulation equipment, students are exposed to the industry and they gain the knowledge, skills and competence they need for the workforce. Whether a student chooses the shipbuilding and ship repair, ship design, or construction technology pathway, they are prepared for successful transition to postsecondary education, careers, and registered apprenticeship opportunities in ship design and shipbuilding and ship repair.

Student Brodie Henderson shared, “The program was cool to do. I liked doing the welding. I could see myself doing this in the future.”