Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division has donated $89,786.90 to Bishop State Community College for the purchase of 20 welding machines and wire feeder boxes to support Ingalls’ pre-employment program at Bishop State.
Ingalls conducts an 11-week pre-employment welding program and a four-week pre-employment shipfitter program at Bishop State’s Carver Campus in Mobile, Ala. Students in the programs are guaranteed positions at Ingalls if they complete their training and meet all other conditions of employment.
“Ingalls Shipbuilding is committed to the partnership with Bishop State College and its pre-employment program,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. “This donation will help grow the number of skilled professionals in Alabama and support workforce development through technical education. Our partnership helps both students and the shipyard. Students have access to quality technical education, and the shipyard has new employees coming in with the experience and skills needed. With this donation, Ingalls hopes to strengthen this program even further to support a more robust workforce from Alabama.”
The pre-employment partnership began in October 2013. To date, Ingalls has hired 104 graduates from the program; 60 students are currently enrolled.
“We are thankful for the partnership with Ingalls Shipbuilding,” said James Lowe Jr., president of Bishop State Community College. “This donation enables us to provide the skills, training and resources needed for possible future employees at Ingalls.”
Ingalls’ partnership with Bishop State strives to meet the shipyard’s hiring needs and support Alabama residents. Ingalls and Bishop State worked together to design the program’s curriculum based on skills needed by the shipyard’s workforce. By going through the program, graduates arrive at Ingalls with requisite skills and therefore bypass some in-yard training, helping Ingalls move employees into full production earlier. The program is for Alabama residents and aims to help decrease the unemployment rate in the state through technical education.
huntingtoningalls.com