PASCAGOULA, Miss. (Sept. 28, 2023) — HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, in partnership with Jackson County’s Passion, Purpose, Paycheck (P3) program and Project MFG, hosted an inaugural welding competition Sept. 22 at Ingalls Shipbuilding. Students from local career and technical training programs were invited to demonstrate their proficiency in a timed competition.

Project MFG,  which is supported by the Department of Defense’s IBAS program, holds nationwide events that bring together partnerships of employers, educators and communities to inspire the next generation of highly skilled trade professionals.

“Hosting events like Project MFG is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with our educational partners in raising awareness about careers at Ingalls,” Ingalls Shipbuilding Community Relations Manager Lisa Bradley said. “Connecting young students from the local community and showcasing their talents is an important part of our mission and one of the ways we promote the opportunities available right here in Pascagoula.”  

The collaborative effort drew 24 students from across four area schools and technical training programs to compete in the welding competition.

Competitors were tested on welding skills required in today’s advanced manufacturing field, especially ones that are in high demand at Ingalls. Participants raced against a two-hour clock and were cheered on by school leaders and representatives from Ingalls Shipbuilding. After showcasing their skills, the top three welders were announced.

• First place – Jonathan Hardy, Moss Point High School
• Second place – Nicholas Tapper, Moss Point High School
• Third place – Ethan Williams, Pascagoula High School

“I want to congratulate all of the students who participated in the Ingalls Project MFG welding competition and took the opportunity to learn more about the important careers available at Ingalls,” P3 Career Coach Supervisor David Fava said. “Connecting students to Project MFG and Ingalls is a win-win scenario for all: Students get to show off their skills to a potential employer; Ingalls is able to show their customer that they have a strong workforce pipeline in place, and DOD gets to celebrate and verify craft skills development in our area.”

Following the competition, each of the participating students received a contingent offer from Ingalls pending successfully graduating from high school or their current technical training program. The students were also provided with over $200 worth of safety equipment including steel toed shoes, a hard hat, coveralls and a welding shield.

Project MFG is a program of the Global Learning Accelerator Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit, funded in part by the Department of Defense, and operated and managed by RD Solutions LLC. The mission of the Global Learning Accelerator is to develop exciting and innovative learning opportunities that inspire students and participants to explore and pursue their passions for lifelong success. 

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