Photo caption: Ingalls Shipbuilder Academy 2024 graduates, Elijah Bliven (left) and Christopher Powe (right) stand proudly together as they share in the excitement of accepting their job offers to work at Ingalls Shipbuilding following their high school graduation.

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Signing Day celebrates 25 new full-time employees

 “It’s always been something I wanted to do. My grandfather was an electrician here actually. I was always interested in hands-on work and getting dirty.”

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding hosted a “signing day” for the 2024 graduates of its Shipbuilder Academy on Wednesday, May 1, where 25 high school students were offered full-time positions at Ingalls. The story below from WLOX highlights the “signing day” event and the opportunities the program has provided the students.

Ingalls Shipbuilding Signing Day celebrates 25 new full-time employees

(May 1, 2024 by Destiny Polster)

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – The Ingalls family just got a little bigger.

25 students who pursued the year-long Shipbuilder Academy signed their hiring contracts on Wednesday.

“A big relief, a big relief,” Christopher Powe says.

“It felt like a fast track. It’s just easy. You take the class, then you’re just right in, working,” Elijah Blevin explained.

There are 14 specialized craft programs that range from painting to pipe welding to boiler making.

Powe was offered a job as a machinist helper apprentice, and Blevin a sheet metal helper apprentice job.

“We went through all the crafts, and we learned the basics for all the crafts so that when we go into the yard, we can build off of those and get a good job.”

Anna Bourdais, Director of Maritime Training Center of Excellence joked that while it is not a glamorous job, it is a very important one.

The program allows students to pursue the trade they are passionate about.

“It’s for them to get an exploration of every one of the trades that we offer. And then, specifically narrow it down to the craft that they have a natural interest in,” Bourdais says.

Blevin says a special family member inspired his ambitions.

“It’s always been something I wanted to do,” he explains. “My grandfather was an electrician here actually. I was always interested in hands-on work and getting dirty.”

Since 2016, more than 400 students have graduated from the Shipbuilder Academy. 13 high schools across the coast offer the program.

The 25 students who sealed the deal on job offers today will begin their careers following graduation.

You can watch the story on WLOX here.