Tiffani Brown Powell rings the Apprentice School bell
Adm. Winter delivers the commencement address
Huntington Ingalls Industries recently hosted commencement exercises for 184 graduates of the company's Apprentice School located at Newport News Shipbuilding.
Eighty-eight apprentices completed an optional, advanced program, which includes coursework in subjects such as marine design, production planning, modeling and simulation, and marine engineering, culminating with an associate's or bachelor's degree. Seventy-nine apprentices earned honors, which combines academic and craft grades to determine overall performance. Fifteen graduates completed the program with a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the required academic curriculum. Nineteen graduates were recognized as Gold Athletic Award recipients for outstanding achievement in four consecutive years of Apprentice School collegiate athletics.
Of the 184 graduates, 13 are military veterans or are currently serving in the Armed Services as reservists and guardsmen.
Evan George Danz received the Homer L. Ferguson Award for earning the highest grade point average for required academic and craft grades combined. Danz is a naval architect who began his shipbuilding career in 2013 as an outside machinist apprentice.
The Apprentice School accepts about 225 apprentices per year. The school offers four- to eight-year tuition-free apprenticeships in 19 trades and eight optional advanced programs. Apprentices work a 40-hour week and are paid for all work, including time spent in academic classes. Through partnerships with Thomas Nelson Community College, Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University, The Apprentice School's academic program provides the opportunity to earn associate degrees in business administration, engineering and engineering technology and bachelor's degrees in mechanical or electrical engineering.
Huntington Ingalls Industries is America's largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry.
For more information contact:
Huntington Ingalls Industries
4101 Washington Ave.
Newport News, VA 23607
757-380-2000
www.huntingtoningalls.com