HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Grants $95,600 for STEM
HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has once again demonstrated its steadfast dedication to the future of education by awarding $95,600 in grants to 22 local schools and educational organizations. These STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grants are intended to foster innovation, critical thinking, and hands-on learning experiences that will inspire the next generation of engineers, shipbuilders, and industry leaders. This initiative further cements Ingalls Shipbuilding’s role as a vital community partner in enhancing education, with a special focus on helping students engage with STEM fields at an early age.
Nurturing Curiosity and Problem-Solving Skills
The importance of STEM education cannot be overstated, and Ingalls Shipbuilding’s president, Brian Blanchette, highlighted the importance of hands-on experiences. “STEM education isn’t just about learning formulas or theories — it’s about hands-on experiences that inspire the next generation of critical thinkers,” he said. Blanchette, an engineer himself, understands firsthand how crucial it is for students to have opportunities that ignite their curiosity and foster problem-solving skills. He emphasized that the work Ingalls Shipbuilding is doing through the grant program aims to build a robust foundation for students, which in turn could lead to future careers in engineering and the broader shipbuilding industry.
The grants awarded by Ingalls Shipbuilding will support a wide range of projects and initiatives. These include technology upgrades in classrooms, the purchase of resources to enhance STEM curricula, and providing students with access to tools and experiences that can inspire future careers. The goal is to offer a meaningful, immersive approach to learning that prepares students for the challenges of tomorrow’s world.
Supporting Educators and Their Vision for STEM Education
In line with its broader community outreach efforts, the Ingalls Shipbuilding division has structured its grant program to support a variety of local schools and educators who are committed to bringing STEM to life. Lisa Bradley, the Corporate Stewardship & Community Relations Manager at Ingalls Shipbuilding, expressed her enthusiasm about the impact of the grants: “These grants will make a lasting impact in classrooms across the Gulf Coast, giving students access to additional resources and experiences that will encourage career exploration in STEM fields.” By empowering educators with up to $5,000 in funding, the program enables teachers to implement specific STEM-focused projects that foster creativity and critical thinking in their students.
This initiative forms part of Ingalls Shipbuilding’s broader workforce development strategy. The company’s approach includes a multi-faceted commitment to STEM, which spans from supporting K-12 education to partnerships with community colleges, technical schools, and internships that offer students real-world experience. Additionally, the company operates industry-leading apprentice schools at its two shipyards, providing young people with pathways to careers in shipbuilding and other technical fields.
A Competitive and Inclusive Process
The response to the STEM grant program has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 90 applications received during the current grant cycle. These applications came from schools and organizations throughout the region, underscoring the local community’s eagerness to invest in STEM education. This level of interest highlights the importance of such initiatives in helping students gain practical, hands-on experience in various STEM disciplines.
Looking ahead, Ingalls Shipbuilding has announced that the next grant application cycle will open in August 2025, marking the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, and will run through October. This will provide additional opportunities for schools and educators to seek funding to continue advancing STEM education in their communities.
The 2024-2025 STEM Grant Recipients
The following 22 organizations were selected to receive STEM grants for the 2024-2025 school year:
- Bayou View Middle School (Miss.): Coding a Pathway for the Future – This project aims to teach students how to program robots while collaborating with peers both in the classroom and globally to solve problems.
- Biloxi Junior High School (Miss.): Beyond the Page – Coding and AR Storybooks – Students will develop coding logic, multimedia integration, and user interface design skills through the creation of augmented reality (AR) storybooks.
- Daphne Middle School (Ala.): Virtual Voyagers: Exploring New Realities – Funds will be used to purchase VR headsets to offer students immersive, interactive learning experiences.
- East Central High School (Miss.): Springing into STEM – Students will explore composite materials by constructing a testable composite leaf spring.
- Gautier Middle School (Miss.): Calculators for our Classrooms – Funding will support the purchase of advanced Texas Instrument calculators for use in a “Tiny House Project,” helping students apply geometry skills to create 3D home models.
- Gulfport High School (Miss.): Drone Program – A drone program will be established to teach students the intricacies of drone operation and control.
- Lighthouse Academy for Dyslexia (Miss.): Empowering Minds: A Robotics Program for Students with Dyslexia – Students with dyslexia will enhance their coding and problem-solving skills through robotics projects, boosting confidence in STEM fields.
- Moss Point Career & Technical Education Center (Miss.): Metal Benches for Parks – Students will design and construct durable metal benches for local parks, applying their skills in engineering and construction.
- Moss Point Career & Technical Education Center (Miss.): Digital Marketing and Website Development – This project will help students learn website design and data-driven marketing strategies to optimize online business performance.
- Moss Point Career & Technical Education Center (Miss.): Watch Me Grow – The purchase of VR headsets will allow students to engage in virtual learning environments focused on agriculture and sustainability.
- North Bay Elementary (Miss.): Inspiring Innovation: A Makerspace for Future Creators – A new makerspace will be established in the elementary school library to foster creativity and innovation in STEM subjects.
- Ocean Springs Middle School (Miss.): Oh Snatoms! – This interactive project will help students visualize atomic structures, molecular bonding, and chemical reactions using hands-on tools.
- Ocean Springs Upper Elementary (Miss.): School Aquaponics System – Students will explore real-world applications of STEM by developing an aquaponics system, combining biology, chemistry, and environmental science.
- Pascagoula-Gautier Career & Technical Center (Miss.): Top Gear – Students will learn about mechanical design and engineering by constructing simple and complex drive train assemblies.
- Pascagoula High School (Miss.): PNN – Keeping You Informed – This project will upgrade equipment at the student-run Panther News Network, providing students with hands-on experience in broadcasting and media production.
- Perkinston Elementary School (Miss.): 3D Printing, Coding and the Shark Tank – Students will use 3D printers to design and build prototypes of STEM-related products, fostering creativity and teamwork.
- Picayune Memorial High School Career and Technical Center (Miss.): 3D-Printed Ship Hull Innovations – This project will allow students to engage with hydrodynamics and advanced manufacturing techniques by designing and printing 3D models of ship hulls.
- St. Martin High School (Miss.): Packaging for Success – Students will use 3D printing to design and create small products, integrating engineering and art in the design process.
- St. Patrick Catholic High School (Miss.): Sensor Implementation – Students will explore robotics and learn to program and control robots with sensor applications.
- Theodore High School (Ala.): Underwater Robotics Program/Robotics Team – Students will develop robotics skills while exploring concepts like density, pressure, and buoyancy in underwater settings.
- Walter Anderson Museum of Art (Miss.): Public Art Enterprise – This project, in partnership with marine education and coastal resilience programs, will engage middle school students in STEM exploration through art and marine science.
- Woolmarket Elementary School (Miss.): Digital Design Destinations: Brighter Days with Our Renewable Ways – Funds will be used to purchase solar-powered kits that promote hands-on learning about renewable energy, teamwork, and sustainability