Hampton High School acquires grant funds for innovative CTE equipment

Congratulations to Hampton High School and the career and technical education department (CTE) for being awarded $37,500 in funds from the Virginia Department of Education and the Grants for Innovative CTE Equipment. The funds will be used to purchase a 55-ton ironworker and a CNC plasma cutter. The purchase of these machines addresses teaching HCS students the workforce needs of high-demand, fast-growth industry sectors.

This versatile 55-ton ironworker machine combines multiple metal fabrication functions, including punching, shearing, notching, and bending. It enables precise and efficient processing of various metal materials, essential for modern manufacturing and construction industries.

The Phoenix Series CNC plasma machine is a state-of-the-art computer numerical control (CNC) plasma cutter that allows for accurate cutting of metal sheets into complex shapes and components. This technology is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and metal fabrication.

 

Integrating these machines into our curriculum will provide students with hands-on experience in contemporary metal fabrication techniques, ensuring they acquire skills relevant to the 21st-century workforce. The skills and knowledge students gain from using the equipment will be supported with career and academy pathway lessons associated with shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship design in the Maritime Academy and Academy of Technology and Engineering at Hampton High School.

This equipment could provide benefits for the community, the region, the commonwealth, and even the nation. Shipbuilding, a massive industry in the region and the commonwealth, needs a steady stream of workers to meet the demands of the U.S. Navy’s growing fleet of ships and submarines needed for national defense," said Seth Black, HCS CTE director. "Local industries and employers need skilled trades workers, and the future pipeline of advanced manufacturing to fulfill contracts to the shipyards and the offshore wind industry. These students can be those future workers and leaders of innovation in the industry.