NASSCO and Sweetwater Union High School District Announce "Waterfront Academy" May 4, 2000 -- SAN DIEGO, CA -- National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) and the Sweetwater Union High School District today announced the creation of a "Waterfront Academy" that will train high school seniors in ship manufacturing technologies beginning in the next school year. This innovative program is expected to bring 60-75 incoming seniors to NASSCO's bayfront shipbuilding facility for both academic classes and career preparation. During a six-hour school day in classrooms currently under construction at NASSCO, students will receive hands-on training from the company's industry experts and will study academics with their Sweetwater teachers. Training and mentoring will be offered in trades such as electrical, machinery, pipefitting, sheetmetal, shipfitting, rigging and welding. Students will learn skills in applied mathematics, physical science and blueprint reading, and the use of computers, manufacturing tools, machinery, and rigging equipment. Students who successfully complete the ship manufacturing and academic courses will earn their high school diploma. After graduation and a 240-hour internship, students will qualify for available entry-level employment at NASSCO. They can also choose to work at other companies or continue their education at a community college or university. Dr. Edward Brand, Superintendent of the Sweetwater Union High School District, said, "The Waterfront Academy will integrate academic studies with 'real world' training and workplace learning that will prepare our students for college and careers. We are excited to work with NASSCO to develop this program and provide our students with a valuable bridge to post-graduation employment and education opportunities." NASSCO's President Richard Vortmann said, "The Waterfront Academy offers the high school student interested in pursuing a course of study in the skilled manufacturing and contractor trades an opportunity to obtain needed training and education. The typical high school, today, no longer offers this type of training through traditional "shop" classes. Based on NASSCO's need for additional people to work on our current and future shipbuilding programs, as well as replacing employees who are expected to retire or leave through normal attrition, we expect to be hiring up to 1,000 people over the next three to four years. NASSCO is looking at students in this program as our future core of skilled craftsmen and a future source of supervisors, managers and engineers." There are several local community partners supporting the creation and administration of the new Waterfront Academy. The Regional Occupational Program (ROP) will work with NASSCO's instructors to ensure they are trained and credentialled according to State of California standards, which is necessary for students to receive vocational certification and high school credit. The San Diego Workforce Partnership will oversee federal grant administration for the program and act as a job placement service for graduates who cannot be placed, or do not choose to work at NASSCO. The San Diego Community College District will provide the students with college credit for qualifying courses taken through the program. NASSCO and all community partners will share the costs, and grants are being sought to help underwrite the program. "The partnership is a great match," added Superintendent Brand. "Sweetwater students can get their foot in the door for lifelong careers, and NASSCO can tap into a pool of young people to replace the company's retiring workforce." NASSCO, a General Dynamics' company, is the only West Coast shipyard that builds and repairs large, ocean-going Navy and commercial vessels. The shipyard employs approximately 3,100 at its San Diego facilities. More information on NASSCO can be obtained from the company's Web site at www.nassco.com.

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