Mayor Elicker accepts a manufacturing pathways quarter zip from Jones.
On Thursday, Hillhouse senior Arrianna Jones stepped into one of the classrooms where she has spent four years learning how to weld, 3D print, and design machine parts. She left with a $23-per-hour job offer to help build the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarines.
Jones was one of 50 seniors from Hillhouse High School, Wilbur Cross High School, and the Sound School who were interviewed by General Dynamics Electric Boat in a Hillhouse classroom Thursday; 46 received on-the-spot job offers, according to city spokesperson Lenny Speiller.
Many of the interviewed students are about to graduate from Career-Connected Pathways, a vocational program run by New Haven Public Schools (NHPS). Jones is one of the inaugural members of the manufacturing pathway. Her 30-person cohort spent the last four years taking classes in English, math, and the other core subjects while also learning about welding, metrology, computer numerical control (CNC), and computer-aided design (CAD).
Now, many of them have the opportunity to work at General Dynamics Electric Boat, a manufacturing company headquartered in Groton. General Dynamics recently partnered with NHPS to support the school district’s manufacturing program, including by offering job opportunities to graduating students.
Eight students told the Independent that they plan to accept their offers. Jones, however, is still considering. She has a competing job offer at CAM Manufacturing, as well as 14 different college acceptances.
As Jones and I spoke, two representatives from General Dynamics walked by.
“Congrats on the offer! Hopefully you come with us,” said one.
“Time will tell!” she replied, beaming.
Jones applied to the manufacturing program on the recommendation of her middle school guidance counselor.
“I wanted to go to [New Haven Academy], and I was heartbroken when I found out I had to come to Hillhouse,” she said. When she learned about the manufacturing pathway, she figured it would be “a great way” to distinguish herself as a student.
She spent three hours every other day in the program. Through her courses, she learned how to use 3D software tools and Microsoft applications like Excel. She also received an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification and gained hands-on experience at the Manufacturing and Community Technical Education Hub (MATCH). And, she said, she learned professionalism, such as being timely and “not having AirPods in” when someone is talking.
While she has many interests, over the last four years, Jones found herself feeling excited about manufacturing work. “I like seeing something that I created being used,” she said.
Her favorite apparatus is a 3D printer. “I like seeing the product that comes out of it. I like seeing and being able to say, ‘I made that. I designed that. I printed it. I made that.’”
Whether or not she ends up in manufacturing, she has no regrets about participating in the pathway. “This program — it offers a lot more than just learning how to use machines,” she said. “It really feels like a family. When I graduate here, I’m going to keep in touch with my manufacturing brothers and teachers.”
The backbone of the program is Vincent Squeglia, the manufacturing program’s leader and a former assistant principal at Brennan-Rogers Magnet School.
“Just listening to Arrianna — we did something,” said Squeglia, filled with pride.
He said the program helps students build confidence. It also gives them four years to build deep relationships with their teachers and manufacturing peers.
Squeglia praised the program for expanding the opportunities available to graduating students.
“They have a choice when they graduate whether to take a job or maybe go to UConn, do engineering, stuff like that,” he said.
The new manufacturing lab at Hillhouse was funded by $2 million in federal funds, money that U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro helped secure. Future cohorts can expect to use the machines extensively, said Squeglia.
After being interviewed on Thursday, a number of students were hired on the spot.
“Imagine, you walk into a room, you have an interview, and someone says, ‘You got a job.’ The feeling and confidence that gives to our young people is just beautiful,” said Mayor Justin Elicker.
One of the students offered a job on Thursday — Joshua Stephens, a senior at the Sound School — could hardly describe the feeling. “I really wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “It felt exciting.”
Jaylenne Rosa (in white): “Anybody who’s struggling, not know what to do with their lives…I want to say that there’s always an opportunity out there. There’s always something for you to do, and to never give up.”
The room where students interviewed with General Dynamics Electric Boat, and where many of them were given their first post-grad job offers.
Some of the machinery that students in the program can use in Hillhouse’s new lab.
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