Seven MGCCC graduates enter the maritime workforce through industry partnership

Seven graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Drafting and Design Technology program completed Phase 1of the TotalTek Academy during a graduation ceremony held July 10 at The Gallery in Ocean Springs.

The academy provides specialized training that prepares participants for careers in the shipbuilding industry while strengthening Mississippi’s growing maritime workforce. The program reflects a collaborative partnership among TotalTek, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, the Submarine Industrial Base Program Office, Metal Shark Boats, and Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Dr. Cedric Bradley, vice president of the Jackson County Campus, congratulated the graduates and recognized the importance of the partnership during the ceremony. “Partnerships like TotalTek Academy demonstrate the strength of career and technical education at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College,” he said. “By working closely with industry, we are preparing students with the specialized skills employers need while creating meaningful career opportunities that strengthen Mississippi’s maritime workforce. We appreciate TotalTek’s investment in our students and look forward to expanding this partnership for future cohorts.”

Bradley also thanked TotalTek for providing Drafting and Design Technology students with valuable instructional materials focused on the shipbuilding industry and reaffirmed the college’s commitment to continuing the partnership.

According to TotalTek, the graduation represents more than the completion of a training program. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening America’s maritime industrial workforce and preparing the next generation of shipbuilding professionals through collaboration between educational and industry partners.

MGCCC students completing Phase 1 of the TotalTek Academy included Hannah Roberts, Suzanna Jarvis, Jeremy Galloza, Jessica Garcia, Lucas Majure, Nathan Carroll, and Madison Igo.

The TotalTek Academy partnership provides MGCCC students with an opportunity to build specialized technical skills while connecting classroom learning to careers in one of the Gulf Coast’s most vital industries. As the demand for skilled workers continues to grow, partnerships such as this help ensure students are prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to the future of American shipbuilding.