On December 12, 2025, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England (JA) brought 95 high school students from eight Connecticut schools to Birdon USA in Portland, CT, for a hands-on career exploration experience through the JA Maritime initiative. The event gave students a rare, behind-the-scenes look at maritime manufacturing and introduced them to the wide range of career pathways available across Connecticut’s growing maritime and advanced manufacturing industries.
Connecting Classrooms to Real Careers
The Birdon site visit was designed to move beyond traditional career awareness by immersing students directly in a working manufacturing environment. Students toured the facility in small groups, engaged with engineers and technicians, and learned how classroom skills translate into real-world careers.
Industry partners on site included representatives from:
- Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
- General Dynamics Electric Boat
- Jarvis Airfoil
- UConn Navy STEM
Through demonstrations, conversations, and facility tours, students explored careers in:
- Welding and fabrication
- Engineering and design
- Quality control and precision measurement
- Advanced manufacturing technologies
- Maritime operations and support roles
For many students, this was their first time inside a maritime manufacturing facility, and their first opportunity to speak directly with professionals working in the field.
Strong School Participation
Students attended from eight high schools across Connecticut:
- A.I. Prince Technical High School
- Berlin High School
- Coginchaug Regional High School
- Cromwell High School
- Howell Cheney Technical High School
- RiverTech Academy
- Vinal Technical High School
- Westbrook High School
Bringing together students from both technical and comprehensive high schools created a dynamic environment where participants could see multiple entry points into maritime careers, from skilled trades to engineering pathways.
Why Experiences Like This Matter
Hands-on, employer-hosted experiences are a core component of the JA Maritime initiative’s strategy to strengthen the region’s workforce pipeline. By helping students see the relevance of what they’re learning in school, and by connecting them with real employers, these visits help young people make more informed decisions about training, education, and career pathways.
Birdon USA’s continued partnership has already demonstrated tangible impact. A previous visit in May 2025 led directly to the hiring of a welding pre-apprentice from Vinal Technical High School, a powerful example of how early exposure can translate into real opportunities.
As Jeremy Race, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, shared during the event:
“When students can see themselves in these spaces and speak directly with industry professionals, it opens doors. These experiences help them understand that exciting, high-demand careers exist right here in Connecticut.”
Looking Ahead
The December site visit is part of JA Maritime’s broader effort to build sustained connections between schools and industry partners. As the initiative expands, JA will continue to provide students with meaningful exposure to maritime, manufacturing, and engineering careers through facility visits, classroom programming, and hands-on learning experiences.
With 95 students participating from across the region, the day at Birdon USA marked another strong step forward in preparing the next generation for high-growth careers that support Connecticut’s economy and national maritime workforce.