Clinton Public School District maintenance staffers Teddy Hines (left) and Derrick Jenkins load computers donated by Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin’s Mission Support Center in Clinton, Miss. is donating 25 surplus computers to the Clinton High School (CHS) Career Complex. This computer equipment donation will be used as a teaching aid for students studying IT computer maintenance and repair.
“This is a great partnership,” said Fred Nail, Lockheed Martin’s Mission Support Center program manager. “We are happy that the computers are being used to help students learn instead of having the equipment sit idle in a warehouse.”
The CHS Career Complex serves as a bridge between a student’s academic classes and life after high school. Students can receive career-specific training in automotive technology, construction, culinary arts, digital media, early childhood education, health sciences and information technology.
Students enrolled in the information technology classes will use the surplus Lockheed Martin equipment to build networks as well as practice repair and maintenance techniques. In addition to computers, Lockheed Martin is also donating servers and a network switch. According to Career Complex Director Brett Robinson, the training will prepare students for Information Technology certifications.
“Clinton High School and the Career Complex are excited about forming this partnership with Lockheed Martin,” said Brett Robinson, Career Complex director. “This equipment donation is going to be used to expand and enhance learning opportunities for our IT students.”
CHS enrolls about 25 students each year in its IT program. Over the past two years, about 50 percent of graduates who completed both years of the program went on to receive post-secondary training in the IT field.
“The equipment donated by Lockheed Martin will give our students the valuable hands-on experience they need to be better prepared for entering the IT field,” said course instructor Bill McIlwain. “We can teach our students to visualize, memorize and comprehend, but the real test is when they apply their knowledge in a real, practical setting. That’s exactly what this donation and partnership allow students to do. We’re thankful to Lockheed Martin for providing this valuable experience.”
Lockheed Martin opened the 33,000-square-foot Clinton Mission Support Center in 2011 and supports diverse mission and technology services that the corporation provides to federal agencies and energy customers. The corporation strives to be a valued partner in the community and has a strong commitment to the advancement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to help foster the workforce of tomorrow.
