On Thursday, April 20, 2023, 26 seniors who will be graduating from Cranston Public Schools received a job offer from Electric Boat (EB), pursuant upon fulfilling all hiring requirements.

At an event organized by the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC), representatives from EB spent the first half of the school day housed in the library at Cranston High School East, where interested seniors from Cranston East, Cranston West, and the New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy first sat in on a question and answer session and then could sign up for an interview slot if they hadn’t signed up prior to the event. Interviews took place all morning and students were signing up right up until the end of the morning.

Students were asked to talk about their coursework, their involvement in their school activities or athletics, as well as outside job experiences and activities. Their experiences were then evaluated by the representatives from EB who recommended them for a job offer.

Once students received an offer, they were given time to go home and consider the offer before making a decision. If a student does decide to move forward with pursuing employment at Electric Boat, they must move through the rest of the recruitment process which includes a hair follicle drug test. Once hired, they will receive the appropriate training at the Electric Boat facility. All students who will be accepting their offers will be able to attend a statewide signing day with EB later in May.

Cranston Public Schools high schools and the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center offer several programs complementary to the industry experiences that Electric Boat is looking for, including computer science, welding, plumbing, residential construction and the heavy highway construction program offered at NEL/CPS. Cranston Public Schools in partnership with Electric Boat, will also be offering the only Pipefitters program available in the state of Rhode Island beginning next fall.

According to CACTC director Ken Hopkins Jr., Thursday’s hiring event is just one more way in which Cranston Public Schools and the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center are on the forefront of career and technical education in Rhode Island, and providing students not only with trade job opportunities, but also the connections to employment opportunities that exist across the state.

“Cranston’s continued and refined partnership with Electric Boat will provide phenomenal career opportunities for Cranston’s students,” said Hopkins. “We are extremely proud of the students, teachers, and staff who continue to develop outstanding programs that prepare individuals for further growth in college or their career. From new program development to becoming the only Electric Boat aligned Pipefitting program in the state, Cranston East is steadily becoming a statewide focal point for career and technical education.”