SMITHFIELD, Va. — Smithfield Foods Inc. and Isle of Wight County Schools announced a hometown project on March 6 with the new Career Building at Smithfield High School. The addition consists of classroom space and resources for five career and technology programs.
The career building is more than 21,000 sq. ft and was made possible by the Smithfield Foods Legacy Project, which donated $3 million to Isle of Wight County School to benefit Smithfield High School and Windsor High School.
“The Smithfield Foods Legacy project is one of the ways we are committed to helping students prepare for their future and make that next step after graduation a successful transition,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and CEO of Smithfield Foods.
Each part of the facility includes designed industry spaces for the following programs:
- Manufacturing: The state-of-the-art MakerSpace classroom provides students with spacious worktables and access to 3-D printers, vinyl and laser cutters, and traditional wood working tools as they take ideas from concept, to prototype, to finished product.
- Engineering: The Mechatronics laboratory offers space for students to engage in the engineering design process and project building.
- Welding: The welding classroom features 20 welding stations that utilize industry-standard equipment to certify students based on the American Welding Society Requirement in arc welding and cutting processes.
- Culinary Arts: The space is outfitted with a commercialized kitchen with cutting-edge ovens, stove tops, mixers, and food prep area, and includes a fully functioning restaurant run by students that will be open to the community.
- Nursing: This seven-bed area is outfitted with equipment to allow students to simulate patient care and prepare for the Nurse Aid certification exam.
