NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time in the 99-year history of The Apprentice School at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division, its football program has won a national championship.

The Builders defeated the Oakland (Mich.) University Golden Grizzlies 56-14 on Saturday to claim the 2018 National Club Football Association (NCFA) title.

Latitia D. McCane, director of education at The Apprentice School, was among the supporters who attended the game in Wheeling, West Virginia. “This is a remarkable achievement for our apprentices,” she said. “We are proud of the rich tradition at The Apprentice School that extends not only to the trades on the waterfront and into the classroom, but to the playing field. The national championship galvanized our community of shipbuilders and reaffirmed our commitment to excellence and leadership.”

A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/file?fid=5c0948d52cfac21eaecc8909.

The Apprentice School began its football program in 1919, when the school was established to develop future leaders at Newport News. The Builders have been an independent affiliate of the NCAA, playing college and university-level athletic programs of various levels before joining the NCFA.

The Apprentice School's first football team was undefeated in its six-game season. This year’s team finished with a record of 9-3.

The Apprentice School accepts about 225 apprentices per year. The school offers four- to eight-year, tuition-free apprenticeships in 19 trades and eight optional advanced programs. Apprentices work a 40-hour week and are paid for all work, including time spent in academic classes. Through partnerships with Thomas Nelson Community College, Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University, The Apprentice School’s academic program provides the opportunity to earn associate degrees in business administration, engineering and engineering technology and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical or electrical engineering.

Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HII’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HII’s Technical Solutions division provides a wide range of professional services through its Fleet Support, Mission Driven Innovative Solutions, Nuclear & Environmental, and Oil & Gas groups. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 40,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit:

• HII on the web: www.huntingtoningalls.com
• HII on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HuntingtonIngallsIndustries
• HII on Twitter: twitter.com/hiindustries

Contact:

Duane Bourne
Duane.A.Bourne@HII-co.com
(757) 380-3581