Donation supports Great Lakes Boat Building School

What’s happening: A donation will help one of the region’s few trade schools continue to grow; the Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) in Cedarville received a $25,000 donation from the National Marine Distributors Association. The money will be used to purchase “training pods,” which will help students practice on various marine electrical systems.

Growth: The donation is another milestone for the GLBBS, coming from industry leaders in the boat building and maintenance field. The donation showcases that the school is a positive source of teaching and training shipbuilders and mechanics. It also opens up direct lines of communication between industry leaders and those preparing future workers so there are no educational gaps in the workforce.  

What they’re saying: “The Board of Directors, and membership of the National Marine Distributors Association are pleased to announce a $25,000 donation to the Great Lakes Boat Building School,” said Nancy Cueroni, executive director of the association. “The NMDA Marine Electrical Systems Lab Pod will provide two marine electrical system mock-ups for instruction and hands-on skill development. We feel strongly that the more highly trained technicians we can help develop, the better it is for all segments of our industry.”

What’s next: GLBBS continues its efforts for new educational equipment through its Enhancing Education through Equipment, or EEE, campaign. The most recent donation increases the total to $284,919, or 34 percent, of the total $850,000 needed to stay up to date with all maritime electrical systems.