Middle schoolers looking for hands-on opportunities to study aviation, coastal studies, engineering, healthcare or many other specialized fields in high school are invited to Mobile County Public Schools’ third-annual Signature Academy Showcase.

Representatives from all 12 high schools and their business partners, Augusta Evans, student services, the career and technology centers, JROTC, athletics, technology, and Envision Virtual School will be available to answer student and parent questions during the Showcase, which will be held Tuesday, November 1st at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Center from 5-7 p.m.

All 12 Mobile County high schools now have a Signature Academy and several smaller academies. Students can apply for admission and even transfers into the school with the academic program that sparks their interest.

Through the academies, students learn from professionals in the field, visit job sites, have opportunities for internships and learn skills essential to applying for and getting jobs that are available in Mobile County.  When they graduate, they are prepared to enter the workforce or to continue their studies in college.

“This is the best educational opportunity for students,” said Kristi July, Signature Academy Coordinator for Mobile County Public Schools. “We are giving our students something that no one else is providing.”

The best part, July said, is “This is for all students, not just a select group.”

Mobile County Public Schools has received state and national attention for its Signature Academy program, which began in 2013 and has expanded each year since. While many school districts offer academies at some schools, Mobile County is unique in that all high schools have a Signature.

Here’s a list of the MCPSS Signature Academies:

• Aviation and Aerospace at B.C. Rain
• Health Careers at Blount
• Manufacturing at Citronelle
• STEAM at Mary G. Montgomery
• Costal Studies at Bryant
• Murphy University Center at Murphy
• Industry and Engineering at Theodore
• Maritime, Engineering and Entrepreneurship at Williamson
• AP Capstone at Baker
• Engineering at Davidson
• Law, Arts and Health Services at LeFlore
• Advanced Information Technology at Vigor
• Business at Augusta Evans

Applications will be accepted November 1-February 28. They will be available via www.mcpss.com.

“Our students have the opportunity to intern with local companies and to earn industry-recognized credentials to put on the resume. They have an opportunity to network with business people,” July said. “They are exposed to the skills that they’ll need to use if they decide to pursue this career path. They are participating in real-world, hands-on activities that are engaging.”

For example, students at B.C. Rain work with Airbus aerospace engineers and mentors from Tuskegee University on projects, and Davidson students have worked with officials from the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System on an engineering project.