Boeing Bound: Several Southern University students tour New Orleans site

More than a dozen Southern University students started last Friday morning outside T.T. Allain Hall, boarding a bus headed to New Orleans, LA. Their destination: the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, to learn more about one of the buildings’ primary tenants, The Boeing Company.
While on the site, students were able get a sneak peek of the aircraft manufacturing company’s latest projects and hear from former SU graduates who are currently employed with Boeing, including former Mr. College of Business Demarcus Alexander and SU alumna Jakina Hebert.
Located in the New Orleans East district, the Michoud Assembly Facility was built in 1943 during World War II. Standing at 832 acres, Michoud is amongst the largest production buildings the nation, according to its official website.
Although the building is still currently owned and managed by NASA, spaces have been occupied within the property by multiple tenants, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Textron Systems, the United States Coast Guard, and others. During the tour, students were also able to view some of the other amenities to the facility, including a barber shop and hair salon, health clinic, and an ATM.
Senior accounting major Marcus Hill, Jr. was impressed by the site saying, “It was interesting to get an in-depth experience of the work environment for engineers.”
Considered as the largest American exporter of goods and services, Boeing is a Fortune 50 company that has been in existence for more than a century, with ties in the New Orleans area since the 1960s.
Following the campus tour, Human Resources Business Partner and Southern University at New Orleans alumnus, Oliver Duvernay, briefly discussed Boeing’s relationship in New Orleans and its role in Deep Space Exploration with the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket projects currently under production. “I actually learned that the airlines I fly with most use Boeing airplanes,” said senior marketing major Majesti Smith.
“You can learn something new every day,” said Duvernay, “and that is important in terms of the balance of life.”
Alexander mentioned that Southern University graduates have been woven throughout the history of Boeing’s existence in New Orleans. Currently, six SU alumni are employees at Michoud. Boeing has also contributed to Southern University, donating $35,000 back in 2009 and $36,000 last September.
Hill was impressed. “It shows that Southern University ensures that students are prepared for life after college. Also, this shows that Boeing is very active with Southern University and seeking STEM majors to be apart of their great company,”
The session ended with Alexander and Hebert speaking to students about the importance of education and planning for a future career with Boeing or any other companies. Alexander noted that having soft skills, presentation skills, and written and verbal communication skills are just as important to recruiters as one’s GPA. Hebert advised students to use the S.T.A.R. method (situation, task, action, result) when responding to questions during an interview.
Smith considered the event a success, “Southern University prides itself on granting students lucrative opportunities. So for any alum to come back and provide said opportunities for students truly speaks to the level of commitment of a Jaguar.”
Prospective students seeking an internship from Boeing can increase their chances of being selected by including specific accomplishments in their resumes, creating a profile via boeing.com/collegecareers, visiting the Boeing booth at the career fair during the fall semester, demonstrating a passion for extracurricular activities and/or special interests, and gaining relevant experience.