Drake State Donates Equipment to Marion County School System

On July 27th, Drake State welcomed representatives from the Marion County School District to campus for a tour of the Leidos Advanced Training Complex, where district leaders got an up-close look at the advanced machines Drake State will be donating for future use in Marion County classrooms.

The visit marks the beginning of a new partnership between Drake State and the rural school district; one aimed at giving students greater access to the tools and technology used in today’s technical and workforce training environments.

“As a rural school district, we’re always needing resources, partners, and different things of that nature. And I think we’ve just established a new partnership with Drake State,” said Mark Griffith, Marion County Superintendent of Schools. “Being able to utilize the equipment that’s going to be donated, will help our student body actually get a foot in the door down here [in Huntsville]. We certainly appreciate this and are glad for the opportunity.”

This partnership goes beyond equipment donations. By connecting Marion County students with resources commonly used in technical and workforce training environments, the collaboration helps build early awareness of career pathways in high-demand fields while giving students the chance to build technical skills and gain hands-on experience with industry tools.

The visit also gave district leaders a closer look at Drake State’s state-of-the-art training facilities and its broader commitment to workforce development across North Alabama. Through partnerships like this one, Drake State continues to extend its impact beyond campus, introducing students to the college’s programs, facilities, and educational opportunities, and helping build a stronger pipeline from high school into postsecondary training and future careers.