R E G I MENT
MMA HOSTS MARITIME
ACADEMIES CONFERENCE
MMA PROUDLY HOSTED
Association President Joseph
the inaugural State Maritime
Cote '82. Speakers discussed
Academy Leadership
their career paths and how
Conference during the
experiential, hands-on learning
weekend of March 24, 2017.
at MMA shaped their abilities to
A R T S & S C I E N C E S
Current and aspiring student
lead, mentor and collaborate
leaders from Maine Maritime
with other professionals.
and Massachusetts Maritime
Following, delegates enjoyed
Academy gathered to share
friendly competition in a 5K fun
Ireland Itinerary
ideas, network and participate in
run, turns on the climbing wall
presentations offered by leaders
and pick-up basketball games.
Study abroad fosters global know-how
in transportation, business,
The day concluded with a
manufacturing, construction
roundtable discussion in which
WHEN PROFESSORS KIM AND LEON RAIKES told the
and energy.
leaders shared challenges and
group of 14 students who participated in MMA's Ireland
Delegates were welcomed
solutions for implementation on
Study Abroad program this May that they were covering Holy
by President Brennan during
their campuses.
Ground, they weren't exaggerating.
the opening dinner, and later
The weekend culminated
Now in its ninth year, the Irish Study Abroad program
attended the Inaugural Founders
with the presentation of
allows students to enroll in two courses for three credits each
Day Ball.
challenge coins to attendees by
related to Irish history, art, literature, environment and Celtic
Bethann Rooney, Assistant
Commandant of Midshipman,
spirituality. They visit prehistoric and early Christian sites,
Director of Ports for the Port
Capt. Nathan Gandy and a
including Clonmanoise, an early monastic site, as well as
Authority of New York and New
palpable spirit of camaraderie
megalithic tombs, Celtic holy wells, and other landmarks in
Jersey, and a SUNY Maritime
among the student leaders
the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.
alumna, offered Saturday's
participating in what will
"Few students have been able to see and touch history that
keynote address, "Leadership in
become an annual event.
reaches back 5,500 years, or to experience how these places
the Changing and Challenging
-- BY LT. ALLISON SMALL
exude spirituality and historic meaning in the lives of the
Maritime Industry."
present day Irish inhabitants," say Kim and Leon.
The program continued with
Home base for the group are traditional thatched cottages
presentations by MMA alumni
Student leaders had a chance
in Tullycross, Renvyle, County Galway, Ireland. The village is
to rub shoulders with and
Capt. Gordon "Mac" MacArthur
home to a few hundred people and in an area famous for hill-
learn from successful alumni,
'00, Peter Mento, Ph.D. '93,
walking, pony-trekking, angling, traditional music, deep-sea
as well as enjoy fun and
John Sewall '87, and Alumni
fitness challenges.
fishing, and Gaelic heritage.
"During our stay in Tullycross, students walk a lot and
depend on meeting local people both out of the necessities
of daily life and out of the need to conduct primary research
for academic projects. From this experience of connection,
students gain an awareness of European world views, as well
as personal self-confidence and global enhancement of their
career paths," according to the Raikes.
T
UL
"For example, some students explore modern Irish uses of
power technology and climate control, while others research
ARSENA
similarities between Irish and Maine coastal habitats."
One of the goals of the program is to foster a life-long
FISHER
interest in students for learning about other cultures through
their immersive experience in Ireland.
:LEAH
"The payoff for their future professional careers is that they
learn to work with others from a different culture to achieve
CREDITOT
their goals, which will be a reality for many MMA graduates,"
PHO
say Kim and Leon.
MAINEMARITIME.ED U 9

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