Student Scholars, Faculty, and Alumni Honored at Celebration of Achievement

Posted on: November 12, 2014

CASTINE, Maine—Maine Maritime Academy’s annual Celebration of Achievement was held on Thursday evening, November 6th, to honor the scholarly accomplishments of students and the service of faculty and alumni.

Scheel Scholars
The late Henry A. Scheel of Rockport, Maine was one of America’s most respected naval architects and yacht designers. During his long and distinguished career, Mr. Scheel produced more than 250 complete designs which have been utilized by builders of sailboats and other craft in the U.S. and Europe. To express his high regard for Maine Maritime Academy, Mr. Scheel left funds in 1994 to permanently endow scholarships for students in the three upper classes who best exemplify intellectual curiosity and achievement. The ten Scheel Scholars honored on Thursday include:

Sam Berner, Class of 2015, is a Marine Systems Engineering License Track major from Corinth, VT.
Julianna Diehl, Class of 2017, is Marine Science and Small Vessel Operations dual major from Philadelphia, PA.
Tyler Durant, Class of 2015, is a Marine Engineering Operations major from Searsmont, Maine.
Tyler Easler, Class of 2015, is Power Engineering Technology major from Belgrade, Maine.
Joshua Hale, Class of 2015, is a Marine Transportation Operations major from Standish, Maine.
Kregg MacPherson, Class of 2015, is a Vessel Operations and Technology major from Monroe, New Hampshire.
D’Mitri Monroe, Class of 2015, is a Marine Engineering Technology major from Jonesport, Maine.
Juergen Pilot, Class of 2015, is a Marine Systems Engineering major from Bangor, Maine.
Zachary Radcliffe, Class of 2016, is an International Business and Logistics major from Rumford, Maine.
Elizabeth Trenckmann, Class of 2015, is a Marine Biology major from La Veta, Colorado.

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Scholars

The ABS mission is to promote the security of life, property and the marine environment, primarily through the establishment and verification of technical and engineering standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of ships and marine-related facilities. To express their regard for Maine Maritime Academy as an international leader in maritime technical education, ABS awarded scholarships to outstanding MMA marine systems engineering students in 2014:

Douglas Blasius – Friendship, Maine
Philep Levesque – Bolton, Connecticut
Matthew Plocinski – Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
William Silver – Saratoga Springs, New York
Ethan M. Stubbs – Brooks, Maine
Thomas Whitney – Scarborough, Maine
Nicholas Chase – Houlton, Maine
Christopher Gilman – Old Town, Maine
Shawn Silva – Attleboro, Massachusetts
Alexander Toth – Sandown, New Hampshire

Faculty Achievement

The 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Lance Burton. Assistant Professor of Engineering, Mr. Burton completed his BS in marine engineering technology at MMA in 1990 and his MS in maritime management at the Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics in 2013. Upon his graduation in 1990, he worked as a reactor services project engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding primarily installing and servicing the nuclear reactors on multiple Nimitz Class aircraft carriers and Los Angeles Class attack submarines. In 2001 he co-founded and became co-owner of Downeast Marine Resources, Inc. in Castine. In 2008, he left DMR and began his teaching career at MMA. He continues to operate his two other businesses – Mainely Rentals, Inc. where he provides off-campus housing for MMA students, and Mainely Marine Services, LLC where he specializes in SCUBA diving underwater inspections and services. Mr. Burton holds 12 certifications and licenses including his “Third Assistant Engineer – Steam, Motor, or Gas Turbine Vessels; Unlimited Horsepower” along with his “100 Ton Master – Steam or Motor Vessels; Near Coastal Waters” USCG licenses. In addition, he is very active with the Castine Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and was honored with the department’s “Firefighter of the Year” award in 2012 and promoted to Lieutenant in 2014. He is currently a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).

Three faculty members were promoted to full professor: Dr. Richard Kimball, professor of engineering; Dr. Dana Anderson, professor of humanities and communications; and Dr. Donald D. Maier, Associate Dean for the Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics.

Wall of Honor Inductee

The 2014 Wall of Honor inductee is Rear Admiral Mark R. Whitney, Deputy Commander, Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations for Naval Sea Systems Command. Rear Admiral Mark R. Whitney is a native of South Portland, Maine. He entered the Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Maine Maritime Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering in 1984. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with (4 Gold Stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star.

Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college on the coast of Maine offering 18 degree programs in engineering, management, science, and transportation. The college serves approximately 950 undergraduate and graduate students in career-oriented programs of study. Maine Maritime Academy was ranked the #1 Best Public College on Money magazine’s Best Colleges list released in August, 2014. The college’s persistence, retention and graduation rates are well above national averages, and the job placement rate is in excess of 90 percent within 90 days of graduation. For more information, visit mainemaritime.edu.