Maine Maritime Academy Celebrates 75 Years of Career-oriented Education and Hands-on Training

Posted on: March 18, 2016

CASTINE, Maine—Maine Maritime Academy was founded by Act of the 90th Maine Legislature on March 21, 1941. To kick off their 75th anniversary year, the Academy will celebrate Founders Day at the State House in Augusta on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

A legislative sentiment will be presented in the Senate on Wednesday to commemorate the college’s unique role in the State’s higher education partnership. Founded originally as a nautical training institute to contribute skilled mariners for the war effort in the 1940s, MMA is now a career-oriented college, educating students in specialized programs in engineering, management, science, and transportation. The college is one of only six State Maritime Academies in the United States.

A press conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Hall of Flags to acknowledge the Academy’s history and to celebrate some of the many people who were instrumental in its foundation and success. MMA’s celebratory theme is ‘We Are Mariners,’ highlighting the significant contributions of every man and woman who has helped to build the Academy into the world-class institution it is today. The college community will continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary throughout the year. An all-community gathering is planned for Homecoming weekend in Castine, September 23-25, 2016.

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. Year over year, the job placement rate for MMA graduates is in excess of 90 percent within 90 days of graduation. In 2014 and 2015, MONEY magazine ranked Maine Maritime Academy the #1 Public College in America on their Best Colleges list.