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Maine Maritime Academy Students Begin Year with Orientation, Ship Jump, and Training

Posted on: August 19, 2014

Castine, Maine—The incoming class of Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) students will begin the 2014-2015 year with Orientation in three sessions from August 15 – 31. MMA Orientation includes:

• Regimental Preparatory Training (for those students participating in the Regiment of Midshipmen)
• MUG Olympics, Saturday, August 30th at 1:00 p.m., Ritchie Field
• The annual Ship Jump, Sunday, August 31st at 8:00 a.m., Castine Harbor

Regimental Preparatory Training (also called RPT, which includes drills and aquatic training) begins Thursday, August 21st for those students seeking an officer’s license as well as those who choose to participate regardless of major. During Regimental Preparatory Training and into the semester, new regimental students will live aboard the Training Ship State of Maine and will conduct training exercises on the ship.

MUG Olympics, a series of sporting competitions (races, feats of strength, etc) among the 4 companies of Midshipmen Under Guidance, will take place at 1pm on Saturday, August 30th at Ritchie Field. The events will also be streamed live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/mma/

The annual Ship Jump from the Training Ship State of Maine is a long-standing tradition for first-year students. Born out of practical training needs for students entering seagoing careers, the event also serves as a class unification activity and is symbolic of a willingness to embrace the numerous adventures and challenges typical of a Maine Maritime Academy education. Dr. William Brennan, MMA President, takes the first jump at 8:00 a.m. Earle Cianchette, MMA Trustee and member of the MMA Class of 1977, and Craig Dagan, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, will be guest participants, having volunteered at the 2014 Night By the Bay event to take the 40-foot plunge to raise money for the Academy’s Annual Fund.

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’s persistence, retention and graduation rates are well above national averages. The job placement rate for MMA graduates is in excess of 90 percent within 90 days of graduation. Maine Maritime Academy was ranked the #1 Best Public College, #4 College That Adds the Most Value, and #12 overall on MONEY’s list of Best Colleges released in August of 2014.

August 25, 2014
Written by Jennifer DeJoy