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Student Scholars and Faculty Honored at Maine Maritime Academy Academic Achievement Awards

Posted on: November 19, 2021

CASTINE, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy’s annual Academic Achievement Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday evening, November 10, to honor the scholarly accomplishments of students and the service of faculty.

Scheel Scholars
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 Wednesday include:

  • Oliver Cole, Class of 2022, a Power Engineering Operations major from Gloucester, Massachusetts
  • Shannon Estus, Class of 2023, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Frewsburg, New York
  • Ellie Gellerson, Class of 2022, a Marine Science major from Blue Hill, Maine
  • Samuel Giffin, Class of 2022, a Marine Engineering Operations major from Ellsworth, Maine
  • Lucas Harman, Class of 2022, a Marine Systems Engineering, 5-year major from Veazie, Maine
  • Bryan Johnson, Class of 2022, a Power Engineering Technology major from Holden, Maine
  • Caden Mattson, Class of 2024, an International Business and Logistics major from Blue Hill, Maine
  • John Watt, Class of 2022, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Greenville, Maine
  • Aidan Wiecki, Class of 2024, a Vessel Operations Technology major from Bristow, Virginia
  • Jennifer Zdrojowy, Class of 2023, a Marine Biology and Small Vessel Operations major from Bucksport, Maine

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Scholars
ABS, a leading international classification society, is devoted to promoting 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. The ABS Scholarship is awarded to deserving full-time undergraduate students in pursuit of a degree in fields such as mechanical engineering, naval architecture, marine engineering, offshore engineering, cyber security, digital forensics, and data science. Recipients are also given an opportunity to complete an internship with the American Bureau of Shipping. ABS awarded scholarships to these outstanding MMA engineering students in 2021:

  • Jarod Briggs, Class of 2022, a Power Engineering Technology major from Millinocket, Maine
  • Ivan Corey, Class of 2023, a Marine Systems Engineering, 5-year major from Dennysville, Maine
  • Logan Eckmann, Class of 2023, a Marine Systems Engineering, 5-year major from Dedham, Maine
  • Julia Malcolm, Class of 2023, a Marine Systems Engineering, 5-year major from Trenton, Maine
  • Sara Stentardo, Class of 2023, a Marine Systems Engineering, 5-year major from Tarvisio, Italy

Mitchell Scholars
The Mitchell Institute awards more than 130 scholarships each year, one to a graduating senior from every public high school in Maine. Selection is based on academic potential, community impact, and financial need. Since 1995, the Institute has awarded nearly 2,900 scholarships totaling over $16 million. Mitchell Scholars recognized on Wednesday evening included:

  • Keegan Brook, Class of 2025, a Marine Systems Engineering, 5-year major from Raymond, Maine
  • Ryan Crockett, Class of 2025, an International Business and Logistics major from Old Orchard Beach, Maine
  • Regan Currie, Class of 2025, a Power Engineering Technology major from Medway, Maine
  • Anthony Hall, Class of 2025, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Winterport, Maine
  • Isaac Jurson, Class of 2025, an International Business and Logistics major from Houlton, Maine
  • Hayden Luce, Class of 2025, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Monmouth, Maine

Faculty Promotions
Also celebrated was Jessica Muhlin, promoted to full professor of ocean sciences. Professor Muhlin received her Ph.D. from the University of Maine and her B.A. from Boston University. Her research interests focus on the reproductive ecology, population genetics and food web ecology of fucoid seaweeds in the northwestern Atlantic. She is also actively involved in art-science collaborations using marine algae as inspiration.

Professor Muhlin is the lead principal investigator for a Maine Economic Improvement Fund-Small Campus Initiative project researching the importance of surplus fucoid reproductive material to the nearshore marine environment. In addition, she participates in phenology research of Gulf of Maine rockweed species.

Similarly, Captain Richard Miller was promoted to full Professor of Marine Transportation Operations. Captain Miller has also been named as the Academy’s interim Dean of Faculty.