Congratulations, Class of 2021!

We hope you feel great pride in having reached this important milestone. You have accomplished the many goals you set when starting your education at Maine Maritime Academy, gained invaluable professional training experiences, and formed lifelong relationships along the way.

This year’s celebration activities will look different than they have in the past, but we look forward to marking the occasion with you in unique and memorable ways.

Commencement Ceremony | April 8, 2021 | 6:30 p.m. (ET)

This year’s Commencement Ceremony will be held on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Field House. In an effort to protect our community, attendance at this event will be limited. Only students, faculty, event staff, and administration will be present.

However, the event will be live-streamed on our website so friends and family can participate remotely.

Commencement marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Despite some slight changes to accommodate social distancing and safety protocols, we will bring together the traditional elements of pomp and circumstance to create a ceremony that you and your loved ones can enjoy, whether in-person or at a distance.

Additional details will be posted to this page and shared via email and social media as the event nears.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

The Seventy-eighth Commencement
Thursday, the Eighth of April | 6:30 p.m.
Academic Procession

Marshal: Captain Samuel Teel ’77
Professor of Marine Transportation and Nautical Science

Welcome

Keith M. Williamson, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Color Guard

Colors presented by
MIDN Esteban Garcia | MIDN Raymond Horne | MIDN Grady Reardon
MIDN Wolfgang Redman | MIDN Christian Shepard | MIDN Nicholas Vaccaro

National Anthem

MIDN Catherine Cornell | MIDN Patrick McEneaney
MIDN Sara Stentardo | MIDN Tristan Walker

Moment of Reflection

Captain Samuel Teel ’77

President’s Greeting

President William J. Brennan, Ph.D.

Trustee’s Greeting

Earle A. Cianchette ’77
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Administration of Oath
United States Merchant Marine License

Captain Brian J. Lefebvre
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England

Message from MARAD

Lucinda Lessley
Deputy Administrator of the Maritime Administration

Introduction of Commencement Speaker

President William J. Brennan, Ph.D.

Commencement Speaker

Retired US Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills

Conferral of Degrees

Master of Science  |  Associate of Science  |  Bachelor of Science

Musical selections by the George Stevens Academy Jazz Band and Jazz Combos conducted by Steven Orlofsky

Travis Mills

Travis Mills photograph

Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne is a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees. Travis’s New York Times bestselling memoir, Tough as They Come, is currently available on sale in bookstores everywhere. Despite losing portions of both arms and legs from an IED while on active duty in Afghanistan, Travis continues to overcome life’s challenges, breaking physical barriers and defying odds. Travis lives by his motto:

“Never give up. Never quit.”

On April 10, 2012, United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device) while on patrol, losing portions of both legs and both arms. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries.

Thanks to his amazing strength, courage, an incredible will to live, the heroic actions of the men in his unit, the prayers of thousands, and all the healthcare providers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, near Washington D.C., Travis remains on the road to recovery. Every day is a battle, but Travis continues to astound friends and family alike with his progress and with his amazing spirit.

In September 2013, Travis and his wife Kelsey founded the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization, formed to benefit and assist post 9/11 veterans who have been injured in active duty or as a result of their service to our nation. The veteran and their families receive an all-inclusive, all-expenses paid, barrier-free vacation to Maine where they participate in adaptive activities, bond with other veteran families, and enjoy much-needed rest and relaxation in Maine’s great outdoors.

The Travis Mills Group LLC was started shortly after, where Travis consults with and speaks to companies and organizations nationwide inspiring all to overcome life’s challenges and adversity.

Travis’s story has been featured on local and national news including Fox News’ Happening Now with Jenna Lee, The O’Reilly Factor with Bill O’Reilly, CNN with Barbara Starr, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

This year, we are pleased to announce 28 awards that honor students who have demonstrated academic excellence and exemplary character, while making significant contributions to the Maine Maritime Academy community. More information about the awards.

AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING AWARD
Winner: Morgan Sage Boudreau

AMERICAN MARITIME OFFICERS SERVICE AWARD
Winners: Dylan Jaymes Bunker and Justin Andrew Jordan

BATH IRON WORKS SERVICE AWARD
Winner: Nathan M. Chamberland

BOSTON MARINE SOCIETY AWARD
Winner: Patrick A.W. Cloud II

CAPTAIN ALBION F. COFFIN MEMORIAL AWARD
Winner: Sarah J. Gilmore

CAPTAIN ALLAN K. CAMERON, JR., USN RETIRED, MEMORIAL AWARD
Winner: Sayre J. Pono

CAPTAIN ARTHUR FOURNIER AWARD
Winner: Ethan R. Boucher

CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER AND MRS. JAN KOPANG  MEMORIAL AWARD
Winner: Matthew J. Harris

CAPTAIN ROBERT SPEAR AWARD
Winner: Tyler James Brenton

CARGO AWARD
Winners: Meagan V. Coucette and Lucas Anthony Gaddini

DR. LEV S. SHEIBA AWARD
Winner: Henry Christopher Pilot

HAMILTON MARINE COMPANY AWARD
Winner: Bretton Dennis McAlister

HENRY BROOKS AWARD IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS & LOGISTICS
Winner: Elise Emilie Allen

HOLMES/VALLIERE/YOUNG AWARD IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND LOGISTICS
Winner: Sarah J. Gilmore

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MASTERS, MATES AND PILOTS AWARD
Winner: Andrew J. Todd

LOEB-SULLIVAN SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS & LOGISTICS FACULTY AWARD
Winners: Derek Gaylen Chapman

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Winner: Joseph Clifford Stanley

THE MMA CORE VALUE AWARD ESTABLISHED IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN DR. WALLACE S. REED BY DR. ELAINE POTOKER
Winner: Mackenzie L. Philbrick

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS & SCIENCES AWARD
Winner: Avery Joyce O’Neal

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY PARENTS ASSOCIATION AWARD
Winners: Morgan Sage Boudreau, Oliver Tate Higgins, Renaissance C. Lyman, and Ashlyn A. Royal

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Winners: Keith Austin Jordan and Mackenzie L. Philbrick

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY STUDENT LIFE AWARD
Winner: Avery Joyce O’Neal

MARINE TRANSPORTATION FACULTY AWARD
Winner: Michael P. Joosten

NATHAN CORNING AWARD
Winners: Alesha Marie Gregoire and Catherine Rita Mahoney

OCEAN STUDIES RESEARCH AWARD
Winner: Christian Cruz Pamatian

PENOBSCOT BAY AND RIVER PILOTS AWARD
Winner: Matthew J. Harris

SPILL CONTROL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AWARD
Winner: Jessica Z. D’Auria

WALTER TRAVIS AWARD
Winner: Ashlyn A. Royal

Lifetouch Special Events Photography joined us to document this year’s ceremony and have photographs of the event available for review and purchase. If you have any question, please visit the Lifetouch Customer Care Center.

Looking for a fun way to send an invitation? Send this ticket electronically to your friends and family.Electronic Ticket to share

To save ticket file, right-click the ticket and choose “Save link as”.

Let your neighbors know what your graduate has accomplished by displaying these posters and lawn signs. They can also be used to decorate for your virtual watch party during the event or as photo props. Use the hashtag #MMAGrad when you share photos on social media so we can celebrate with you!

We’ve prepared these art pieces for printing and display by family, friends, and members of the Class of 2021. The files are made available for general use, in celebration of MMA’s graduates and in conjunction with the Class of 2021 Commencement Ceremony on April 8, 2021. Each item has a white portion where the graduate’s name can be written in.

Examples Signs & Posters

Only students, faculty, staff, and administration will attend this event in-person. All participants will be masked and socially distanced. The ceremony will be live-streamed on our website so friends and family can participate remotely.

Our plans for this year’s celebration have evolved as a result of discussions that were held with students and families, and due to recent changes in public health guidance that were announced by Governor Mills on March 5.

We are pleased to offer an in-person celebration to our students, honoring their deeply-held desire to celebrate their impressive accomplishments with their peers.

While we wish that we could welcome friends and families to campus to celebrate, we are not able to do so this spring. Due to our condensed academic semester and the critical need for MMA to launch a safe summer cruise for current seniors and sophomores, MMA’s campus remains closed to most visitors at this time.

We encourage friends and families to plan safe, celebratory gatherings for their graduates during the live-stream event on April 8, or in the days after they return home from Castine.

We will create customizable lawn signs and provide you with a commencement e-ticket to share with friends and family.