I am so pleased you have come out to support this wonderful institution and to help raise money for a cause so near and dear to my heart: scholarships for students.

First, I want to thank all of our sponsors and their representatives who are joining us tonight. This event has been three years in the making, and I appreciate your commitment and flexibility as we navigated uncharted waters during the Covid 19 pandemic. Your participation here tonight is a testament to your dedication to the college, our mission, and most importantly our current and future students.

Approximately 61% of our student body comes from the State of Maine and an MMA education would not be possible for many of our students if it weren’t for scholarships. MMA’s Board of Trustees has allotted $1.75 million in scholarship dollars for the next academic year starting this fall from endowed scholarships, a $550,000 increase from the year before, and the most ever awarded.
Net proceeds from tonight’s event will add to that number!

Have a wonderful time this evening and thank you for being here for our students.

Dr. William J. Brennan
President, Maine Maritime Academy