- Last Updated : Jan 11, 2009
Recent Events
Having trouble explaining to people that your child is a midshipmen at the United States Merchant Marine Academy? Well there is an excellent recruiting video from the academy that tells the story. USMMA Video Highlights
Better yet, Watch it on YouTube. (Make sure to click "Watch in high quality" and PLAY IT LOUD!!!) USMMA Video
This year has seen change at the Academy with the new incoming Admiral. The midshipman on campus should become acclimated as time goes on. So far, we are aware of a change in what times the midshipman are beginning their day: 6:00 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m.
Most of our Ohio midshipmen are at sea right now. While we only have a few reports on how the sea duty is going, we are sharing their experiences below. For those on campus and in Band Company, excitement is rising with the trip to participate in the Inaugural Parade on January 20th. (Ashley '12). Ashley's parents enjoyed having her home for the holidays and report that she is very excited about the parade. Hopefully, we can all get glimpse of them!
We missed everyone at the luncheon. It has been something we have looked forward to since Garrick was just an applicant to the Academy. We miss seeing all of you; what we share as parents of midshipmen is unique. Luncheon Photos...
As good fortune would have it, we were able to travel to Tampa, Florida to meet the Keystone Texas, the 600-foot steam-powered domestic tanker that Garrick '10 is serving aboard in the Engineering Department. The ship carries gasoline from New Orleans to Tampa and back. We toured the ship and met the Captain and Garrick's boss, the Master Chief Engineer, and the first mate, who is a '98 Kings Point (Dan) graduate. Also, on deck is KP a '08 grad (Laura). I can tell you now that I have never been so proud of what our young men and women are accomplishing. We received a wonderful tour of the engine room and were proud and amazed at the knowledge these young midshipmen have accumulated in such a short time. We were also able to celebrate a late Christmas with Garrick and his KP shipmate, Reilly Milligan, who is from Texas. Photos...
We received a quick note from John Irvine who said Kegan '11, is enjoying his first sea duty experience. He is on the Philadelphia Express, a container ship calling on Houston, Charleston, Norfolk, Antwerp, Bremen and Thamesport. Kegan says he is busy, likes the work and the food, which is better than Delano.
Anthony '10, wrote us directly. "I am currently writing you from a coffee shop in Anacortes, Washington. We are at anchor for a couple days until the Shell refinery here is able to accept us at their cargo loading facility. I am on an oil tanker called the SS SeaRiver Kodiak. SeaRiver is a separate company that came under Exxon's wing back in the 90's (Exxon transferred some of their ships to SeaRiver after the Exxon Valdez spill to protect themselves). The ship travels up to Valdez, Alaska to load and returns to Anacortes to discharge (we used to discharge some of our cargo at a BP refinery, but they banned us from coming back; the ship is too old). Washington is rainy; Valdez is snowy. Hopefully, I will soon be basking in the warm sun of San Francisco when we make a stop down there in the coming weeks. My sea partner is deck cadet Chris Brown of Maryland. We have come across three Kings Pointers since we've been on here. Erin Mitchell (3rd mate) '08, David Poulnot (3rd mate) '08, and Kelly Fisher (3rd assist. engineer) '00. The ports we visit are not all that great. There's not much going on in Anacortes except for a few coffee shops and a grocery store. Valdez is about the same. Sometimes we stop at Port Angeles, Washington which is better. So the ports of call on this run are not very exciting. But at least the food on the ship is good and that is what is important. At the dinner plate shipboard morale can either elevate to the heights of Mount Olympus or descend to the fiery pits of Hades.
Hopefully, our midshipmen home for the holidays were able to update you in person at the luncheon.
We also heard from the parents of recent 2008 graduates, Rita Dernar and Elise Houston. Elise is serving on a Military Sea Lift Command Ship. Her mother (Julie) reports that she has been to many beautiful countries but hates the shipboard food. Elise will have a 45-day break starting January 20th and has plans for a couple ski trips. Rita is a Dynamic Positioning Officer for a major off shore drilling company aboard a drilling ship in the Gulf of Mexico. John reports that the hours are long but the pay is good.
Alumni, Libby Palker Heard '05 and husband Cory Heard '04 are living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Cory is stationed with the US Coast Guard and inspecting ships in Europe. Libby is looking for a job but is limited in her opportunities due to the military red tape and being a US Citizen. Mom and Dad Palker (Karen and Jess) visited in September, touring Amsterdam, Berlin, The Czech Republic and Paris with Libby.
Alumni, Tedd and Joe Spano were home for the holidays. Tedd is an engineer with Northrop Grumman and lives in Hampton, Va. He is involved in the design testing of a new class of aircraft carrier. Joe is the 2nd Officer on the USNS Bridge, a Military Sealift Command Ship. Mary and Nick (Mom and Dad) got to sail on a tiger cruise with Joe. Mary sailed from Hawaii to San Diego and Nick from San Diego to Washington. The Spanos report that they are very appreciative of the outstanding education their sons received at the Merchant Marine Academy.
We sincerely appreciate hearing from you and are looking forward to hearing more news. The next big event on campus should be the recognition of the Plebes! As always, please consider helping with the parent organization. We appreciate all your wonderful efforts in recruiting for the academy. In addition, the midshipmen appreciate the little things we do for them, such as, sending them exam treats. Please consider taking an active position.
Sincerely, Sheryl and Jim Sheatzley