First10Forward provides CMA Education Foundation with a $30,250 grant, supporting two scholarships for female Mariners
First10Forward is a non-profit comprised of women graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, whose mission is to advance the professional goals of women and girls pursuing non-traditional careers.
At their 2023 member meeting, First10Forward voted to award the CMA Education Foundation this year’s grant totaling $30,250 to be used to fund scholarships for women pursuing maritime education and maritime careers.
Connie Dato English, President of First10Forward, commenting on the grant said “The CMA Education Foundation’s commitment to supporting future careers in marine transportation met with our commitment to support women and girls in the pursuit of careers where women are traditionally under-represented. We hope this, our seventh and largest grant to date, will enable the recipients to thrive in an industry we care deeply about.”
Lois Zabrocky, CEO of International Seaways and a member of First10Forward and who served as the Connecticut Maritime Association 2021 Commodore, said of the grant: “The CMA community is comprised of individuals for whom the U.S. maritime academies and marine transportation industry has provided a dynamic pathway forward while they have contributed to global trade. Our grant and commitment will help ensure another generation of women and girls can share in that dynamic life.”
Beth Wilson Jordan, Executive Director of the CMA Education Foundation (CMA EF) said of the grant: “The CMA EF is honored to receive this generous First10Forward grant which aligns with the CMA EF’s mission to promote and support maritime education. Since its inception in 2011, the CMA EF has supported both men and women students with scholarships, and this grant will allow us to increase the support this year with dedicated scholarships for female students. It is a generous grant from the 30 First10Foward members!
Beth Wilson-Jordan, herself an F10F member, added “I love the powerful message, this collaborative effort sends to female students, that thirty Kings Point women believe in you, believe women are needed in this industry and are willing to financially support your maritime education. We’re all in this boat together!” Thank you to the 30 First10Forward women for living the KP motto, Acta Non Verba!”
High school students, college students, companies, teachers, and administrators in the Marine Transportation field or with a passion for the industry are encouraged to reach out to the CMA Education Foundation for further information on internships and scholarships or to donate to support the mission.
About: First10Forward
First10Forward raises money to support charitable organizations whose activities advance First10Forward’s mission of assisting women and girls pursuing non-traditional careers. The organization is made up of seasoned women graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (“Kings Point”), who share a sense of gratitude for the life altering, professional and personal opportunities their Kings Point education bestowed upon them, at the same time an awareness of the challenges they had to overcome to succeed in a traditionally male dominated industry. Together they share a desire to pay forward their wisdom and financial backing to girls and women embarking on similar non-traditional journeys.
Website – https://www.first10forward.org