What do you love about the maritime industry? The ships, the ocean, the opportunities, the international breadth, the global connectedness, the collaboration, competitiveness, challenges or is it the relevance and importance of what this industry achieves, moving 90% of everything?
While I do appreciate all the above, for me, it’s the people. I love the diversity, the stories, the achievements, challenges, and the truly wonderful cast of characters that make up this international maritime theater.
High School Maritime Career Day
On January 24, the CMA Education Foundation hosted a Maritime Career Day at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, CT. The students in grades 9-12 were part of the marine science and IB programs and throughout the course of the school day we interacted with about 100 students and half a dozen teachers. I am thankful to Mass Maritime students and CMA EF interns Brett Gaughran (Charles Weber) and Alyssa Grieco (NAMEPA), Hudson Structured Capital’s Gokce Gomec and Yiannis Dalakouras, MT Maritime’s Jim Stacy, and CMA EF Board Members Brad Berman (Berman Legal), Kevin Breen (Charles Weber), Molly McCafferty (The American Club) and Don Frost for generously sharing their time, stories, and career paths with these students. Thanks to CMA member Captain Bridget Cooney who couldn’t participate in person but sent along a short video from the bridge of her ship. Your generosity in sharing your time, experiences and passion for the industry was greatly appreciated. The students all heard first-hand how this invisible industry puts clothes on your back, gas in your car, and food on your plate. (R. George) We educated, entertained, fed, and hopefully inspired a few to pursue education and career opportunities in the maritime industry. A few photos from the event follow. If you would like to participate in future maritime career days, please reach out to me.
CMA EF Scholarship Applications
If you know of a high school senior applying to study a maritime curriculum at a U.S. college or university, a current undergraduate student enrolled in a maritime program or a graduate student pursuing a maritime related degree at a U.S. academic institution, our 2023 scholarship applications are open until March 10, 2023. All eligibility requirements and the applications are available on our website at https://cma-edu.org/maritime-scholarship/. If you would like to join the Scholarship Selection Committee, please email me.
CMA EF and the CMA Shipping 2023 Conference and Expo
At the CMA Shipping 2023 Conference and Expo, the three winning student Business of Shipping Research papers will be part of the program agenda and these students will be presented with cash prizes sponsored by d’Amico Shipping. Also, at the conference this year we are debuting the CMA Maritime Student Task Force for high school, college or graduate students on site who are tasked with interviewing attendees on their career paths and experiences. See the agenda and more information at www.ShippiThe student’s group projects are then presented on the CMA stage on the last day. Interested students can register for this activity at: https://www.cmashippingevent.com/en/cma-student-task-force.html
In Need of Host Companies for Interns
Many college and even high school students are seeking internship opportunities for real world learning experiences that occur outside the classroom. Please consider hosting an intern. If you have any questions or would like help finding an intern, contact me.
Fairfield County Giving Day- February 23
Mark your calendars for February 23. It will be a day for everyone to support our campaign at https://www.fcgives.org/organizations/cma-education-foundation. #FairfieldCountyGives. Help us reach our fundraising goal of $2,000 on this day. All money raised will benefit student maritime scholarships and internship stipends. On behalf of the Board of Directors, myself, and the students we help, thank you for your support. We are truly grateful!
Share the love!
– Beth Wilson-Jordan
Former CMA President 2008-2012,
current Executive Director, CMA Education Foundation