CASTINE — Sawyer King, a marine engineering technology major from Appleton and Seth Yates, a marine systems engineering major from Rockport are among those cited by Maine Maritime Academy for academic honors at a Nov. 6 ceremony at the Castine campus.

Scheel Scholars
Henry A. Scheel of Rockport, Maine was one of America’s most respected naval architects and yacht designers. During his long and distinguished career, Mr. Scheel produced more than 250 complete designs which have been utilized by builders of sailboats and other craft in the U.S. and Europe. To express his high regard for Maine Maritime Academy, Mr. Scheel left funds in 1994 to permanently endow scholarships for students in the three upper classes who best exemplify intellectual curiosity and achievement. The ten Scheel Scholars honored on Wednesday include:

• Sydney Adams, Class of 2020, a Marine Science major from Trumbull, Connecticut
• Alexa Cacacie, Class of 2020, a Marine Biology major from Manahawkin, New Jersey
• Nathan Chamberland, Class of 2021, a Power Engineering Technology major from Saint Agatha, Maine
• Patrick Cloud, Class of 2021, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Manassas, Virginia
• Robert Jewell, Class of 2020, a Marine Engineering Technology major from South Paris, Maine
• Bretton McAlister, Class of 2021, a Vessel Operations and Technology major from Cape Elizabeth, Maine
• Michael McGee, Class of 2020, a Marine Engineering Operations major from Brunswick, Maine
• Avery Nelson, Class of 2022, an International Business and Logistics major from Dover Foxcroft, Maine
• Matthew Plante, Class of 2020, a Power Engineering Operations major from Wales, Maine
• James Trentham, Class of 2020, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Middletown, Delaware

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Scholars
ABS, a leading international classification society, is devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment, primarily through the establishment and verification of technical and engineering standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of ships and marine-related facilities. The ABS Scholarship is awarded to deserving full-time undergraduate students in pursuit of a degree in fields such as mechanical engineering, naval architecture, marine engineering, offshore engineering, cyber security, digital forensics, and data science. Recipients are also given an opportunity to complete an internship with the American Bureau of Shipping. ABS awarded scholarships to these outstanding MMA engineeringstudents in 2019:

• Garrett Bolduc, a Power Engineering Technology major from Bowdoin, Maine, Class of 2020
• Morgan Boudreau, a Power Engineering Technology major from 2021 Benton, Maine, Class of 2021
• Ryan Burke, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Lyman, Maine, Class of 2020
• Kaarie Burns, Marine Engineering Operations major from Levant, Maine, Class of 2020
• Devon Faller, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Meredith, New Hampshire, Class of 2020
• Braydn Fitzmaurice, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Skowhegan, Maine, Class of 2020
• Liam Flannery, a Marine Systems Engineering major from East Hampton, Connecticut, Class of 2020
• Ryan Hallett, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Millinocket, Maine, Class of 2020
• Sawyer King, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Appleton, Maine, Class of 2022
• Dylan Labun, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Waterville, Maine, Class of 2021
• Jacob Larsen, a Marine Systems Engineering  major from Dixfield, Maine, Class of 2019
• Garrett Morin, a Power Engineering Technology major from Turner, Maine, Class of 2021
• Samuel Sargent, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Bridgewater, Maine, Class of 2020
• Mary Shea, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Brownfield, Maine, Class of 2020
• Samuel Tucker, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Yarmouth, Maine, Class of 2021
• Justin Waceken, a Power Engineering Technology major from Millinocket, Maine, Class of 2020
• Seth Yates, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Rockport, Maine, Class of 2022

Mitchell Scholars
The Mitchell Institute awards more than 130 scholarships each year, one to a graduating senior from every public high school in Maine. Selection is based on academic potential, community impact, and financial need. Since 1995, the Institute has awarded nearly 2,900 scholarships totaling over $16 million. Mitchell Scholars recognized on Wednesday evening included:

• William LaBrecque, Class of 2023, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Boothbay, Maine
• Roxanna MacGregor, Class of 2023, an International Business and Logistics major from Eastport, Maine
• Brad McKechnie, Class of 2023, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Passadumkeag, Maine
• Evan Medunitza, Class of 2023, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Excellence in Teaching Award
In selecting the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, faculty from every academic department were nominated by students in the three upper classes, and by alumni of the last five years. From those nominations, the award recipient was chosen by a committee comprising the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services, the Dean of Faculty, and the Dean of Maritime Training.  In its deliberations, the Committee considered the letters of nomination as well as teaching evaluations from the Dean, the Department Chair, and students. This year’s award for Excellence in Teaching goes to Assistant Professor Kirk Langford.

Kirk Langford is an assistant professor in the Loeb Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University.  Professor Langford has over thirty-five years of experience in International energy services. Kirk managed global logistics-intensive businesses from four continents. He recruited and trained hundreds of engineers globally over 10 years and brings that experience to the students at MMA.

Faculty Promotion
Also celebrated was F. Michael Young, promoted to full professor of engineering. Professor Young earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy, graduating in 1977. He has been a member of the engineering faculty for 18 years over three different periods in his career. In the spring of 2015, Professor Young retired as a deepwater drilling manager from Seadrill and rejoined the engineering department at MMA. In addition to teaching, Professor Young spent 23 years in the offshore oil and gas industry working for Global Marine, Transocean and Seadrill.

About Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college on the coast of Maine offering programs of study in engineering, management, science, and transportation. The college serves approximately 950 undergraduate and graduate students in career-oriented degree programs. The job placement rate for MMA graduates exceeds 90 percent within 90 days of graduation. The college is consistently recognized for providing a high-value education by organizations such as the Brookings Institution, Washington Monthly, and U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit mainemaritime.edu.