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April 30, 2005
Contact: Jennifer Whitty Cal Maritime Commencement Ceremonies Honor The Class of 2005 |
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VALLEJO, Calif., April 30, 2005 — Today, The California Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), a campus of The California State University, celebrated a day of commencement ceremonies that honored the 107 graduates from the Class of 2005. In addition to the commencement ceremony, the day’s events included a morning commissioning ceremony for 13 students who entered as ensigns into the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, or the Merchant Marine Reserve; an awards presentation; and a graduation brunch. Admiral Thomas H. Collins, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, served as the speaker at the commencement ceremony, and also participated throughout the day during the commissioning ceremony as well as the student awards ceremony. Admiral Collins’ participation during Cal Maritime’s commencement ceremonies is particularly fitting given that today the first students graduated from The California Maritime Academy Pre-Commissioning Pilot Program (CMAPPP), which prepares cadets to become active duty commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard. Cal Maritime is the only university in the United States,(with the exception of the Coast Guard Academy, to offer such a program. "We, in the Coast Guard, the lead federal agency for maritime safety and maritime homeland security, are pleased to be welcoming, and extend our sincere congratulations to, the California Maritime Academy graduates,” said Admiral Collins, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. Admiral Thomas H. Collins Admiral Collins assumed the duties of Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on May 30, 2002. His leadership priorities are readiness, people, and stewardship. He is personally committed to making effective use of emerging technologies and developing innovative methods to improve Coast Guard mission performance.
Prior to becoming Commandant, he served as the Coast Guard's Vice Commandant and was responsible for the Innovation Council, spearheaded service-wide process improvement initiatives, and directed system enhancements as the Coast Guard Acquisition Executive. He has also served as Commander, Pacific Area and Eleventh Coast Guard District, where he developed the successful Coast Guard response to the increase in illegal drug and migrant smuggling traffic in the Eastern Pacific.
The Admiral is the recipient of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (three awards).
“Leadership development is one of the primary areas of focus at Cal Maritime, and we are honored to have such a strong leader serve as our commencement speaker,” said Dr. William Eisenhardt, RADM USMS; president of Cal Maritme. “Admiral Collins was the second in command at the U.S. Coast Guard on 9/11 and in command shortly thereafter. Since then, he has been instrumental in transitioning the Coast Guard’s mission emphasis to include homeland security. He embodies all the elements of leadership that we aim to instill in all of our students, and we know his words today were an inspiration not only to the Class of 2005, but to all of those attending our commencement ceremony.”
Dr. Eisenhardt added that Cal Maritime’s commencement ceremonies officially bring to a close Cal Maritime’s 75th Anniversary, a yearlong celebration that began during the 2004 Commencement Ceremony and included such special events as a homecoming “Sail-a-bration;” concerts; “Presidents’ Day,” which reunited all the living former Cal Maritime presidents on campus for the first time ever; and a black tie 75th Anniversary Gala, which raised more than $50,000 for student scholarships. In addition, the commencement ceremonies mark the tenth anniversary of Cal Maritime being a campus of The California State University System.
About Cal Maritime Cal Maritime, a campus of The California State University, is one of only seven degree-granting maritime academies in the United States, and the only one on the West Coast. Tucked away in San Pablo Bay’s Morrow Cove in Vallejo, Calif., Cal Maritime offers students four-year degrees in business administration, facilities engineering technology, global studies and maritime affairs, marine engineering technology, marine transportation, and mechanical engineering. For more information about Cal Maritime, visit www.csum.edu.
About the U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
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