EDUCATION BP
Some of the career choices available to maritime graduates include: • Ship’s Officer (deck or engine) • Chartering • Ship Operations • Brokerage
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• Shipping Finance
Fund helps youth enter maritime work Blue Water Scholarship Fund founded by friends who benefited from the maritime industry
• Ship Agency • Trading • Multiple Engineering Disciplines • Naval Architecture • Military Service
Tony Moceri Graduating from high school and figuring out what to do next is a complex proposition these days. College tuition is through the roof, as is the cost of living across the board, leaving many teens wondering where to go and what to do. Attending college can leave people with debt they will be paying off for years, and entering the workforce means working their way through the ranks to reach a decent wage. The Blue Water Scholarship Fund tries to shed some light on a path that few are considering because they know nothing about it. Founded in April 2017 by Jaime Cleveland, John Curtin and Jim Hoy, the Blue Water Scholarship Fund helps spotlight the great opportunities in the maritime industry while widening the path to good jobs for youth. The three
founders all came from humble beginnings and happened into the maritime industry, which led to rewarding and lucrative careers that allowed them to travel the world. “The maritime industry is like a very well-kept secret in the United States,” Cleveland said. He and his partners want to change that while helping people get into those careers with a financial boost. Six colleges around the country offer four-year degrees focused on the maritime field. There are a variety of paths offered, including ship operations, brokerage, naval architecture, ship’s officer, trading, or military service. These degrees provide direct career paths in a high-demand arena while also teaching real-world skills that are transferable outside of the maritime industry. This combination allows
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JAN/FEB 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM
