F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R
CAPT Wallace ’72, USN (Ret.)
I am privileged to work with so many wonderful families and candidates, our own Alumni Association and Foundation, as well as the staffs of the Naval Academy admissions and
athletic departments. Our spring and fall meetings were each attended by many of our 250 active Trustees and their spouses. The focus at both events was staying relevant to the Naval Academy and promoting the Fund for Athletic Excellence and the prep school program. While we are doing very well overall, we still need your help in our mission to support both important programs. The information provided in the next column gives you an idea of the wonderful impact we’ve had over the past year.
Athletic Support Our purpose is to remain relevant and responsive to the needs of the Naval Academy. We have achieved that by increasing our financial support for Navy athletic programs over the past several years. There are new recognition levels (“Patron’s Level”– $2500/year, “Fleet Club”–$5000/year, “Rip Miller”–$10,000/year and “Friends of Navy Athletics”–$25,000/ year x 5 years) for those Trustees, parents and friends who support athletic excellence. In our prep school program, we have also increased the amount of tuition assistance for each of our sponsored students. Finally, our Trustees have stepped up and are involved in a wide range of volunteer projects to assist Navy athletic programs and educate our midshipman athletes about the rich heritage and tradition of which they are now a part. Thanks again for your sincere commitment to this unique foundation!
Scholarship Program We completed another successful admissions cycle for the entering Class of 2021 on 29 June. Of the 50 original Foundationsponsored prep school students, 44 (24 men and 20 women) earned their appointments and became midshipmen on Induction Day. A couple of them had been delayed for a year due to medical issues, but they checked in this summer after successful rehab during prep school.We lost two who voluntarily resigned from the program early in the school year. We lost three more who were unable to pass the Navy PRT (Physical Readiness Test) and one for a disciplinary problem. All the rest successfully earned their appointments for an outstanding 88 percent matriculation rate! We wish the Class of 2021 the very best. New prep school scholarships established this past year are: • The Captain Brandon Barrett, USMC, Memorial Scholarship, created
F O U N D AT I O N A W A R D S
Joe Duff/Max Bishop Baseball Trophy The Joe Duff/Max Bishop Baseball Trophy honors Navy Coaches Joe Duff and Max Bishop. Bishop guided Navy to 314 wins during his 25 years as head coach from 1937 to 1961. Duff served as the head coach from 1962 to 1993 and won a school record 595 games. Their Former Commandant Col Steve Liszewski ’90, players remember the USMC, with the Blue family, Navy Baseball discipline they taught them Coach Paul Kostacopoulos and two assistant coaches on the athletic field and the ideals they instilled in them as they headed off to their military careers. They were coaches, they were teachers and they prepared the players for their careers in military service and in life. Presented by the Trustees of the U.S. Naval Academy Athletic and Scholarship programs, the Joe Duff/ Max Bishop trophy recognizes the Navy varsity baseball player of the graduating class who has contributed the most to the team’s success over his varsity playing career. This year’s recipient was Midshipman Travis Blue from Orange, CA, who majored in Oceanography. His service selection was Navy Pilot.
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Lieutenant Commander Erik Kristensen Crew Trophy The Lieutenant Commander Erik Kristensen Crew Trophy honors the memory of Lieutenant Commander Erik Kristensen ’95, USN, killed in action in Afghanistan. The Trophy is presented by Rear Admiral and Mrs. Edward Kristensen and friends and classmates to the Navy Varsity Heavyweight Former Commandant Col Steve Liszewski ’90, USMC, with the Gibson family Crew member of the graduating class who has contributed the most to the program’s success over his career at the Naval Academy. This year’s recipient was Midshipman Scott Gibson from Vienna, VA, who majored in Quantitative Economics. His service selection was Surface Warfare.