Maine Maritime Academy Commencement Set

Maine Maritime Academy Commencement Set for Saturday, May 2, 2015

Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman, President and CEO of American Bureau of Shipping, to Deliver Commencement Address

CASTINE, Maine—The 2015 Commencement will be held at Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday, May 2 at 11 a.m. at the Alexander Field House. Christopher J. Wiernicki, an internationally recognized naval architect and business leader, will be the college’s Commencement speaker. Wiernicki currently serves as the Chairman, President and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a leader in classification and certification services for the global offshore and marine industries, and Chairman of ABS Group, a leading global provider of technical services. Mr. Wiernicki will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree.

“ABS has invested so much toward the success of our students,” said MMA President, Dr. William J. Brennan. “We are honored that Chris Wiernicki will provide the Class of 2015 with advice and guidance as our graduates launch their new lives and careers.”

Mr. Wiernicki holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt, a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from George Washington University, where he was later elected to the George Washington University Engineering Hall of Fame, and a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering from MIT.  He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

“It is an honor to speak with the young people who represent the next generation of maritime leaders,” said Mr. Wiernicki. “Their future roles and responsibilities are critical to the ABS mission to protect life, property and the natural environment.”

Commencement activities will begin at 9 a.m. with the annual awards program in Delano Auditorium in Leavitt Hall. Commencement Exercises will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Alexander Field House. Seating at this year’s ceremony will be open and admission will not require guest tickets. The college will also sponsor a live webstream broadcast of the ceremony, enabling family and friends to watch the event online. The webstream will begin at 11 a.m. and can be accessed at the following internet address: http://mainemaritime.edu/streaming.

Dr. William J. Brennan, MMA President, will present diplomas. Dr. David Gardner, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, will preside at the exercises. The oath of office will be administered to new U.S. Merchant Marine officers by Captain Brian Gilda, United States Coast Guard. Captain Michael A. Hegarty, United States Navy, will administer the oath of office for Navy Officers. A formal commissioning ceremony will take place one hour following the conclusion of Commencement, at approximately 1:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of Leavitt Hall. In the event of inclement weather, the commissioning ceremony will be held in Delano Auditorium.

Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college on the coast of Maine offering 18 degree programs in engineering, management, science, and transportation. The college serves approximately 950 undergraduate and graduate students in career-oriented programs of study. Maine Maritime Academy was ranked the #1 Best Public College on Money magazine’s Best Colleges list released in August of 2014. The college’s persistence, retention and graduation rates are well above national averages, and the job placement rate is in excess of 90 percent within 90 days of graduation. For more information, visit mainemaritime.edu.