Four Texas A&M students receive Bouchard scholarships

(GALVESTON, Texas) — Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. of Melville, N.Y., is giving a new scholarship to Texas A&M University at Galveston to establish the Morton S. Bouchard Jr. Memorial Scholarship. It is named in honor of Bouchard Transportation’s former president and chief executive officer, Morton S. Bouchard Jr., who is the father of Bouchard Transportation’s current president and chief executive officer, Morton S. Bouchard III. 

“The scholarship is in memory of Mort Bouchard Jr.’s passion for the maritime industry, and his belief to always give back and support others,” said Morton S. Bouchard III.

This fund has provided Texas A&M Galveston with four scholarships per year for a period of five years. The scholarships are offered to full-time marine transportation students in good standing with demonstrated leadership skills. The recipient students also should be in pursuit of a deck officer’s license and a towing officers assessment record for a career aboard tugboats and/or petroleum barges.

The 2018 Bouchard Scholarship recipients are:

• Sonny Lawson, Lufkin, Texas
• Leah Linscott, Katy, Texas
• Caitlin Bezency, Houston, Texas
• Asher Spalding, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“Texas A&M Galveston is very proud to partner with Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. and is grateful for the generous support received via the Morton S. Bouchard Jr. Memorial Scholarship,” said Rick Kline, senior director of development, Texas A&M Foundation. “Because of Bouchard Transportation’s kindness, Texas A&M Galveston students like Mr. Lawson, Ms. Linscott, Ms. Bezency and Mr. Spalding, and many after them, will be greatly impacted by this generosity.”

Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. was incorporated in 1918 in New York Harbor, and has remained family-owned and operated for the last 100 years. It is notably the largest privately-owned petroleum barge company in the United States, with a fleet primarily consisting of articulated tug-barges. 

“Supporting education is one of Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc.’s most valued endeavors, which leads to safe and successful vessel operations throughout the maritime industry,” said Bouchard III. “We are proud to support the future of successful mariners from Texas A&M University through the Morton S. Bouchard Jr. Memorial Scholarship, and look forward to building this relationship over many years.”

By Professional Mariner Staff