SUNY’s annual Admiral Scholorship Dinner to be held on May 3rd

State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College’s annual Admiral’s Scholarship Dinner will be held on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011, on the College’s Throgs Neck, Bronx, New York campus. The event will begin at 6:00 pm with a cocktail hour, followed by the awards dinner at 7 pm in Vander Clute Hall.
 
During the Admiral’s Scholarship Dinner, SUNY Maritime College will salute two Maritime graduates, Mark Barker, president, The Interlake Steamship Company, Cleveland, OH as well as Thomas Merrell, president, General Dynamics, American Overseas Marine (AMSEA), in Quincy, MA.
 
The chemical tanker owner, BLT Chembulk Group headquartered in Southport, CT, will also be honored that evening. Jack Noonan, CEO, will accept the honor for the company that evening. BLT Chembulk is a subsidiary of Berlian Laju Tankers of Jakarta, Indonesia, and includes the company formerly known as Chembulk Tankers.
 
Gary Jobson, ESPN Sailing Analyst, broadcaster/producer, lecturer, writer and former All-American collegiate sailor, who won the America’s Cup in 1977 as tactician for Ted Turner, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Jobson, himself a SUNY Maritime graduate, is the pre-eminent ambassador for sailing in the U.S.
 
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the SUNY Maritime College Scholarship Fund. As one of only six state maritime colleges in the United States, Maritime College is a vital educational force in training and preparing thousands of young people for leadership careers in the maritime industry. 
 
Tickets for the 2010 Admiral’s Scholarship Dinner to benefit the State University of New York Maritime College Scholarship Fund are available by calling 718-409-4983, or by emailing: admiralsdinner@sunymaritime.edu. Tickets are $300 per person. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are also available for the event as well as for the journal. Attire for the event is business dress. Tables of 10 are available beginning at $3,000 per table. All proceeds of the 2011 Admiral’s Scholarship Dinner will benefit the SUNY Maritime College Scholarship Fund.
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2011 SUNY Maritime College Admiral’s Dinner Honoree Biographies:
 
Mark Barker, a 1994 graduate of SUNY Maritime College is president of The Interlake Steamship Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The Interlake Steamship Company operates nine (9) Great Lakes self-unloading bulkers throughout the Great Lakes and delivers more than 20 million tons of iron ore, coal and stone annually. Mark was a member of the Maritime College sailing team during his days as a Cadet and graduated from SUNY Maritime with a BE in Marine Engineering and holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University — Weatherhead School of Management. In addition to his duties at The Interlake Steamship Company, Mark is on the Board of Moran Towing Corporation and sits on the Council of the American Bureau of Shipping. Mark is also on the board of the Great Lakes Historical Society and Great Lakes Science Center.
 
Thomas Merrell, a 1977 graduate of SUNY Maritime College, is president of General Dynamics, American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) in Quincy, MA. AMSEA operates and manages Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) and Large Medium Speed Roll on/Roll Off (LMSR) ships for the U. S. Military Sealift Command. Captain Merrell sailed as Ship’s Deck Officer and Captain for eight years prior to joining AMSEA in 1984. Thom holds a master’s degrees in management as well as a master’s degree in Secondary Math and Science Education. A retired Lieutenant from the U. S. Naval Reserves; he is affiliated with numerous professional and charitable maritime organizations.

The BLT Chembulk Group, headquartered in Southport, CT, is the chemical tanker arm of Berlian Laju Tankers of Jakarta, Indonesia, and includes the company formerly known as Chembulk Tankers. The Group is responsible for the commercial management of more than 60 ocean-going chemical tankers and is committed to being the chemical industry’s preferred partner for global marine transportation. Chembulk employs nine SUNY Maritime College graduates, two of whom are Vice Presidents, at BLT Chembulk’s chartering and operations departments. Jack Noonan, a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, is the Group’s Chief Executive Officer.

By Professional Mariner Staff