Fort Schuyler Magazine - Spring 2022

HOPE KNIGHT Empire State Development President & CEO-designate: “ESD is moving full steam ahead with strategic investments in the William Austen Marine Education and Seamanship Center, which will advance statewide initiatives such as workforce development and skillbuilding. The Seamanship Center, along with the new Student Learning Center and renovated Marine Engineering Systems Laboratory, will be state-of-the-art facilities that will serve SUNYMaritime’s talented student body and is a win for the Bronx and New York State’s economy.” BILL AUSTEN '80: “Maritime College providedme with the foundation to have the successful career that I fully enjoyed. This donation was a way for my wife, Nancy, and I to give back to the College, its students, faculty and staff in a meaningful way” MARCOS CRESPO SUNY Board of Trustees: “These three significant construction projects are a part of the state-of-the-art facilities emerging at SUNY Maritime around its historic Fort, and it is made possible from New York State capital investment and the generosity of William Austen.”

I fully enjoyed. This donation was a way for my wife, Nancy, and I to give back to the College, its students, faculty and staff in a meaningful way.” The state-of-the-art Center will boast a wet lab on the first floor consisting of aquaria and touch tanks for teaching and research. The second floor will support seamanship and offshore wind training for students and professional mariners. Two ribbon-cutting ceremonies immediately followed the groundbreaking event. Attendees gathered at the Student Learning Center on the third floor of Heritage Hall. The newly constructed, purpose-designed space will provide academic support services, skills assistance, group and individual tutoring and studying, and meeting rooms for student study groups. The Veteran’s Center was moved to that location to better serve veterans. A second ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the newly reimagined and reinvigorated Marine Engineering Systems Laboratory, which is now a state-of the-art learning platform for students studying marine, facilities, and mechanical engineering. Creating these three modernized learning spaces for students and providing much-needed academic support services will attract and retain students interested in the maritime industry and fully prepare generation of merchant mariners to come.

SUNY Construction Fund, Empire State Development, and the generosity of an alum. We view these improvements as a means of further strengthening the development of a well-prepared merchant mariner and offshore wind workforce while leveraging the uniqueness of the college,” said RADM Michael Alfultis. Alum Bill Austen ’80, was acknowledged by RADM Alfultis as an outstanding global business leader with a steadfast commitment to Maritime College, its programs and students. As he reflected on the groundbreaking of the building that would be named in his honor, Mr. Austen said, “Maritime College provided me with the foundation to have the successful career that

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New Student Learning Center