Fort Schuyler Magazine Spring 2023

LETTER FROM ROBERT JOHNSTON ’69 Chairman, SUNY Maritime Foundation

Dear Maritime Alumni and Friends, As Maritime College launches the 150th anniversary celebration of its founding in 1874, it is incumbent upon the SUNY Maritime Foundation to ensure the College’s future success. To that end, I invite you to join us in supporting the Sesquicentennial Campaign for Maritime College. Fort Schuyler’s proud history as a school that opens the door of economic prosperity to many students is being seriously challenged, as tuition has increased significantly over the past decades. Working-class families struggle to afford four years of tuition, room, and board – and then three Summer Sea Terms cost the equivalent to two additional years of school! For alumni who graduated 30-50 years ago, state support covered as much as 70% of the cost of education and students and their families paid the 30% balance. Today is the opposite. Students and their families must cover 70% of their education. To remain First and Foremost in maritime education, our College must increase scholarship funding to ease the financial burden of a Maritime College education. In addition, unrestricted funds are needed to recruit accomplished, visionary faculty who will prepare Maritime’s students for the challenges of tomorrow and to respond to emerging needs and opportunities. In the coming months I look forward to celebrating Maritime College’s 150-year history, and I especially look forward to working with alumni, parents and industry friends to lay a solid financial foundation for Maritime College’s future. Best regards,

SUNY MARITIME FOUNDATION Board of Directors

Robert Johnston ’69, Chair John Bree ’78,Vice Chair Alexandra Anagnostis-Irons William F. Austen ’80

Michael Chalos ’70 William C. Gallo ’70 Capt. Ioannis (John) Frangos ’85, ’87 John Krousouloudis ’76 Joe Maurelli ’63

Capt. Robert Johnston ‘69 Chairman, SUNY Maritime Foundation

A.J. McAllister ’80 Bruce S. Rosenblatt

“ In 1966 my father paid $200 for Summer Sea Term. Twenty-five years later in 1990 when Capt. Morgan McManus, now Master of Empire State VII, was a cadet, the cost of Summer Sea Term was $1,100. With a cost of about $15,000 last summer it’s not surprising that aspiring students need our help! ” Capt. Robert Johnston ’69

Ex-Officio Michael A.Alfultis Roxanne Thompson

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