Fort Schuyler Magazine Spring 2023

LETTER FROM MICHAEL ALFULTIS President, SUNY Maritime College

Dear SUNY Maritime College Community, April 24, 2023 marked a significant milestone in our institution’s history; the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Maritime College, known then as the New York Nautical School. As we embark on this historic year, the theme for our sesquicentennial is Celebrating Our Past, Investing in Our Future. Throughout the remainder of this year and 2024, we will reflect on the history of Maritime College rooted in rich traditions and academic excellence – and highlight the achievements of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. We will also look ahead as we prepare the next generation of highly skilled merchant mariners and maritime professionals by investing in the people, programs and scholarship initiatives that empower them for successful careers. This anniversary celebration and unique moment in time will also serve as a philanthropic event for engaging alumni and I encourage our community of alumni, sponsors, partners, and all others to support our fundraising efforts. Your generosity has always and will continue to benefit the College by providing essential and much-needed student scholarships, enhancing undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and supporting the student life experience. The launch of the sesquicentennial campaign, Celebrating Our Past, Investing in Our Future, and the various ways you can assist in ensuring student success is noted in the pages that follow. In keeping with the sesquicentennial theme, this issue features faculty member Professor Karen Markoe, the first female Chair of Humanities, who after an almost fifty-year career at Maritime College, retired at the end of 2022. Regarding what lies ahead for the future of the Student Government Association, Liam Reddan ‘23 shares his perspective of how he utilized his time as student president in 2022-2023 to support student engagement and clubs while laying the groundwork for a new president. This athletic season showcased the might of our Privateers, and I am very pleased that many of our teams participated in the Skyline Conference Championship games and our coaches were recognized by the Conference. Finally, this issue also includes the many campus activities, events and stories that showcase the College’s distinctiveness. I am deeply proud of Maritime College and our students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners and all who have contributed to its extraordinary legacy. I am also enthusiastic about what will soon be realized on campus – a new training ship, a new Student Union, a new Seamanship Center – and all that awaits in the horizon. Many thanks to each of you for your enduring support, which has made SUNY Maritime College a leading institution of higher learning. Please enjoy this issue of Fort Schuyler Magazine!

Stay well,

RADM Michael A. Alfultis, USMS, Ph.D.

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