SUNY Maritime College Annual Report 2020-2021

J oshua Burris, a native of Folsom, Louisiana was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Captain Peter van Leeuwen Summer Sea Term Scholarship, SUNY Maritime College. His nomination stemmed from his willingness to give to others, his community spirit and crucial financial need. Burris, who struggled financially to complete his degree, was shocked by the news of the award saying, “I can’t stop crying.” The path to a Maritime College degree and a U.S.C.G. Third Mate’s license was far from traditional for Burris. He began as a deckhand working on tugs and barges in Louisiana with no formal training or awareness of the opportunities available to him on the water. Working for stretches as long as 35 consecutive days, he recognized he had an important life decision to make. “I could have a good job, or I could stretch myself to become something much bigger and have a career. If I sacrificed for four years, I could provide for my family for the next forty years.” Initially, Burris was not admitted to Maritime College when he applied and instead enrolled in a junior college in California where he earned a 3.5 GPA while making all-conference as a defensive back on the football team. Although he was offered football scholarships at larger schools, he heeded

Inaugural Captain Peter van Leeuwen Summer Sea Term Scholarship Awarded to J OSHUA B URRIS

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Annual Report 2020-2021