January 28, 2004
Public finds academy shipshape
NMC Maritime Academy holds open house for new facility
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Throwing open their doors to the community and prospective students, staff and cadets at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy welcomed the public to their Winter Open House.
Drawing more than 1,000 people during a three-hour stretch on Saturday, the open house was a resounding success.
"The beauty of it is that it did exactly what we wanted it to do: get Traverse City residents to come in and see this beautiful facility," said John Berck, admissions coordinator for the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. "This wouldn't be here if it weren't for the people of Traverse City."
Cadets in the program hosted the open house, answering questions, giving tours and demonstrating equipment. This year's enrollment jump to more than 100 students, providing a cadet at every turn to answer questions or share their story.
"We had a lot of fun and no one enjoys it more than our cadets," added Berck. "One of our goals at the academy is to educate the public, not only about the academy but about the industry."
Two engine room simulators proved to be popular stops on the tour as cadets helped visitors steer a big boat on the St. Mary's River. This new simulator displays a 210-degree view from the boat deck on a series of monitors, an increase from the 180-degree view in the old simulator.
While waiting for the simulator to be reset, three Boy Scouts from Troop 37, based at the Grawn United Methodist Church, checked out the controls. While intrigued by the gadgetry and video displays, they were not inclined at this point to pursue a maritime career.
"Maybe," was the best that Adam Morris, 14, could do, though his friends registered a sure "No" and an unsure "Don't know."
Aaron Thuesen, harbors no doubts about his choice of career: he has been working in the maritime field since he was 11 years old. A Vermont native, Thuesen is a fourth year deck cadet and will graduate this spring from the academy. He researched other maritime academies around the country but easily chose this one over the five others.
"I liked this one because it is small and more directed here," said Thuesen, who mentored with a ferry boat captain for nine summers. "I have completed three sea projects and it is a very good way to get real world experience."
Like all cadets for the past few years, Thuesen will graduate with a Bachelor's degree in business as well as a license for unlimited tonnage on both saltwater and freshwater ships. He is intrigued by the possibilities of exotic destinations offered by international shipping but also is looking at a career on the Great Lakes.
"I like that a lot because in the winter you can take time off," he noted.
The Maritime Academy, a part of Northwestern Michigan College, moved into their new home in October of 2003. The $17.5 facility also houses the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, the Great Lakes Professional Development Center and the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute.
The new Great Lakes Maritime Academy facility includes classrooms, simulation rooms, radar rooms and control rooms as well as engine rooms and an electric lab.
Berck has seen enrollment numbers increase over the past few years and projects 130 cadets with the new spring class. He noted that all ages are drawn to the academy to pursue a maritime career: from high school to retiring military to career changes.
He noted that there is a coming shortage of maritime officers as the average age right now in the industry is 51. The Great Lakes Maritime Academy facility is poised to help train the next generation of officers.
"We are going to grow to approximately 200 students but that will take a couple of years," Berck said. "We get people of all different ages, about half recent high school graduates and about half older students."