CASTINE, Maine, May 2, 2024— Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), one of the United States’ foremost maritime universities offering degrees in engineering, science, management, and transportation, will hold its 81st Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May, 4 at 11:30 a.m. Senator Angus S. King Jr. (ME-I) will deliver the Commencement address.

Two hundred students will receive diplomas from MMA in undergraduate degrees in Marine and Power Engineering, Marine Transportation, Ocean Studies, and International Business and Logistics. Masters degrees will be awarded in Maritime Management and International Business and Logistics, and associate degrees in Shipbuilding through the Bath Iron Works Cooperative Program. One hundred and thirty-one of the graduates are from the state of Maine.

Senator King is Maine’s first Independent United States Senator and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

“It is a distinct honor to have Senator Angus King participate in the Maine Maritime Academy Commencement. As MMA embarks on the many initiatives that impact students, workforce development and the environment in Maine, Senator King has championed our work and vision,” said President Jerry Paul. “We are honored that he joins us to celebrate the Class of 2024.”

Rear Admiral Jerry Paul, MMA President, will present diplomas. Dr. Keith Williamson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, will preside at the exercises. The oath of office will be administered to new U.S. Merchant Marine officers by Captain Amy Florentino, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England.

A formal commissioning ceremony for graduates becoming ensigns in the U.S. Navy will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Leavitt Lawn, in front of Leavitt Hall.

Commencement activities begin at 9:00 a.m. with the annual awards program in Delano Auditorium in Leavitt Hall. The Commencement Ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Alexander Field House.

Commencement is a ticketed event, to assure that families of graduates are able to have priority seating. Guest tickets for students and families have been provided directly to students. Ticket holders will be admitted into the Field House and overflow seating will be available in the Margaret Chase Smith Gymnasium, which is connected to the Field House complex. Overflow seating does not require tickets and attendees can watch the ceremony on large screens in real time.

The college will also have available a livestream broadcast of the ceremony, enabling family and friends to watch the event online. The livestream will begin at 11:00 a.m. and can be accessed at the following internet address: https://live.mainemaritime.edu.

ABOUT Maine Maritime Academy

Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college on the coast of Maine offering 22 programs of study in engineering, management, science, and transportation to promote the maritime interests of the United States. The college serves approximately 950 undergraduate and graduate students in career-oriented degree programs. The job placement rate for MMA graduates is approximately 90 percent within 90 days of graduation with very high paying jobs. The college is consistently recognized for providing a high-value education by organizations such as the Brookings Institution, U.S. News and World Report, and Money Magazine. The 2022 Report by Georgetown University ranked MMA #1 among all public colleges for return on investment for low-income students at public bachelor’s degree institutions.