KINGS POINT, N.Y., January 25, 2022 - The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point recently honored midshipmen who distinguished themselves academically and at sea during the first term of Academic Year 2021–22.

At a ceremony in Wiley Hall, Midshipman Anders Marius, 1/c, the Regimental Academic Officer, presented the Gold and Silver Stars to midshipmen who demonstrated academic excellence during the period. In addition to the academic awards, Lieutenant Tamara Kaileh, Academy Training Representative and Midshipman John Cipolla, 1/c, Regimental Shipboard Training Liaison, presented Sea Year Ribbons to the Class of 2022 A-Split, Second Sailing midshipmen who excelled during Sea Year. Vice Admiral Jack Buono, Superintendent; Rear Admiral Susan Dunlap, Deputy Superintendent; and Rear Admiral John Ballard, Academic Dean and Provost, personally congratulated each awardee.

Rear Admiral Ballard commended the recipients by saying, “It was wonderful to welcome so many successful Midshipmen to Wiley Hall to receive academic and sea year recognition. COVID has made learning much more challenging for all of us and these students worked hard and truly excelled.”

Gold and Silver Academic Stars at USMMA are awarded on the following basis:

• Gold Star: a QPA of at least 3.50 with no course failures in the term;
• Silver Star: a QPA of at least 3.25 up to and including 3.49 with no course failures in the term.

The full list of Academic Award recipients is accessible by clicking: Gold and Silver Stars Academic Year 2021-2022, Term 1.

Sea Year Ribbons are awarded to those with:

• QPA of at least 3.25 up to and including 3.49; no failing grade;
• Above average (3.0) Shipboard Performance Evaluations, in PD&CS Shipboard Database at the time of the initial posting of Sea Project grades.

The full list of Sea Year Ribbon recipients is accessible by clicking: Class of 2022 Second Sailing Sea Year Ribbons.