KINGS POINT, N.Y., May 3, 2022 - The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point recently honored midshipmen who distinguished themselves academically and at sea during the second term of Academic Year 2021–22.

At a May 2nd ceremony in Wiley Hall, midshipmen were presented Gold and Silver stars for academic performance, while members of the Class of 2023  B-Split and 2024 B-Split who excelled at sea received Sea Year Ribbons. Midshipman LT Elias Gray, 1/c, 2nd Battalion Academic Officer; and Midshipman LT Ethan Brady, 1/c, 1st Battalion Academic Officer, presented the Gold and Silver Stars to midshipmen who demonstrated academic excellence during the second term of Academic Year 2022.  Midshipman Jaquelynn Sheedy, 2/C, the Regimental Shipboard Training Liaison Petty Officer, presented Sea Year Ribbons to the Class of 2023 B-Split and Class of 2024 B-Split midshipmen who excelled during Sea Year. Rear Admiral John Ballard, Academic Dean and Provost; Rear Admiral Susan Dunlap, Deputy Superintendent; and Captain Mike Stroud, Commandant of Midshipmen, personally congratulated each awardee.

Rear Admiral Ballard commended each of the recipients and noted, “Even after two years marked by distance learning and disrupted schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our superb midshipmen continue to excel; those recognized today for their second term achievements are proof once again that Kings Pointers are resilient and able to persevere, even during the most challenging of circumstances.”

The ceremony was supervised by Midshipman Anders Marius, 1/c, the Regimental Academic Officer, and was organized by Midshipman Anai Walters, 2/c; and by Midshipman Christopher Soo, 2/c, both of whom are Regimental Academic Petty Officers

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 2.

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: Academic Star and Sea Year Ceremony, May 2, 2022