KINGS POINT, N.Y., May 5, 2023 – Yesterday, The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point honored midshipmen for their accomplishments in the classroom and at sea during the second term of Academic Year 2022–23.

First Class Midshipman Matt Williams, Second Battalion Academic Officer; Second Class Midshipman Victoria Wilson, Third Battalion Academic Officer Petty Officer; and Third Class Midshipmen Draygan Colonese and Trevor Quigley presented the Gold and Silver Stars to midshipmen for academic performance. Second Class Midshipman Frank Connard, Regimental Shipboard Training Liaison Petty Officer, presented the Sea Year Ribbons.

During the ceremony in Wiley Hall, midshipmen were presented Gold and Silver Stars for academic performance, while members of the Class of 2025 B-Split who excelled at sea received Sea Year Ribbons.

The ceremony was supervised by First Class Midshipman Anai Walters, Regimental Academic Officer, and was organized by First Class Midshipman Christopher Quinn, Third Battalion Academic Officer and Midshipman Wilson.

Vice Admiral Joanna Nunan, Superintendent, Rear Admiral John Ballard, Academic Dean and Provost, and Captain Mike Stroud, Commandant of Midshipmen, personally congratulated each awardee. Afterward, midshipmen celebrated at a reception hosted by the Academic Center of Excellence.

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 2022-2023, 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 2023