KINGS POINT, N.Y., February 28, 2020 – On Monday morning, United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Superintendent, Rear Admiral Jack Buono, Academic Dean & Provost, Dr. John Ballard, Commandant of Midshipman, Captain Mike Stroud, and Director of Professional Development and Career Services, CAPT Eugene Albert, presented Sea Year Ribbons to the First Sailing Period 2022B-Split Midshipmen, for their exceptional accomplishment during Sea Year.  

Rear Admiral Buono personally congratulated each midshipman for earning USMMA’s most sought-after academic award. The Sea Year Ribbon recognizes outstanding performance, not only in self-driven academics at sea, but also in Shipboard Performance Evaluations. The 2022B-Split Midshipmen recognized with the awards were:

Jack Browne, Engine, Bronze

X'avier Carbonaro, Deck, Bronze

John Cipolla, Deck, Bronze

Julia Dahlke, Deck, Bronze

Charles DeMetz, Deck, Bronze

Dominick Esposito, Deck, Bronze

Thomas Hang, Engine, Bronze

James Kaleel, Deck, Bronze

Nathan Kurr, Engine, Bronze

Carson Lucas, Deck, Bronze

Andrew Maraska, Engine, Bronze

Blaine McDonough, Deck, Bronze

Matthew Mizell, Engine, Bronze

Matthew Novakowski, Engine, Bronze

Michael O'Donnell, Engine, Bronze

Ryan Pletcher, Deck, Bronze

Erin Roberts, Engine, Bronze

David Roper, Deck, Bronze

Emily Abe, Deck, Ribbon

David Cozad, Engine, Ribbon

Patrick Darmody, Deck, Ribbon

Helen Davis, Deck, Ribbon

Michael Flores, Engine, Ribbon

Preston Ford, Deck, Ribbon

Molly Hecker, Engine, Ribbon

Benjamin Mathews, Engine, Ribbon

Micah McAnany, Deck, Ribbon

Sean McGarrity, Engine, Ribbon

Zachar Skov, Engine, Ribbon

William Todd, Engine, Ribbon

Kristof Vitok, Deck, Ribbon

Sea Year Academic Ribbon Criteria

First Sailing Period: A Midshipman shall be awarded a scholastic honor ribbon for outstanding performance in the First Sea Period as the following conditions are fully met:

• Honor Ribbon: A QPA of at least 3.25 up to and including 3.49 for the first sea year, no failing grades, and above average (3.0) on Shipboard Performance Evaluations, which have been entered into PD&CS Shipboard Data Base at the time of the initial posting of Sea Project grades.

•  Honor Ribbon with Bronze Star: A QPA of at least 3.50 for the first sea year, no failing grades, and above average (3.0) Shipboard Performance Evaluations, which have been entered into PD&CS Shipboard Data Base at the time of the initial posting of Sea Project grades.