Press Release: 7/8/2025

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Debuts Proprietary STEAM Program for Women and Non-Binary High School Students

BUZZARDS BAY, MA, ISSUED JULY 7, 2025…Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, recently held an Academy-created multi-day STEAM program aboard the SSV Ernestina-Morrissey for high school students identifying as women and/or non-binary.

 

Held June 23-26, the Education Sail program “Women in STEAM: An Ernestina- Morrissey Interdisciplinary Experience” offered a unique and empowering experience for young women and non-binary students in grades 9-12 from underserved communities throughout Massachusetts.

 

Blending maritime heritage with interdisciplinary learning across Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) education, the program emphasized liberal arts through hands-on activities in writing, history, and seamanship. Students explored the connections between ocean sciences and creative expression, deepening their understanding of both.

 

Guided by MMA faculty program facilitators Dr. Heather Burton and Dr. Morgan Banville, the eleven young participants followed a thoughtfully structured daily schedule enriched by hands-on experiences, such as sail handling, anchor raising, and frequent opportunities to engage with, learn from, and even interview the ship’s crew. Pamela Cerrud-Ahern, program director of the Capt. Paul Cuffe Global Institute, participated as a translator to accommodate any English as a Foreign Language (ESL) students.

 

Prior to embarking on the journey, SSV Ernestina-Morrissey crew members versed participants on protocol for person overboard, fire aboard the vessel, and abandon ship, followed by a tour of the vessel and review of all safety systems and devices.

 

The students’ educational journey brought them through Stellwagen Bank, a designated National Marine Sanctuary. The underwater plateau, nestled between Cape Cod and Cape Ann, is known for its unique topography that triggers upwellings of nutrient-rich waters, drawing a diverse array of marine life. Students observed several whales and seals in their natural habitat, adding yet another layer of awe and excitement to their experience.

 

Each day, the student voyagers took part in watch duty and other ship board tasks, steadily building their communication, collaboration, and sailing confidence with every passing shift.  The daily humanities sessions featured lessons in interview techniques, college essay writing, critical thinking, and research skills. Each evening students took time to write in their journals, processing the day’s insights and experiences.

 

In addition to writing and effective communication activities, academic programming included a historical review of the SSV Ernestina-Morrissey and a discussion of the role of women at sea during the whaling era.

 

Night time activities aboard the vessel  – such as card games and charades – centered around bonding, and while students were not required to stand watch throughout evenings while docked, they had the opportunity to sleep on deck and star gaze!

 

There was also time for some onshore activity. On day two of the three-day adventure, the SSV Ernestina-Morrissey docked in Provincetown where students, chaperoned by faculty, Cerrud-Ahern, and ship Captain Tiffany Krihwan, enjoyed dinner and a tour of the town.

 

“With the launch of this innovative program, the Academy reaffirms its commitment to inclusive, interdisciplinary education,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “By creating hands-on opportunities for young students to engage deeply with the maritime sciences and liberal arts, we are cultivating the next generation of visionary leaders in STEAM fields.”

 

The SSV Ernestina-Morrissey is part of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s permanent fleet, serving as an educational platform for sail and leadership training for cadets, K-12 STEM programs, and community engagement.

 

Student participants in the “Women in STEAM: An Ernestina-Morrissey Interdisciplinary Experience” were:

 

Marianelis Jimenez, Lawrence High School

Molly Young, Rising Tide

Lula Heine, Sturgis West Charter Public School

Chau Tran, Quincy High School

Paulina Coa Guerra, Phoenix Charter Academy

Giada Ditacchio, Falmouth High School

Aja Crockett, Dartmouth High School

April Graf, Homeschool

Carson Krihwan, Dominican High School

Jacqui Bank, New Bedford High School

Audrey Sousa, New Bedford High School

ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY (MMA): 

MMA is a fully accredited, four-year, co-educational state university offering Bachelor and Master of Science degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond. For more than 100 years, MMA has prepared women and men for exciting and rewarding careers on land and sea. As the nation's finest co-ed maritime college, MMA challenges students to succeed by balancing a unique regimented lifestyle with a typical four-year college environment. Located on Cape Cod, at the mouth of the scenic Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is the ideal college to pursue the love for the ocean, concern for the environment, interest in math and science, and a thirst for adventure. Follow MMA on FB: @massmaritime, @MassMaritime.Advancement; IG: @massmaritime, @mmacademyalumni; Twitter:@MMAadmissions, @MMAcademyAlumni; YouTube: Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Student participants in the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s “Women in STEAM: An Ernestina- Morrissey Interdisciplinary Experience” set sail for adventure

Hauling line and building teamwork on the SSV Ernestina-Morrissey

Working together to furl the jib