Maine Maritime Academy to hold graduation ceremonies Saturday

CASTINE, Maine — More than 200 students are expected to receive degrees from Maine Maritime Academy during a commencement ceremony in Castine this Saturday.

Maine Maritime Academy’s 69th commencement will begin at 11 a.m. in the Alexander Fieldhouse. The academy expects to confer 176 bachelor of science degrees, 12 master of science degrees and 30 associate of science degrees. Students receiving degrees come from 21 states as well as Canada, China, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, according to the academy. An awards program will be held before commencement at 9 a.m. in Delano Auditorium in Leavitt Hall.

The nation’s highest-ranking official in charge of commercial shipping, Maritime Administrator David Matsuda, will deliver the keynote address at the graduation ceremony.

Matsuda, whose position is within the U.S. Department of Transportation, advises and assists the secretary of transportation on all maritime activities and acts as a liaison with public and private entities within the industry, including maritime colleges. He was named maritime administrator in 2010 after a year as acting administrator.

During his visit to Maine, Matsuda also is slated to visit the International Marine Terminal in Portland on Friday with U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, to discuss the recent announcement that the cargo ship line serving the port plans to stop operations.

The valedictorian of MMA’s Class of 2012 is Calvin Mark Klopp of Cape Elizabeth.

Guest tickets are required to attend the commencement ceremony in Alexander Fieldhouse, although those without tickets can watch a remote broadcast of the ceremony in Smith Gymnasium. The college also will broadcast the ceremony online beginning at 11 a.m. at client.stretchinternet.com/client/mmaadmin.portal#.

Those graduates entering the U.S. Merchant Marine will receive their oath of office from Capt. Wayne Muilenburg of the U.S. Coast Guard. Capt. Thomas A. Buterbaugh, commanding officer of MMA’s Naval ROTC unit, will administer the oath of office for Navy officers.

A formal commissioning ceremony for Navy officers will take place one hour after the commencement — at approximately 1:30 p.m. — on the lawn in front of Leavitt Hall. The event will be held in Delano Auditorium within Leavitt Hall in case of inclement weather.