December 21, 2017

Dear Maritime Alumni,

We are delighted to announce that SUNY Maritime College and the Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association have signed a formal agreement, endorsed by the State University of New York, bringing our two organizations together for the advancement of the College, its students and generations of proud alumni. The agreement was signed on December 21, 2017, with an effective date of January 1, 2018.

As the College prepares to implement a new seven-year strategic plan and celebrate its sesquicentennial, we are delighted that the College and alumni are once again standing united. In this way, we are both convinced that changes in the global landscape and the maritime industry in particular will be met with renewed vigor and strength. We are delighted to be navigating our futures together with open, honest communication and mutual trust.

The Alumni Association will work to connect alumni with each other, enhance the campus experience for students and serve as the liaison between the campus and its alumni. The Association will help alumni meet, network with and maintain relationships with their classmates and across generations of classes. Through the new partnership, alumni will be able to share their knowledge, give sought-after advice, and recruit students to their companies and organizations. Alumni will be tied to their alma mater more closely through events on-campus and be able to offer insight about professional trends.

We are jointly proud and excited that the Alumni Association and Maritime College will move forward in a mutually beneficial way, deepening and strengthening our connection to each other. Together, we can meet the challenges ahead and to drive change across the maritime industry.

Yours sincerely,

Admiral Alfultis, SUNY Maritime College president, and Dan Gillette '97, Alumni Association president

December 21, 2017

Dear Maritime Community,

I am delighted to announce the formation of the SUNY Maritime Foundation, a tax-exempt, Not for Profit Corporation dedicated to helping us preserve and strengthen the College far into the future. The Mission of the Foundation is to be the primary organization to raise and manage private financial support for SUNY Maritime College that will assist the college to achieve its Mission and Vision while at the same time enriching the educational quality of the college to benefit the students and the faculty.

The six founding Foundation board members are illustrious alumni and leaders of industry including the Chairman, Capt. Robert Johnston ’69, former president and CEO of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.; and members John M. Bree ’78, vice chairman and a retired Executive of Exxon Mobil Corporation; Richard Angerame ’73, President and CEO of UtiliVisor; William F. Austen ’80, President and CEO of Bemis Company, Inc.; Capt. Ioannis (John) Frangos ’85, ’87, chairman and CEO of Seaways Maritime International; and Joe Maurelli ’63, former President CEO and Chairman of Techmatics, Inc. I look forward to working closely with the Board going forward, as well as my colleagues Vice President for University Relations Aimee Bernstein, and Vice President for Finance and Administration Scott Dieterich to ensure the Foundation’s success.

The Foundation board members will serve as advocates and supporters, bringing their knowledge and perspective to conversations about the betterment of the College. They will stand beside us as we compose the strongest entering class possible each Fall and, more importantly, help us ensure that our students are prepared as alumni for many years of career success after graduation. These executives and influencers will provide advice and guidance, access and reach as well as financial contributions to the institution. The group will help to augment the College’s resources in alignment with our strategic needs. In the changing landscape of the maritime industry, where our graduates are in high demand, the Foundation will help us stay on the front edge of industry trends and opportunities.

As we approach Maritime’s 150thyear, we all have a great deal to be proud of. The Foundation Board will provide enormous value as they combine their intimate knowledge of the college, its mission and daily workings with a view of the industry from its pinnacle.

At this pivotal moment in our College’s long and distinguished history, I am convinced that the establishment of the SUNY Maritime Foundation will enable us to raise the bar on the maritime education that we provide.

Together, we will thrive for the next 150 years.

Yours sincerely,

Admiral Alfultis