Maritime College Family,
Wow, what a week! Homecoming 2026 was a tremendous celebration of the pride, tradition, and spirit that make THE Maritime College so special. From Thursday's Athletics Hall of Fame induction to Friday's Will It Float Race, Saturday morning's Heritage Hall induction, and the Homecoming festivities that lasted well into Saturday night, our campus was alive with the energy and camaraderie that define our Maritime Nation. It was a powerful reminder that, no matter where our journeys take us, Fort Schuyler will always be home.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to plan and execute this outstanding week of events. Your dedication and teamwork made Homecoming a success. A special thank you to our Facilities Team for their quick and thorough work cleaning up and restoring the campus to normal operations on Sunday. Your efforts are greatly appreciated and did not go unnoticed.
Congratulations to Section 2, "The Turtles," for winning the Yacht Class, and Section 1 for taking first place in the Speedster Class at the Will It Float Race! Here are a few additional highlights and updates from around campus:
Maritime Dining Teaching Kitchen. It's Sushi day on the Messdeck this Wednesday, October 28, and our Executive Chef Rob will be hosting a sushi-making class at 1:00 PM. Seats are limited to the first 27 students, so get there early (no saved seats!). On Wednesday, we will host a pumpkin carving contest at the teaching kitchen tables at 6:00 PM. Seats are limited to the first 50, again, no saved seat!
World Mental Health Day – Halloween Fun Run/Walk. Counseling Services will host a one-mile Halloween Fun Run/Walk this Wednesday, October 28, starting at 3:00 by the College Marquee and finish on the Quad by the flagpole to promote mental health awareness, wellness, and connection through physical activity and social engagement. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate, bring friends, and wear Halloween costumes while supporting the message that mental health matters and reminding the community that no one has to navigate challenges alone. For additional information, contact Christine D'Amico.
2026 Global Business & Transportation Conference. GBAT will host its annual conference this Thursday, October 29, from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM in the Maritime Academic Center. The conference will bring together maritime industry leaders, faculty, and students to examine “Geopolitical Tensions and Maritime Industry Impacts.” The conference will feature panels on maritime risk and conflict, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, and strategic responses by U.S. maritime businesses.
Expanded Riesenberg Gym Access. Effective today Riesenberg Hall weight and cardio rooms hours will be extended to better support the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff. Standard facility hours will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, while the weight and cardio rooms will be accessible seven days a week from 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM for members of the campus community with a valid ID. During extended hours, entry will be restricted to the front lobby door using a valid College ID, with each individual required to swipe in separately; all other designated exterior entrances will remain secured and accessible for exit only. These expanded hours reinforce the College's “Students First” commitment while maintaining campus security and promoting responsible use of athletic facilities.
Student Union Game Room Access. Effective today, the Student Union game room is now open daily from 0600 to 0000 for student use. Over the next few months, we will install card readers to provide 24/7 access with a valid Maritime College ID. Please help us keep this facility safe and welcoming for our campus community. If you see unauthorized individuals using the space or notice any damage, please speak up and report it.
Title IX and Title VI Responsible Employee Training. All employees are required to complete 2026-2027 SUNY Employee Title IX and Title VI Training by October 31, 2026. The 20–25 minute training encourages reflection on how our actions contribute to an inclusive community, reinforces expectations for respectful engagement, and shares information about resources available if concerns arise. The training is a mandatory component of our compliance and fulfills the UUP Collective Bargaining Agreement. Upon completion, you will be designated as a responsible employee who is required to report perceived discrimination or harassment to the appropriate office on campus. The training is in Brightspace under My Courses/Professional Development. Access the training here.
APL Scholarship. APL is offering students at the State Maritime Academies a $25,000 one-year scholarship for eligible educational expenses for Fall 2027. Juniors and seniors in good standing enrolled in an unlimited-tonnage Deck or Engine license program, with strong academics, leadership, faculty recommendations, and a commitment to sailing commercially as a U.S. Merchant Mariner. Active-duty military commissioning students are not eligible; Navy Reserve SSO participation is permitted. Complete scholarship packages must be submitted directly to Klaus Luhta and Luc Saintgenies no later than October 31.
Scholarship Form Scholarship Rules
Music at Maritime Concert Series. Don't miss Palo En Cuero, featuring Jonathan Troncoso, Monday, November 9 at 5:00 PM in the Special Events Room. This concert is free and open to the entire Maritime College Community.
Open House. Saturday, November 14 is our next Open House of the year. Please plan to attend and help greet prospective students and their families. The Ship should be back and open for tours!
New Residence Hall Naming. Today is the last day to submit comments or provide input on the nominations put forth by the Student Government Association (SGA) via the Student Affairs feedback form. SGA will present the options to the Cabinet, which will provide a final recommendation to the College Council for consideration and approval.
2026 Global Business & Transportation Conference. Mark your calendars, GBAT will host its annual conference on Thursday, October 29, from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM in the Maritime Academic Center. The conference will bring together maritime industry leaders, faculty, and students to examine "Geopolitical Tensions and Maritime Industry Impacts." The conference will feature panels on maritime risk and conflict, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, and strategic responses by U.S. maritime businesses.
Open House. Mark your calendars, Saturday, November 14 is our next Open House of the year!
Leadership Lecture. Mark your calendars, the next James Harvey Tomb Leadership Lecture Series is Tuesday, November 17, featuring Stephen Payne, the renowned naval architect who led the design of the Queen Mary 2. A faculty, staff and student presentation will be from 3:00–4:00 PM, followed by a meet-and-greet reception from 5:30–6:30 PM in the Special Events Room, and a public lecture at 7:00 PM in the Maritime Academic Center's Multipurpose Room.
2026 Colors of the World Fashion Show. The Annual Cultural College will host its annual fashion show on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Riesenberg Gym. Students and participants are invited to showcase cultural and international attire, casual wear, western wear, loungewear, sportswear, formal wear, and military uniforms. Interested participants can contact Ms. Pat Norman to sign up to model.
Digital IDs. The Digital ID is here! To get started, download the TouchNet 360u app on our website and follow the setup instructions. Once activated, your Digital ID can be used anywhere your Maritime ID is accepted and will replace the physical card. Over the coming months, we will transition away from physical ID cards as the Digital ID becomes our standard campus credential. Download your Digital ID today and make the switch to a faster, more convenient way to access campus services.
Athletics. Congratulations to both the Men's and Women's Cross-Country Teams for each taking third place in the Skyline Championships this past weekend. Since 2014, the Skyline Conference individual champion is from Maritime – Chase Miller! Cindy Chen was the top female runner earning Second Team All-Skyline! This Thursday at 6:30 PM the rugby team will host KP. Check out the latest results and full schedule for the upcoming week on the Athletics website.
As part of the Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, a silent auction was launched for two custom-painted Maritime College Football Helmets. To view the helmets or bid, visit our auction website. The auction closes at midnight this Friday!
With Great Respect,
John