Since November 2011, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has been in the process of locating and reimbursing midshipmen who were found to have overpaid in fees for various Academy services between the academic years of 2003 and 2009. Individuals eligible to receive a reimbursement were notified by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and to date, 95 percent of eligible midshipmen have been reimbursed.

While MARAD continues to exhaust every effort to contact the graduates and former students remaining to be reimbursed; the agency expects to complete the active outreach phase of the repayment program effort by May 31, 2012. Though active outreach efforts will be winding down, any remaining individuals still eligible for a reimbursement after May 31, 2012 will still be able to receive their reimbursement. If you meet the criteria for eligibility and believe you might be due a reimbursement, please contact the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy midshipman fee reimbursement helpdesk via email: MNFeeReimbursement@dot.gov; or call toll free 888-719-9213 (or local 202- 493-0263). Additional information, including criteria for eligibility, can be found http://www.usmma.edu/fees/mdnreimbursement.html

Following the recent flash fire aboard the Ro-Ro ALLIANCE NORFOLK off the waters of Greece, Engine Cadet, Cody Kessler was honored for his strength, endurance and unfailingly positive attitude under extremely adverse conditions. Kessler worked tirelessly and enthusiastically for 26 hours straight throughout the stressful and arduous firefighting and damage control operations.

"Kessler was invaluable in rigging and operating the damage control pumping equipment and hoses and assisting the electrician in manually isolating the leaking drainage piping that was the cause of the fire," said Tom McKenzie, chief engineer of the ALLIANCE NORFOLK. "During the midst of the chaotic event, he even made sure the staff and Piraeus Greece firefighters had adequate drinking water, setting a standard of service for him and others that made us very proud of him."

Kessler is a junior midshipman from Delmar, New York, and is also a key athlete on the soccer team, scoring the winning goal that propelled the soccer team to its third straight NCAA tournament bid.

"Whether on the soccer field or on the sea, Kessler is another example of how the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy prepares our young people for success both at land and sea," said Dr. Kumar, acting superintendent and academic dean.

Dr. Shashi Kumar, acting superintendent and dean along with Captain Eric Wallischeck, chief of staff gave Senator Charles E. Schumer a forty-five minute tour of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Schumer visited several facilities currently scheduled for renovation and pledged his full support of the academy's current capital development plan.

"Over the past several weeks, more than 500 midshipmen, faculty and staff have participated in either the Strategic Planning Survey and/or one of the five strategic planning sessions held on campus in Delano Hall . Colleagues from USDOT also traveled to the Academy to participate in these interactive sessions, where participants had the opportunity to talk about their vision for the future of the Academy around four key themes that surfaced in the analysis of the survey: Serving the Nation, Leadership Development, Academic and Technical Programs, and Infrastructure. Following the sessions, Dr. Shashi Kumar stated "We are pleased with this overwhelming level of participation and appreciate the great interest in the future of the USMMA." USMMA Strategic Planning outreach sessions will continue into April with other Academy stakeholders including industry, alumni, parents, federal government partners, and leaders in the Great Neck Community.

Stay tuned for updates to the Strategic Planning Process or contact Helen Brohl, Senior Advisor for Strategic Planning for more information: Brohlh@usmma.edu (Wiley Hall)

On Tuesday, March 13th, USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood hosted a Town Hall with Academy midshipmen, faculty and staff to kick off the USMMA Strategic Planning process. The Strategic Plan will serve as a road map to help the Academy better prioritize investments and provide a first-class education for all Kings Point midshipmen. It will provide an opportunity to articulate why the Academy matters, its importance to the nation and the maritime industry, and the key values that drive its success.

The finished Plan will represent the strategic vision for the Academy and ensure our ability to attract a talented student body to serve the maritime needs of the nation well into the future. With it, the Academy can better define and implement our priorities, articulate what support we need from Washington and maintain the Academy's accreditation as an American higher education institution. It also demonstrates why the Academy is critical to the nation.

Read more about how to participate in the Strategic Planning Process: USMMA Strategic Plan Fact Sheet. The future of the Academy is NOW. Share your USMMA pride by being heard! If there are any questions, contact Helen Brohl at brohlh@usmma.edu, senior advisor for USMMA Strategic Planning, and she will be happy to assist.