Ed Lofgren, MRAA Educational Foundation president, presented two Technical Scholarship awards at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Receiving a $3,000 award was Thomas Dempsey, a native from Massachusetts and a student at The Landing School, Arundel, Maine. He has an associate’s degree in business administration from Dean College. He has worked as a deck hand on an educational schooner, the Roseway. He has also been crewing for the Adventuress, a 1924 Fife Ketch out of Newport, Rhode Island. His responsibilities include maintenance, restoration, training crews to sail and pass Coast Guard certification, sailing the yacht and overseeing crew and guests during charter tours.

Also receiving a $3,000 award was Nicholas J. Welch, who is attending WYOTECH, Daytona, Florida. Setting high goals for himself, he has achieved perfect attendance and a 99% academic average. He is concentrating on the diesel technology field. While in high school he was a member of the FCA and Fish Club where he developed a passion for fishing and subsequently a career in the technical area of the marine industry.