Jeff Otto, Cadet Coordinator for the BCIT Marine Campus welcomed students and guests to a luncheon on Thursday, June 20 to recognize and congratulate BCIT Marine Engineering Cadets who were the recipients of over $10,000 in bursaries from the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering, the Nautical Professional Education Society of Canada and Oak Maritime. Guests enjoyed a pizza lunch, sponsored by CIMarE.
Also on hand for the event, Harly Penner, Director, Fleet Engineering & Vessel Development at Seaspan Ferries, spoke to cadets about the future of the maritime industry and the exciting changes taking place on board ships with changes to fuel types and technological innovations that were driving solutions to diverse issues. He spoke also about shore-side professions that required candidates who were adaptive and flexible.
Past Chair and National Council Representative of the CIMarE, Russel Oye, presented three bursaries from the Denis Cressey Marine Engineering Scholarship Trust to Hayley Strom, Ahmed Beltmer and Manuel Castillo Montano. He also presented the CIMarE National Scholarship Award to Ahmed Beltmer and Manuel Castillo Montano.
Representing the Nautical Professional Education Society of Canada, Richard Smith congratulated all cadets for their efforts. He noted that there were many opportunities within industry associations like the NPESC for bursaries and encouraged students to seek these out for assistance.
Accompanying Mr. Smith for the presentation of the First Year Achievement Award was Captain Joachim Ruether, Senior Master, BC Ferries. Both congratulated Cadet Reece Maddison.
On behalf of Oak Maritime, Jeff Otto presented the Oak Maritime Award to Justin Bury.
