California Maritime students receive Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial scholarships

Crowley Maritime Corporation this week awarded three California Maritime Academy (CMA) students with Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial scholarships during the Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards presentation in Long Beach, Calif.

The students, Drew Kerlee, Stephen Luxton and Richard Darwood, received the scholarships for their strong academic record, interest in pursuing maritime careers and financial need.

Left to right: Crowley’s Victoria Ellis, senior administrator, marine services, with scholarship recipients Stephen Luxton, Richard Darwood and Drew Kerlee

September 23, 2011

Luxton, a native of Port Angeles, Wash., is majoring in maritime transportation and is a third-class squad leader with the cadet corps. He worked with the Associated Students of Cal Maritime (ASCM) as the environmental officer, a role that gave him the opportunity to institute small changes to make the campus more environmentally efficient. In the ASCM position he also helped host lectures featuring well-known maritime figures from the Bay Area.

“I feel fortunate to be preparing for a career in this vital industry,” Luxton said. “I want to take this opportunity to thank Crowley for its generous support.”

Darwood, a native of Central Michigan, is majoring in maritime transportation and is a first-class cadet. He spent 20 years as a professional sea-kayak racer and manufacturer of his own racing kayaks before deciding to pursue a career in marine transportation – a career that allows him to serve his family, community and country doing what he knows best.

“This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals,” Darwood said.

Kerlee, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, but was raised in Seattle, is majoring in maritime transportation and is a first-class corps academic training officer. Among his accomplishments, Kerlee helped to found the cadet boat program, which provides in-depth, hands-on training on the academy’s T-boats, or small passenger vessels. He also managed cadet website www.calmaritime.net .

“I’ve been participating in recreational sailing programs throughout my life,” Kerlee said. “It seems silly now, but I never thought I could make a good living working on the water.”

Crowley began awarding scholarships to students of CMA in 1997 with the assistance of the academy’s selection committee, which chooses the scholarship recipients in April of each year. Crowley also provides internships to those recipients who are interested.

Since 1984, Crowley has provided more than half-million dollars in scholarship funding for approximately 200 students studying at maritime academies and other select institutions. The company has also donated more than $2 million over the years to support other educational programs.

In 1994, Crowley Chairman, President and CEO, Tom Crowley Jr., established the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship Program, in honor of his father, who guided the company to extraordinary heights before passing away in 1994. The company continues to give scholarship dollars to deserving students in the U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico. In 2006, the program expanded to Central America and to date has provided financial assistance to 25 students in that region.