Five Benicia residents graduated from the California Maritime Academy this month. Award-winning San Francisco Chronicle news writer Carl Nolte was commencement speaker in the recent ceremony at the Vallejo campus.
Founded in 1929, CMA is a member of the California State University system. The Benicia graduates were awarded degrees in Marine Engineering (ME), Marine Transportation (MT) or Marine Engineering and Transportation (MET). The rigorous four-year course of study is equivalent to a BA or BS degree. The graduates receive hands-on maritime skills training aboard the Golden Bear.
Michael Corbaley Wilk graduated magna Cum Laude with an MET degree. Wilk has already received a job offer from a Walnut Creek firm, but is inclined to attend graduate school to study electrical engineering. “It depends what job offers I get, but I think I will go to graduate school at Santa Clara University,” Wilk remarked.
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In contrast to most students with a passion to get out on the water, Wilk said that it was the mathematics and engineering that attracted him to CMA. “The teachers there are top notch,” Wilk commented. “It is not an easy program, but it is easy when you do what you like.”
Timothy Anthony Tygielski (Suma Cum Laude), Gary Alan Borrilez and Samuel Timothy Brown of Benicia received ME degrees and Jack J. Purdy earned a MT degree.
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Purdy grew up in Carlsbad, California, swimming and surfing in the Pacific Ocean. “I always wanted to be an oceanographer and my goal when I went to CMA was to upgrade my license and sail as a captain,” Purdy recalls. He made a 60-day CMA training voyage to the South pacific, Japan and Korea, and another two month training cruise to through Pacific North West.
“I am ready to go to my new job at the Scripps Oceanography Institute in San Diego,” Purdy enthusiastically explained. “I have been hired as an ‘able bodied seaman.’”
Most graduates join the Merchant Marines. That is the term for people who work in commercial shipping and maritime transportation, such as ferry or tugboat services and delivering freight around the world.
“Based on who has been offered a job by July 1 after graduation, approximately 95 percent of the graduates have a well paying job ($60,000 and up),” Thomas C. Dunworth, CMA V.P. for advancement said.
Some CMA graduates apply to the U. S. Coast Guard, which is now reportedly very completive to enter, or apply to the U.S. Navy. If they are accepted, CMA graduates enter the service as commissioned officers.
