Hello Alumni and Friends,

I’m thrilled to update you on the Quarterdeck Society’s recent year. We’ve been fortunate enough to experience a diverse set of professional opportunities alongside social events, from engaging outings that explored the field’s cutting-edge to networking events that connected our current students with industry experts.

Beyond this, our trips, social get-togethers, and various company tours have solidified the sense of community that makes our program unique. We’ve also channeled our collective energy into philanthropic efforts, contributing to the University of Michigan’s broader community as well as the city of Ann Arbor through meaningful volunteer work.

But the heartbeat of these initiatives is undoubtedly our alumni network. It is your generosity and unwavering support that breathe life into these events and foster the growth of our students. I am immensely grateful for this and want to express a heartfelt thank you. Your involvement is key to our ability to provide such rich experiences for our student body.

Professional Development Trips

Kicking off the academic year, over 20 of our undergraduates attended the SNAME Maritime Convention, this time in San Diego, California, hosted by General Dynamics NASSCO. The students immersed themselves in presentations, met with maritime professionals at a career fair, and tackled a fun design competition—crafting vessels from simple materials like duct tape and a Ziploc bag—with Michigan undergrads once again taking home the prize. Multiple students also had the honor of presenting their capstone projects to industry professionals to showcase the amazing work Michigan naval architects are engaging in. The convention was wrapped up with an Alumni Banquet, where our students mingled with our vast network of graduates, witnessing the strong, ongoing bonds between our alumni, and creating new connections. 

Along with the SNAME SMC, students also made the trip down to Cleveland to attend the SNAME Great Lakes Great Rivers section meeting this February. Along with presentations by local industry professionals, our students got tours of the Great Lakes Towing Company and went onboard the freighter Alpena, giving them a window into maritime operations on the Great Lakes. This experience was especially significant for the students who were taking NA 332 (Marine Power and Energy II) and had recently learned about steam turbine plants, as we could see the freighter Alpena’s main turbine assembly taken apart. The Great Lakes towing company allowed us to tour some of their fleet as well, letting us board a newly delivered tug as well as a vessel that had been in operation since the 50s. 

Overall, these experiences have offered students practical insights into the maritime industry,  which when complemented by the efforts of our Program Chairs, demonstrate the direct application of their studies in real-world scenarios.

Quarterdeck Events

In a niche department like ours, finding industry-specific opportunities can be a challenge. That’s why Quarterdeck focuses on bringing relevant companies directly to our students. Coordinated by our Program Chairs, we’ve hosted several presentations from marine industry companies this past year, connecting our students with jobs and internships tailored to their field of study. This direct engagement is integral to fostering career pathways aligned with their marine engineering ambitions. These visiting companies included: ABS, Glosten, General Dynamics Electric Boat, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, General Dynamics NASSCO, Fincantieri, Interlake Steamship Company, Chevron, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Carderock, TAI Engineers, SeaSpan, NAVSEA Code 70, SUPSHIPS Bath, Bristol Harbor/Shearer Group, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Foreship, Metal Shark Boats, Pacific Shipyards, Poseidon Barge, Carnival Cruise Lines, Northrup Grumman, Philly Shipyard, and The Port of Monroe.

For this year’s community involvement and volunteer efforts, our NA&ME students actively contributed to several key events in the recent period. The SeaPerch competition once again saw our students in action, providing support with the setup, facilitation, and coordination of transportation for fellow volunteers. Other service activities included a Gardening event, participating in blood drives, bake sale, tabling for the NA&ME Open House, high school mentorship during the GLGR section meeting, and writing welcome cards for incoming freshmen. 

Once more, I extend my deepest gratitude for your continued support and for your vital role in this remarkable community. Your presence and contributions are integral; it simply wouldn’t be the same without you. If you are able to make donations or contributions at the Quarterdeck Contributions Website, they would be greatly appreciated. Any amount goes a long way in helping the students of our community. 

Sincerely,
Gordon Fream

Commodore – Quarterdeck Society