From left, Port Tampa Bay Port Director & CEO Paul Anderson stands with Joan Steinbrenner, Jenny Steinbrenner Swindal and Steve Finnesy, of Tampa Port Ministries.
Photo/Port Tampa Bay
A scholarship program honoring the late George Steinbrenner has been established by Port Tampa Bay, the Tampa Propeller Club and Tampa Port Ministries for a deserving high school graduate of the Hillsborough County School District’s new maritime studies program.
The maritime curriculum at selected high schools was championed by the local Tampa Propeller Club chapter, working closely with the school district.
The Seafarers’ Center, staffed by dedicated volunteers, serves the crews of cargo and cruise ships that visit the port from all over the world by meeting the physical, social and spiritual needs of seafarers, often of modest means, who spend weeks and months at sea away from their home and families.
Mr. Steinbrenner, the legendary New York Yankee baseball franchise owner, also left a legacy at Port Tampa Bay, earning him deep respect throughout the maritime community. During his 21 years at the helm of American Ship Building/Tampa Shipyards he charted a course of progress and expansion. Thanks to his leadership of Bay Transportation/St. Philip Towing, Tampa became the first port in the U.S. Gulf to use tractor tugs, a tradition of innovation that lives on today at Marine Towing of Tampa.
"Such esteemed recognition of Mr. Steinbrenner and the creation of a new scholarship program in his name is the perfect opportunity to reflect upon and honor a man who helped make this port into what it is today. The scholarship will help shape future leaders of the local maritime industry through this amazing program the Propeller Club has developed with Hillsborough schools," Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson said.
"I am grateful to the leadership at Port Tampa Bay for providing our hard working students with this excellent scholarship, as well as the opportunity to partner in furthering their maritime studies and exploring port and maritime-related careers. This experience will develop independent learners and creative problem solvers who will be ready to navigate the challenges of the global community," Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said.
The Maritime & Marine Environmental Science Honors Academy is a new magnet program aimed at educating and encouraging young people to pursue careers within the diverse spectrum of maritime-related industries. The academy is Hillsborough County Public Schools’ only maritime magnet program, using hands-on activities, laboratory research and an externship, to prepare students for a wide variety of maritime-industry careers.
Students in the program are provided a four-year curriculum focused on ecological, environmental and international maritime studies, and are challenged through their participation in rigorous Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and honors-level coursework.
