Cadets from Texas A&M Maritime Academy honored for life-saving rescue
The award recognizes the students who saved three people stranded aboard a disabled vessel for 15 days while underscoring the academy’s mission to develop maritime professionals committed to service.
Photo taken on January 13 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., during a ceremony with members of the Association for Rescue at Sea.
Cadets from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy who rescued three people from a stranded vessel in 2024 will be recognized for their life-saving actions with an award from the Association for Rescue at Sea.
The association’s Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) award recognizes the captain, crew and cadets aboard the TS Kennedy during the academy’s annual summer sea semester in June 2024. While traveling from Texas to Florida, cadet lookouts aboard the ship spotted a disabled vessel and notified the captain, who initiated rescue protocols in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard. The three people aboard the vessel had been stranded for 15 days. They were brought aboard the ship, where they received medical treatment before being transferred to the Coast Guard and reunited with their families.
Rear Adm. Michael E. Fossum, vice president of Texas A&M University, chief operating officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, called the recognition a tremendous honor.
“The rescue exemplifies the Core Values we instill in our cadets — seamanship, courage and a commitment to the maritime tradition of rendering aid to those in distress,” Fossum said. “We are incredibly proud of the crew and our cadets for their quick thinking and professionalism. The AMVER award is a well-deserved recognition of their exceptional humanitarian effort.”
The award was presented yesterday on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., at 5:30 p.m. during a ceremony with members of the Association for Rescue at Sea.
Members of the TS Kennedy crew were present at the ceremony, including Chief Officer Peter Guggina and 2nd Officer Andrew Essenburgh, along with Cassia Bomer Galvao, associate professor of maritime business, Texas A&M Maritime Academy Deputy Superintendent Allan Post and Fossum.
Real-world learning
The Texas A&M Maritime Academy continues to serve as a force for good in preparing the next generation of maritime professionals. Through rigorous training and real-world experience, cadets develop the technical skills required for careers at sea, as well as the character and ethical foundation that define Texas A&M’s mission. The rescue is a testament to the academy’s commitment to excellence and its critical role in addressing the nation’s growing need for highly trained maritime professionals.
As the maritime industry faces a significant shortage of qualified personnel, Texas A&M’s Maritime Academy stands at the forefront of workforce development, equipping cadets with Coast Guard licenses and the practical experience needed to lead at sea. The academy’s comprehensive programs in marine transportation, engineering and science ensure that graduates are prepared to meet the demands of a dynamic industry while upholding the highest standards of safety, professionalism and ethical conduct.
Photo taken on January 13 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., during a ceremony with members of the Association for Rescue at Sea.
Toni Mooney Smith, MSC
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