Seattle Press on Line - New Maritime Program at Ballard High School

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New Maritime Program at Ballard High School

Youth Maritime Training Association members on the Harbor Assistant. Left to right: shipwright Bill White, Mark McIntosh, Norm Manly, YMTA Secretary Jeremy Mankin and Ballard High School teacher John Foster.

May 03, 2001 -- The Ballard Maritime Academy, a new four-year maritime program sponsored by the Youth Marine Training Association and operated by the Seattle School District, will open this fall at Ballard High School.

The program, which will eventually have 200 students, will have 25-30 students in the class of 2001.

The faculty will include several teachers already at Ballard who have a strong marine interest such as John Foster, a 6-year navy veteran who grew up in a fishing family. The program will train students in skills need in today's maritime industries.

The Youth Maritime Training Assocation, a private non-profit educational foundation, was formed to align public high school programs with maritime job opportunities.

YMTA will provide education leaders, funding, guest speakers, field trips, scholarships, and internships for the Academy.

Norm Manley, President of YMTA and a Foss Maritime executive, said the group had just purchased a 1956 34-foot harbor tug with a grant from the McIntosh Foundation.

Foundation director Mark McIntosh explained, "The ship needs a lot of work and we're hoping the students can learn their craft and practice their skills by putting it back into top shape."

Ballard High students will be working on cleaning up the engine and other parts of the YMTA tug this fall.

The Harbor Assistant will be available to Academy students and other youth maritime groups. Manley said YMTA would like to help revive the local Sea Scouts and will work with any other youth groups interested in Maritime activities.

The public is invited to attend the celebration marking the opening of the Academy on Friday, May 11 at 5:00 at the Seattle Maritime Academy, 4455 Shilshole Ave. NW.

The Harbor Assistant will also be introduced and christened with a new name at the event.

For more information contact YMTA President Norm Manly at 281-3821 or norm@foss.com.

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