Sailors Helping Sailors: The Eastport YC Foundation

Sailing Scholarships Available
If you live in the Annapolis area or near the Chesapeake Bay, find a little bit of free time to fill out Eastport Yacht Club Foundation’s scholarship applications before it’s too late.  Eastport Yacht Club Foundation (EYCF), Eastport Yacht Club’s philanthropic arm, is offering community scholarships for both EYC’s summer Junior Sailing program and its Marine & Maritime Skills Training (MAST) educational initiative.
EYCF’s Chair, Pam Ray, is excited about the growing support for the Foundation’s scholarship funding and award program.  “This year, we have a $5,000 available to support each scholarship.  Both scholarships offer a way for more kids to get on the water, learn more about the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and pursue careers in marine and maritime trades.”  Ray and her colleagues are implementing a variety of programs designed to increase the funding that will be available each year and to introduce teenagers and young adults to maritime and marine trade career paths.
EYC Learn to Sail Scholarship – Deadline April 30, 2015
The Eastport Yacht Club Foundation has a $5,000 fund to be shared among a number applicants to offset the cost of their enrollment in EYC’s summer sailing programs.  The EYC Learn to Sail Scholarship is available to students 10 years old and older interested in participating in Eastport Yacht Club’s summer sailing program.  EYC’s 2015 Summer Jr. Sailing offerings include day programs of 1, 2, and 3 weeks in duration using the club’s fleet of OPEN BIC’s and Sunfish.  The classes, open to the public, focus on intermediate boat handling skills commonly used in racing.  Kids aged 10-15 can also participate in a one-week course designed to explore the Chesapeake Bay – its ecology, the local maritime history, and culture.  Kids will visit the local maritime museum and a sail loft.  Dinghies, SUP’s, and kayaks will be part of the on-the-water experience.
Scholarship Application Deadline: April 30, 2015.  Click here for link to EYC Learn to Sail Scholarship Application.   http://eycfoundation.org/images/2015%20EYCF%20Learn%20to%20Sail%20Scholarship%20Application.pdf
EYCF’s Marine & Maritime (MAST) Scholarship – Deadline May 15, 2015
EYCF seeks to raise awareness of the breadth of the maritime industry, increase career opportunity understanding, and provide assistance for those seeking maritime skills by offering Marine & Maritime Scholarships.  EYCF’s MAST scholarship is in keeping with the Foundation’s mission of providing financial assistance to high school graduates who choose to pursue a marine or maritime career.  Financial assistance of up to $2,000 annually will be awarded to a qualified student applying to an accredited school once the student has been accepted to the school.  The scholarship will be paid directly to the school.  This scholarship is not limited to graduating high school seniors.  It has been awarded to students who have taken time off before pursuing further education in programs such as those offered at The Landing School, IYRS, SUNY Maritime, Great Lakes Maritime Academy/Northwester Michigan College and University of Maryland.  Five EYCF MAST scholarships were awarded last year.
Scholarship Application Deadline: May 15, 2015.  Click here for EYCF’s Marine & Maritime Scholarship (MAST) Application.  http://eycfoundation.org/images/MAST_Scholarship_application.pdf