(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - A completion ceremony was held for 12 students in the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan Maritime and Multi-Skilled Worker (MMSW) program on the last day of class, December 19th.

The classes included Basic Welding, Diesel Engines, Marine Electrical Systems, Hydraulics and Refrigeration. All 12 students passed the courses as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) Certification exam. QMED certification provides students with the opportunity to work aboard vessels, including the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries. In addition, students qualified to sit for the nationally recognized EPA Section 608 (Refrigeration) Technician Certification exam.

MMSW students (left to right); Ian Lendrum, Kyle Leavy, Tod Baseden, Dale Plate, Kaleb Booth, Christina McGilton, Keith Brown, Santana Atkinson, Michael Minnich, Darren McKeehan & Ron Mello. Not pictured student Max Miller. (Instructor Larry O’Loane is in back, partially obscured).

UAS Ketchikan began offering this new program in fall 2013. The intensive program is offered each fall in 12 weeks with students attending class Monday through Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm. The courses provide an introduction to the various systems within a marine vessel. However, the skills and knowledge can be transferred to shore-based service industries including seafood processing, ship building and repair and heavy mechanics, among others.

Campus Director Priscilla Schulte greeted the students and over 50 guests at the lower campus on Stedman Street. Assistant Professor of Power Technology Larry O’Loane congratulated the students for their dedication and hard work. Vigor Alaska Project Manager Joel Pilgrim and Director of Shipyard Development Doug Ward both said a few words and encouraged every one of the students to apply for work at Vigor Alaska. They both commented that the MMSW program is exactly the kind of training their company supports. MMSW student Ian Lendrum provided the audience with student remarks.

Schulte and O’Loane presented students their certificates. Students completed between 16-19 university credits.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan
www.ketch.alaska.edu/

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