Built Noting that more than $17 million in scholarships, including five appointments to US military academies have been earned, and 90 per cent of the class has declared majors in STEM fields, Monmouth County Vocational School District Assistant Superintendent Sean Meehan told the Marine Academy of Science and Technology Class of 2026 “You weren’t built to stay in port ….four years ago you sailed out…into the harder curriculum, the early mornings, long bus rides, and requirements most of your peers never had to touch…Look at what that voyage produced.”
The Superintendent was quoting the late Navy Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, author, computer science pioneer, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, who once said “A ship in port is safe. But that’s not what ships are built to do.”
Meehan was one of several speakers at the graduation ceremony on Pershing Field at Fort Hancock, the campus for MAST, all of whom praised the 67 member class for its numerous accomplishments. He also cited several of the many achievements of every member of the Class of 2026 nothing that students submitted nearly 1,000 college applications.
More than $17 million in merit money and scholarships over a four-ear period was awarded to students in this class, he pointed out and 90 per cent of the students have declared majors in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering or math.
In addition to all those achievements, Meehan noted that five students received appointments to US military academies, and another seven were recipients of ROTC scholarships in other colleges or universities. All of which is proof, Meehan said, “you made the crossing together … a class of varsity athletes, musicians, artists, Eagle Scouts, dedicated community service participants and world travelers.
Pete Engleman, a 1975 graduate of the Naval Academy and the Blue and Gold officer for MAST, presented the appointments to the Naval Academy at Annapolis to Nicholas Billows, Samantha Foret and Jenny Ye.
Navy Lt. Wade-Watta Kamara, Office Programs Department Head of the Navy Talent Acquisition Group, Empire State, presented the Navy ROTC appointments to James Baeta, Claire Haughlan and Samantha Vo, and the Navy ROTC Preparatory Program scholarship to Devin Schultz
Arthus Rimmale, the admissions partner at the Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut, presented an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy to Jack Cohen.
Captain Maximillian D. Berry, Executive Officer Recruiting Station New Jersey, First Marine Corps District, predesigned the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship, Marine Corps Option to Nico Cordova.
Captain Ross Geske, USMC, (ret) and the Senior Naval Science instructor at MAST presented the Army ROTC scholarship to Donovan Post.
The MAST Color Guard opened the ceremony with a presentation of colors before Class vice president Cassara Yannarelli led graduates and their guests in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Graduating seniors James Baeta, Nick Billows,, Claire Haughian and Grace Hilliard sang the National Anthen and Class President Piper Dalsass gave a formal welcome and opening remarks to the audience. Graduate Helene Hollingsworth gave reflections on the class before School Principal Earl Moore presented the Graduating Class of 2026 to the crowd.
Monmouth County Commission Director Tom Arnone also addressed the graduates, congratulating them for their many achievements, noting that MAST was the first of the Monmouth County Vocational Schools, established in 1981. He praised not only MAST but each of the vocational schools in the Monmouth district, all of whom are rated in the top 20 high schooled across the state and each a distinguished high school in national records as well. “But you will always be the first,” he told the graduates.
Arnone praised not only the students and their parents for this achievement, but the faculty members who go “above and beyond” as well as the Vocational Board of Education and the County Board of Commissioners for their support of the vocational school system. His praise and commendations were echoed by Lester Richens, of the vocational school district board.
Numerous students in the graduating class are also members of the national Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Seal of Biliteracy, and in Boys or Girls State. Four, Zoe Arhanic, Nicholas Billows, Jacob Booth and Andrew Prodeline, are also Eagle Scouts.
Andrew Prodeline, sergeant at arms for MAST, led the graduates in the official changing their tassels from the right to left side of their mortar boards., signifying their change from candidate to graduate,, and Samantina Foret gave closing remarks before the recessional, traditional tossing of their caps and reception, both also on Pershing Field.
