Hometown: Wallingford, PA

Thesis Title: Metaheuristic Algorithms in Concept Design: Optimization of Marine Electrical Systems

Post Graduate Plans: Staff Naval Architect with Glosten in Providence and New York

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Spend at least one winter work alone in a new city and make as many friends as you can. Then spend another with a house full of Webbies and enjoy all the free time. Join the dinghy sailing team, even if you don’t know how to sail. Learn to code in your free time so you can do a fun thesis with Professor Martin!

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot would have to be the top of the west-side fire escape with the view of the city skyline at night. My second favorite would be the reading room. Sometimes I forget that we live in a gold coast mansion.

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I’ll miss the people the most. I chose to come here mostly because of the small student body, the culture that comes with it, and the ethos of the Honor Code, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Favorite Quote.
Ellen: “Clark, Audrey is frozen from the waist down.”
Clark: “That’s all part of the experience, honey.”

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
My favorite internship was with Navatek (now Martin Defense Group) in the better Portland (Maine). Portland is beautiful and really easy to get around without a car. The people there were very kind and I really value the friends I made there. There’s also have some excellent beer!

Hometown: Sayville, NY

Thesis Title: A Simulated Optimization and Feasibility of a Thermoacoustic Engine in the Marine Environment

Post Graduate Plans: Work at NASSCO.

What will you miss the most about Webb?
The classroom vibes.

Favorite Quote.
“I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

What activities were you involved with at Webb?
Tennis!

What are you passionate about?
Rock climbing, reading, Doritos, and procrastinating.

What was your favorite class at Webb and why?
Statistics, it is an interesting topic that can be widely used and applied.

Hometown: Avalon, NJ

Thesis Title: A Seakeeping Study of the Gyroscopic Effect of a Wind Turbine Rotor on a Moored Tension Leg Platform

Post Graduate Plans:
I am launching on an 11-month Christian mission trip, The World Race, serving needs in Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia.

What have you learned from other students?
“The work always gets done” – no matter how much work you have, never sacrifice spending time with the ones you love. Never skip a beautiful sunset, never miss a good wakeboarding day, help someone out every chance you have, when Webb loses power do not do your homework, the list goes on. I can’t remember the pain of the all-nighters but I will never forget the fun times with others.

Why did you choose Webb?
I originally chose Webb because I love engineering and the water. I also thought there was no way I could pass up possibly one of the most unique four years I will ever have. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. And honestly, Webb never ceases to surprise me. My original reason for staying only lasted a few weeks into freshmen year. I’m still here because I love the people, I love and appreciate the opportunities, and in a weird way it’s pretty fun.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite part of campus is in the water about 100 yards off the Webb beach and looking up at the mansion overlooking the water.

Favorite Quote.
I have a couple: “Due tomorrow? Do tomorrow!”, “Ben how do I find this number for the homework? Ben: Carefully…”, “it will be done in two weeks”, “It’s always push”, “We have a WOJO tomorrow”, “Welcome to Webb!”, and many others.

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Thesis Title: Airport Ferries: A Feasibility Study and Concept Design of a New York Airport Ferry

Post Graduate Plans: International Seaways as a Sustainability Engineer

Favorite Quote.
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” – George Harrison

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
It’s not there anymore, but my favorite spot used to be the big cherry blossom on the first terrace. I enjoyed doing homework under it as the sun went down. It was also always filled with hammocks.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Don’t let impostor syndrome get to you: if you got into Webb, you deserve to be here. Work hard and put in the time, and you’ll get a lot out of the experience.

What would be the best job for you?
A keyboard player for a band on a world tour.

Hometown: Stockton Springs, ME

Thesis Title: Ride the Wind: A Seakeeping Study of the Gyroscopic Effect of the Wind Turbine Rotor on a Moored Tension-Leg Platform

Post Graduate Plans: Viking Systems

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
My favorite internship was my sea term. I was on the M/V Cape Horn (a MARAD Ready-Reserve Ro-Ro) in San Francisco. Although it didn’t go anywhere, there was a lot of work to do because the ship is very old (built in 1979).

What was your favorite class at Webb and why?
My favorite class was Egyptology, which I took as my junior year humanities elective. I liked the technical classes too, but we take so many technical classes that it can sometimes be very draining. Taking Egyptology really reignited my love for learning, and reminded me that there is a lot more to learning than just getting a good grade and a degree.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Get involved in things that you are passionate about. There are so many opportunities to get involved in the Webb community in many different ways through student government, leadership committee, athletics, etc. Focus on the things that you are passionate about, and don’t worry too much about the workload.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot on campus is the yacht club. It is the best place to go to take a break from work. Some of my best memories at Webb are taking out the whalers, swimming in the sound, and trying to learn how to sail.

Hometown: Wakefield, RI

Thesis Title: The Viability of Compressed Natural Gas as Fuel: The Installation and Emissions Testing of a Dual-Fuel System for an Electronically-Timed, High-Speed Diesel

Post Graduate Plans: Working at Northern Shipping Funds in Stamford, CT

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
Sea term aboard the M/V Yorktown Express.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Webb is truly what you make of it.

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I will miss the people of Webb.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
On certain late nights, I would hang out in the auditorium and write music. This was also a place I could be alone and reflect.

What activities were you involved with at Webb?
Jazz band, Woofs, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, and lots of shenanigans.

Hometown: Marietta, Georgia

Thesis Title: Airport Ferries: A Feasibility Analysis and Concept Design of a New York Airport Ferry

Post Graduate Plans: NSWC Carderock, Combatant Craft Division

What activities were you involved with at Webb?
Sports-Related: Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Disc Golf, and Ultimate
Music Related: Jazz Band, Webbstock Band, and WooFS
Miscellaneous: Anchor Club and Wakeboarding

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I am going to miss all the late-night shenanigans while doing work, spending time with all my classmates, and the closeness of all the friends I gained. I love the sense of community and the family atmosphere and I will be sad to see it go.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
You have more time than you think. Yes, there is a good amount of work that you have to do, but if you prioritize having fun and doing spontaneous activities with friends, the work will get done. It is okay to be a late-night crew because it’s only four years so make sure to make all the memories you can.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
I really enjoy the pub because it is a great space to hang out and spend time with other classes. One of my favorite memories of hanging out in the pub was going in and talking to the seniors when they were working on SD and getting sponsored during games. I learned and honed my pool skills while at Webb too.

What has been your greatest challenge?
My greatest challenge is my fear of failure. I often second guess my decisions or base what I do on what has the highest likelihood of success. It hinders me when I choose not to do something because I am scared I might fail, so I will just do what makes me comfortable, even if it is not what might bring about the best future or teach me new things.

Hometown: Simi Valley, CA

Thesis Title: USCGC Lilac Renovation: Developing a Plan to Carry Passengers on a Historic Lighthouse Tender

Post Graduate Plans: Naval Architect at Elliott Bay Design Group

Favorite Quote.
“Never Give In.” – Winston Churchill

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
Sea Term. The opportunity to really be out there, at the mercy of the sea, with only the engineering of your ship and the diligence of its crew keeping you alive is a formative experience for a young engineer.

Who was your favorite mentor at Webb and why?
Professor Gallagher. Every time he steps into the classroom (or machine shop) you can tell that he has loved his career. He’s incredible at what he does because he finds enjoyment in it, and that enthusiasm is contagious.

What have you learned from other students?
Humility. There’s always somebody smarter, faster, and harder working than you are, and being around those people is a constant reminder that every day presents a choice as to how we may live it.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
The Long Island Sound on a warm summer day with a 15-knot breeze on the starboard bow. That’s when I feel the freest.

Hometown: Manhasset, NY

Thesis Title: The Effect of Shape Change on the Added Mass Generated by an Axisymmetric Body

Post Graduate Plans: Work at Boksa Marine Design in Tampa, FL

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I will miss my classmates and the friends I have made during my time at Webb.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
The yacht club is my favorite spot on campus. The ability to get out on the water or hang out on the beach after classes are the best way to enjoy a nice summer day.

Why did you choose Webb?
I chose Webb because of my love for the water and its academic rigor. After growing up with a boat on the Long Island Sound, I knew that I would like to design boats in my future. And through Webb’s academic rigor, I have gained a strong foundation in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering that I am looking forward to using throughout my career.

Designers: Anika Breza, Rudy Caligure, Luke Kiely, and Rebecca Teitelbaum

Vessel Type: Polar Icebreaker

Vessel Mission:
The USCGC Skadi will support the U.S. Coast Guard’s missions in polar waters. It will have Search and Rescue capability, provide resupply to remote stations, and facilitate safe navigation through waterway maintenance and ship escort. It will also support law enforcement, scientific research, and environmental protection response.

Vessel Route:
This Vessel will navigate polar waters including the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas in the Arctic and McMurdo Sound in Antarctica at any time of year.

Icebreaking Requirements:
Skadi must break 2.5m of ice topped with 150mm of snow continuously at 3kts, corresponding with Polar Clas 2. She will be able to break ice ridges greater than 8m.

View USCGC Skadi handout

View Presentation

Visit our Junior Class Small Vessel Design Project page to view all of this year’s projects.

About Junior Class Small Vessel Design Project (SD1):

As a part of Professor Bradley D.M. Golden’s ’99 Ship Design 1 (SD1) class, the juniors spent the first two-and-a-half months of the spring semester preparing their first complete concept designs.

Using the knowledge they’ve gained in their nearly three years studying at Webb and the experiences from their winter work periods to date, this was the students’ first opportunity to apply the naval architecture and marine engineering principles they’ve studied including stability, ship’s structures, main machinery systems, auxiliary systems, resistance and propulsion, and electrical engineering.

Working in small groups of three and four, the students selected one of the vessel types and took their first couple of spins around the design spiral to prepare vessel concept designs. To help make the project as realistic as possible, members of industry familiar with each of the vessel types helped prepare the statements of design requirements that each of the designs had to meet. To challenge the students even further, one or two “curveballs” were thrown into each design statement to make the students think long and hard about how they would achieve their objectives.

At the end of the spring semester, the students presented their final designs to their fellow students, faculty, and members of industry who served as part of an evaluation team. After three years at Webb, the Junior class can now say with confidence that they’re familiar with the design process and are well on their way to joining the fields of naval architecture and marine engineering.