Webb Institute Big Boat Team wins 2019 Block Island Race Week
Article Written by Ben Hunt, Webb Big Boat Captain
Webb Institute Big Boat Sailing Team took 1st place in ORC 2 at the 2019 Block Island Race Week.
The week got off to a rough start with a fourth-place finish in the first race and the abandonment of another race in which we would have placed first. This put us in second place behind the J122 TeamWork after the first two days of racing.
The team took the Wednesday lay day to pull itself together. On Thursday, the team managed to take first place in both races. The first place finishes brought us a two-point lead over the J122 TeamWork. Although we were excited, we knew there was still work to be done. After a good night’s sleep, it was time for the final day of racing. The team managed to win both races of the day again, securing first place by 11.5 points. The team ended the week with 12 points total and 6 first-place finishes over a total of eight races.
Peacemaker, a Ker 11.5, was sailed to its victory by a solid team of students, coaches, and a Webb professor. Matt Kepner ‘22 trimmed the main sail and kept the boat moving fast. Ben Lilly ’22, and Coach Vlad Shablinsky trimmed the head sails. Peacemaker was helmed by Head Coach Leo Vasiliev. Ben Hunt ’21 was in the pit while Blake Loncharich ’19 was on the mast. Peacemaker was expertly navigated by Professor and Director of Research, Dr. Richard Royce.
The final awards party involved a guest appearance and impromptu performance by Jimmy Buffet, whose lifestyle company was the proud sponsor for this year’s regatta. “I think Margaritaville is Block Island right now,” declared Buffet to the Storm Trysail Club.
I would like to thank the Webb community, our coaches, and Professor Richard Royce for all the support we have received. Without their help, the team would never have made it to the starting line. This was an incredible experience for all the students involved.
21 Graduate with Dual Degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute
On Saturday June 22, 2019, Webb Institute awarded 21 Bachelor of Science degrees at its 123rd Commencement Ceremony. Each graduating student received a dual degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
Webb’s Commencement Ceremony opened with the singing of the National Anthem by the WooFs (Webb Family Singers) and included inspirational remarks from Webb’s President R. Keith Michel, a Webb graduate from the Class of 1973, and keynote speaker, Angela Chao. Ms. Chao is Chairperson and C.E.O. of Foremost Group, an American shipping company with worldwide operations, who received an Honorary Doctorate during the ceremony.
Ms. Chao’s speech touched on the transformative power of education, drawing upon the inspiration of her parents’ life stories of perseverance, determination and optimism to inspire Webb’s Class of 2019. She exhorted the graduates, “You are our future. Make our industry and our world better!”
Additional remarks were made by the Class of 2019’s student speaker, Andrew Pidduck, who spoke about the invaluable friendships, experiences, and education he gained during his time at Webb. “We appreciate the gift of education and the entire Webb experience that we have received.” said Pidduck. “We will carry it with us always and we will share it with others. This is our responsibility. We promise to remember where we came from and represent Webb well.”
In addition to the awarding of degrees, several students received additional awards and prizes for their outstanding academic achievements in a variety of areas, such as excellence in thesis, excellence in mathematics, highest general average, and exemplary commitment of service to others through volunteerism, community service, and civic outreach.
Following commencement, Webb’s Class of 2019 will spread out across the country and the world to begin graduate work or start their professional careers in the marine industry. Notable employers include: BMT Designers and Planners, Bruce S. Rosenblatt & Associates, Newport News Shipbuilding, NSWC Carderock, Shipwright, and Vigor. Graduate schools include: MIT, University of Michigan, and Delft University of Technology.
Photo Credit: Gill Photography.
Webbies Give Back on Founder’s Day
by Ioana Mirica ’21
This year’s Founder’s Day was celebrated on May 3, 2019. This day, which was first organized on June 19, 1896, honors our founder, William H. Webb and the legacy of giving.
Webb Institute was first established in 1889 as Webb’s Academy and Home for Shipbuilders. Originally, it not only offered an opportunity for young, eager students to earn an education in the marine industry, but also a home for retired shipbuilders. Although Webb’s vision of the institution has altered throughout the years, the original principles upon which it was founded have remained. The spirit of giving and service is entwined within the fabric of the Webb community.
On Founder’s Day, the Webb campus completes tasks such as cleaning the beach, power washing the Cuneo Courtyard, and painting the fire escapes with non-skid coating. This occasion allows students and faculty to devote time out of their busy schedules to improve conditions on campus.
The speaker of this year’s dinner, Michael Hutchings ’95, emphasized “giving until it feels good”. Serving others, he stated, does not require an elaborate, expensive gift to the community, but rather good intentions which are reinforced by the donation of one’s time, talents, and efforts. Hutchings encouraged those present to follow in the steps of Webb and apply his benevolent attitude in their own lives. To do so, he recommends that people find something about which they are passionate and discover a way to employ it to help others. This impactful speech urges Webbies to honor the man who has given them so much and find a way to help not only the Webb community but everyone around them.
View Michael Hutching’s speech at this year’s Founder’s Day Dinner!
Webbies Battle it Out in a Special Engineering Version of “Shark Tank”
Our host with the Sharks.
by Jack Becker ’21
On this week’s episode of Shark Tank, we replaced the usual entrepreneurs with budding engineers. The sharks were Jackson Juska ’21, Shannon Liu ’21, Renee Tremblay ’20, and Isa Hill ’20 who were accompanied by our host, Hank Rouland ’21. Our Sharks were on the hunt for ideas to allow young kids to find excitement in engineering related activities for our upcoming Engineering Day, scheduled for October 20th. The Sharks watched Webb students and Professor Bradley Golden ’99 present ideas that they thought would educate and entertain young students.
After sixteen exceptional presentations, the Sharks picked their top ideas for Engineering Day. Maggie Maguire ’21 won two of the four bids with her Sky-Floater experiment and with her Water Weight-Lifter. For Maggie’s Sky-Floater experiment, the students will play with balloons to learn about pressure. With the Weight-Lifter, they will use the principles of a turbine to lift a weight.
Along with Maggie’s success, Professor Golden ’99 and his daughter, Rhiannon, won with their Dowel Tower idea. In this fun-spirited competition, the students will have 20 minutes to build the largest tower possible out of wooden dowels and rubber bands. While building this tower, students will learn about statics as they build their structures.
Finally, Luke Herbermann ’21 and Sean Healy’s ’21 presented their idea about erosion. In this experiment, using sand and water, the student’s will look at real-life ideas to help prevent erosion in the future.
Through all these great ideas, the students on Engineering Day will get to see the world from a different point of view. These experiments will broaden their horizons as they see and play with solutions to everyday problems and possibly create future engineers!
About Engineering Day
Engineering Day is a free community event, with the goal to spark student interest and involvement in the sciences at a young age. All students in 4th-6th grades are welcome to attend. Guided by Webb alumni and students, participating students rotate through engineering challenges covering several disciplines including: civil engineering, naval architecture, aerospace engineering, and chemistry.
The Campaign for Webb – Our Work is Not Yet Done
We are in the final year of the Campaign for Webb! Every gift made to Webb through June 30, 2019 will be added to the $49 million raised in pledges and gifts to date. Our historic success has enabled Webb to break ground on the Couch Academic Center. The building is projected to be completed this fall, with classes transitioning to the new facility in the spring 2020 semester. Stevenson Taylor Hall is also benefiting from this Campaign with the refurbishment of dorm rooms, new restroom facilities and a sprinkler system, to name a few improvements.
We are forever grateful to the support of Webb family!
A permanent donor display will be mounted in the Couch Academic Center, memorializing individual members of the Webb family whose support during the Campaign has reached Dunderberg level ($10,000) or greater.
If you have not yet made a special gift to the Campaign, you can do so online, or call me at 516-759-2040 with questions.
Please see special Campaign messages from our Trustees!
-Anthony R. Zic, Director of Development