On Wednesday, October 18, 2017, Webb Institute announced the 2017-18 recipient of the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship by Crowley Maritime Corp., The Webb’s scholarship selection committee chose Tyler Gray-Hoehn (Class of 2018) from Brookfield, Wisconsin, for his hard work, academic excellence and superb leadership skills that he actively displays on and off campus.

Throughout his time at Webb Institute, Tyler has been very active in student government and community projects because of his love for Webb and his desire to give back. This year, Tyler is the Senior Class President, as well as the Vice President of the Student Organization (SO). He has also been Webb’s Motor Boat Chair, Van Chair, and a member of the Honor Council. In addition to his campus leadership roles, Tyler is active in Webb’s athletics, playing on both the soccer and volleyball teams. Tyler says his involvement in campus activities and leadership at Webb have taught him invaluable lessons that will benefit him in his professional and personal life forever. Unlike most Webb graduates, Tyler plans to be a merchant mariner after commencement.

“Tyler is a great asset to the Webb community,” said Dean Matthew Werner. “He has stood out as a leader in the student body since setting foot on campus three years ago.  His commitment and passion for Webb is admirable, as is his drive to make Webb a better place through his own actions. I feel that Tyler’s record of achievement at Webb reflects what the Crowley Scholarship seeks to recognize.”

“The Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship Program provides assistance to Webb students who demonstrate attributes that both Crowley and Webb hold in high esteem – leadership, service, and commitment to the maritime industry,” said President R. Keith Michel. “We are most appreciative of Crowley’s ongoing commitment to higher education and honored to continue our partnership with Crowley Maritime Corp.”

Since 1984, Crowley has provided more than $3 million dollars in scholarship funding for more than 1,000 students. The company has also donated more than $2 million over the years to support other educational programs. In 1994, Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley Jr. established the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship Program in honor of his father who led the company to extraordinary heights before passing away in 1994. The company continues to give scholarship dollars to deserving students in the U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico. In 2006, the program was expanded to Central America, and to date has provided financial assistance to more than 20 students in that region.

About Crowley

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 125-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides project solutions, energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its 50 percent ownership in Ardent Global; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales.

On Tuesday, August 15, 2017, twenty-eight students from across the Country joined the Webb’s Class of 2021, eager to take on the Webb challenge. This active and talented group of individuals bring a variety of impressive skills and hobbies to Webb.

During their high school careers, 93% were athletes, 75% participated in community service, 64% participated in performing arts, and 32% competed in FIRST Robotics and other competitive robotics teams.  In addition to those activities, member of the Class of 2021 have some unique achievements including: constructing a 14-foot sailing catamaran, climbing Mount Whitney, building a go-kart, bee and butterfly keeping, hiking the Long Trial and Appalachian Trial, and being a tri-athlete.

Since their week-long orientation back in August, the Class of 2021 have quickly integrated themselves into Webb’s unique community and become full-fledged “Webbies.” Many students have already joined athletic teams, participated in student leadership, joined in on community service projects, and attended on and off-campus activities.

In mid-September, the Class of 2021 and their families celebrated the start of the Fall Semester during Webb’s annual Family Weekend. Students and their loved ones spent the weekend enjoying the various activities Webb had planned, including an ice cream social, BBQ luncheon, Jazz Band and WooFS performances, a competitive soccer game, brunch, and the grand finale, the Freshman Boat Competition. The Class of 2021 excelled in their race, with all student vessels successfully floating on the sound. The “Purple Team” made up of Alex Koziol, Maggie Maguire, Dillion Esposito-Kelley, and Chris Merola, were the victors.

Webb looks forward to learning more about the Class of 2021 and is eager to see what they accomplish in their first year aboard.

Photos from this year’s Orientation and Family Weekend are available on Smugmug.

Get your online copy today!

Harrison T. Loeser ’43, the oldest living alumni of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, has written a book of vignettes of events that have occurred over the course of his career as a naval architect and marine engineer. 

His career began in 1943 as Assistant Superintendent at the U. S. Naval Shipyard in Pearl Harbor, repairing damaged vessels in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he accepted a position designing military and merchant ships at Bethlehem Steel in Quincy, MA. He was next tapped by Electric Boat to take a MS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at MIT with courses in nuclear engineering to prepare him for overseeing the design of the reactor shield tank for the first nuclear-powered submarine – the USS Nautilus, the first vessel to go underneath the North Pole. 

He continued at Electric Boat working on submarine design, such as the USS Skate which was the first vessel to surface at the North Pole. He later moved over to the Naval Underwater Systems Center (NUSC) where he was in charge of the the Mobile Acoustic Communications System (MACS) project which involved installing acoustic equipment on the de-commissioned Nautilus to obtain fundamental data on long range propagation of sound. After retiring, Loeser publishes two books on acoustics, Sonar Engineering Handbook and The Fundamentals of Ship Acoustics.

Tales of an Engineer begins with a story about his sophomore Winter Term experience on a freighter headed for Rio. Other stories recall instances while working on the USS Skate and shepherding the development of the “Submarine – Test and Research (STAR)” series of one-man submarines during his tenure at Electric Boat.

Loeser has stories of his year as Science Advisor to the U. S. Navy’s Second Fleet and a stint as a consultant for students at the Newport War College, where he designed the “Free World Frigate” to their criteria, which caught the eye of the U.S.N. Chief of Naval Operations.

The publisher, his daughter Jane Loeser Clukay, hopes it will encourage others to write down stories from their careers and to give Webb undergraduates an opportunity to get a glimpse of one alum’s adventures in the field they are embarking on, as well as, inspiring those interested in research to advance the field. Loeser also has two sons who also graduated from Webb Institute, Christopher T. Loeser ’70 and Douglas Douglas J. Loeser ’73. 

The book is available free online, thanks to Webb Institute. The 60-page soft cover, perfect bound book can be obtained by sending a check for $10.00 plus $2.50 shipping and handling to The Proper Exposure at P.O. Box 1070, New London, CT 06320.

 By Alexander Bidwell ’21, Rowing Team Captain

Webb Institute Crew has kicked off its fifth season with a great first round of practices. Over the past few weeks we’ve had strong turnouts of both experienced and novice rowers. Although the program is in its infancy, we are fortunate to have several dedicated members eager to share their love of rowing by helping coach fellow teammates. The program currently has basic equipment including one set of sweep oars, slings, and two Vespoli 8+ (8 man + cox) rowing shells. This equipment was donated to Webb and has enabled us to get the program started.

While our 8+ shells are working well, they are not ideal for a program of our size.  A 4+ shell would greatly benefit our team, allowing us to practice more frequently and possibly introduce sculling to more experienced rowers. In addition, a 4+ would provide more flexibility when coordinating races and scrimmages.  We are also interested in acquiring a 2-man shell.

If you have a 2 or 4+ shell you are interested in donating to Webb’s rowing program, please contact President Michel at ude.bbew@lehcimk or 516 671-2277.  Your contribution of such a vessel may qualify as a charitable tax deduction.

This September, Webb Alumna and Hydrodynamicist Leah Sosa ’08 visited science classes at Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, California. Sosa, who graduated from Walter Reed M.S. in 1997, shared her experiences at Webb Institute and on the job in the STEM field of Hydrodynamics.

Following are some excerpts from student responses, thanking Leah for her visit to their classes:

“Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to come talk to us! It was very cool to see what a former IHPer can do with her life and it made me think about my future. The Webb Institute seems like an amazing school with an incredible experience, and it is very helpful that it is tuition free. I also thought that it was very interesting to see one of the experiments you did. Science experiments are super fun at school, and to see them being applied to real life is awesome! Your presentation made me dream of big things to accomplish when I get older and have a job.” – Amelie Missig’18

“Your presentation showed me that if you focus on your academic career, you can go to new and unexpected places, especially if you are unsure what you want to do later in life. I was shown first-hand that, as opportunities arise, your expectations and plans can drastically change – even lead you to another country.” – Enzo Banal’18

“It really opened my eyes about thinking for my future. Like, which college I want to go to, what I should major in, and what job I want. Your section about Webb Institute made me remember that there are schools other than UCLA, Stanford, Harvard, and other popular schools. Your presentation, how you really were not sure what you wanted, reminded me of myself. I am going to research jobs and colleges to get ready.” – Caira Paredes’18

“I was fascinated by the fact that you went to a college that had waived tuition so that you would not have to pay for college. The presentation made me think about how I will soon go to visit colleges and universities, and it will only be a matter of time before I start applying for them.” – Jeffrey Kwon’18