Our Scholarship Recipients are the reason we’re in business. Here are some of the great things they’ve said about us.
“The scholarship changed my choices for education!” — Maritime studies student
Meet Jalen Richardson! Jalen is a graduate of Jefferson High School’s Maritime Studies Magnet Program and a recipient of the Tampa Bay Maritime Scholarship Foundation, which Port Tampa Bay supports. Jalen is training for a career in the maritime industry at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. He says the opportunity to travel the world and work around big vessels drew him to the field. We asked Jalen to reflect on the diversity of the maritime community for Black History Month. He shared the following insights: “It would be great if more people who look like me are reflected in all aspects of the maritime industry. Additionally, more women and other people of color, backgrounds, and beliefs should be strongly encouraged to become members of this awesome field. There is a lot that can be done to diversify the maritime industry. It will require resources, active listening, and intentional actions. Recruitment efforts must include someone that can identify and connect with the members of marginalized communities, hiring more diverse people in leadership positions, and more mentoring or shadowing programs.”
