Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology

For Immediate Release 05-15

Contact: Caroline Chetelat, (410) 956-1050, x22

Westlawn Receives Prestigious National Award Saluting

75 Years of Excellence in Distance Education

March 31, 2005, Edgewater, MD: The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology was recently honored by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) for Westlawn’s integrity and excellence in distance education for 75 years. The DETC was founded in 1926 to promote sound educational standards and ethical business practices within the correspondence field. The independent seven-member Accrediting Commission of the DETC was established in 1955; shortly thereafter it gained the approval of the U.S. Department of Education as the "nationally recognized accrediting agency" under terms of Public Law. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) also recognizes the Accrediting Commission.

Hank A. Spille, Chair, DETC Accrediting Commission said, “It is a singular honor for me to present this award plaque to the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology on behalf of the DETC, on the occasion of Westlawn’s Diamond Anniversary. DETC is proud of Westlawn and warmly appreciates its wonderful contributions to the world of marine craft design. As an accredited DETC institution for over three decades, Westlawn has represented the very highest traditions in distance learning, and we join with the industry in celebrating 75 years of excellence in marine-design, education and training. We would like to congratulate Westlawn, and we wish smooth sailing for the next 75 years.”

The inscription on the plaque is stated below:

The Distance Education and Training Council

Washington, DC

Proudly Salutes

Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology

Stamford, Connecticut

On the occasion of its

Seventy-Fifth Anniversary

1930 – 2005

Seventy-Five years of integrity and

excellence in distance education

Presented February 17, 2005

Dave Gerr, Director of Westlawn said, “Both Westlawn and ABYC are honored to receive such recognition from the DETC for our 75^th Anniversary. DETC accreditation has been an integral part of Westlawn for over thirty-five years. Accreditation from an institution like DETC not only helps ensure we are offering our students a quality education, but opens up an assortment of financial-assistance opportunities for our students as well. We’re looking forward to many more years of working with DETC.”

Founded in 1930, the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is the only nationally accredited and state certified distance-learning school of small-craft design in the United States. As the not-for-profit educational affiliate of the American Boat and Yacht Council, Westlawn’s primary function is to assure a continual source of highly skilled designers to the marine industry. To learn more about Westlawn, please call (410) 956-7100 or visit the Westlawn web site at www.westlawn.edu. To learn more about the DETC, please visit www.detc.org.