For Immediate Release

Contact: Caroline Chetelat at ABYC

(410) 990-4460, x22

cchetelat@abycinc.org

 

Hargrave Custom Yachts Celebrates Yet Another Graduate in a

Long Line of Westlawn Students

Evaluation of Former YDI Student Leads to Westlawn Diploma

 

July 9, 2007, Annapolis, MD: The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is pleased to announce that for the first time, Westlawn has granted a diploma to a former Yacht Design Institute (YDI) student. Greg Boyko, of Hargrave Custom Yachts, earned his Westlawn diploma as a result of the first former-student evaluation, which consisted of a review of his YDI courses and new submitted design work. This evaluation procedure was created as part of Westlawn’s acquisition of YDI in 2006.

 

Left to Right: Mike Joyce and Greg Boyko

 

Greg is the second Westlawn graduate currently working in Hargrave Custom Yachts’ design department. Mike Joyce, CEO of Hargrave Custom yachts, arranged for a graduation celebration at Hargrave to present Greg with his Westlawn diploma. Joyce said, “It was a wonderful day for me personally to be able to present a second diploma to a Westlawn graduate since taking over the Hargrave company. I want to thank Westlawn for making all this possible not only for Greg Boyko, but for the entire Hargrave family. We take great pride in our company's long history with Westlawn, and the list of honored recipients to receive a Westlawn diploma who not only played an important role in our company, but in the yachting industry overall is impressive indeed. Keep up the great work!” In addition, Hargrave carries on the distinguished tradition of the famous naval architect Jack Hargrave, who himself was a Westlawn graduate.

 

Westlawn director, Dave Gerr stated, “We’re pleased as punch, to be able to help further the careers of Greg Boyko and Ben Dodarell [the other Westlawn graduate at Hargrave], and it’s every bit as important, that we’re able to help companies like Hargrave Custom Yachts get the qualified employees they require. It’s doubly rewarding to not only be able to help Hargrave Custom Yachts, as they been long-time supporters of Westlawn, but to also be able to assist a former YDI student at the same time.”

 

As announced previously, Westlawn acquired the former YDI (which ceased operations in 1988) last year, and is committed to supporting YDI students and graduates as it does Westlawn students and grads.

 

 

 

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, the mission of the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is threefold:

■ To provide our students with the skills and knowledge required to build a rewarding career in the profession of yacht and small-craft naval architecture.

■ To support continued growth of the recreational and small-craft marine community through the development of well-trained, safety-oriented, boat designers developing better products for the benefit of the boating public.

■ To provide continuing education to marine-industry professionals.

To learn more about Westlawn, please call (860) 572-7900 or visit the Westlawn website at: www.westlawn.edu.