For
Immediate Release
Katie
McAteer
(410)
990-4460, x30
kmcateer@abycinc.org
Contact: Caroline Chetelat at ABYC
(410) 990-4460,
x22
cchetelat@abycinc.org

Distance Learning School Westlawn
Institute of Marine Technology
Announces Successful “Mystic Meet”
Westlawn faculty and students interact off-line
August 10, 2006,
Annapolis, MD: The Westlawn
Institute of Marine Technology held its first “Mystic Meet” July 21-23, 2006 at Mystic Seaport in historic
Mystic, Connecticut. At the “Mystic
Meet” there were 32 students and guests in all at the event with five countries
being represented: Canada, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and the USA. This meeting was the first time students and
teachers were able to interact face-to-face at the Westlawn Mystic Seaport
office and will continue to be an annual event.

Ship’s Plans librarian, Maria Bernier (lower right)
guiding the crew
through one of many aisles of the 100,000-plus-plan
collection
The students were
thrilled to see their teachers and explore Westlawn’s Connecticut
home office at the historic Mystic Seaport, where the event was held. Students
also got the chance to tour the museum and its many attractions; to include the
historic ships plans library, shipyard in a behind the scenes tour of Mystic
Seaport.

Westlawn director, Dave Gerr, pointing out some
details on drawings in the Ships Plans Library
Westlawn students can
currently communicate to one another online by posting comments on the Westlawn
Forum. One student replied on the forum after attending the event, “Mystic
Seaport provided for me an inspiration to arrange for future research of Master
Designers of the past. This trip has certainly sparked an interest in
spending time studying this area to compliment my regular Westlawn curriculum.”

Shipyard director, Quentin Snediker (yellow slicker)
gave a detailed tour of the shipyard
The students who attended
the event also benefited from the face-to-face interaction with teachers.
Another student replied, “It was a great opportunity to meet and work with
everyone especially working with Stu on the drafting board. It was good to see
how Stu works with all the drawings to make sure things are done right. Being
able to visit in person was extremely beneficial and we will be back next
year.” Stu Waring is a Westlawn Instructor who grades lessons in the first
portion of the course.

This is the wooden side trawler (called a “dragger” in
this size)
which the shipyard is currently rebuilding
Dave Gerr, Westlawn’s
Director said, “The Mystic Meet was a great success. Not only did the students
really enjoy this, but they went out of their way to insist that it be a
regular event and to ask us to try and get more students to participate.
Perhaps most important was how clearly you could see the ‘light’ going off in
our students minds. They were suddenly and inescapably aware of the breadth,
depth, and richness of the history of design and how important it is. It will
be a transformational experience for the students who made it to the Mystic
Meet, and the importance of this can’t be overstated.”
Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and
the Sea – is the nation’s leading maritime museum presenting the American
experience from a maritime perspective. Located along the banks of the historic
Mystic River in Mystic, Connecticut, the Museum houses extensive collections
representing the material culture of maritime America and offers educational
programs from preschool to post-graduate. For more information, call (888)
973-2767 or visit www.mysticseaport.org.
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 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.