KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 19, 2024 – The University of Rhode Island has been recognized as a top military-friendly University and maritime center of excellence in education and research. That expertise and accompanying connections will be on display during the second annual Sea Services Symposium Friday, Sept. 27.
The program — which gives students a chance to explore the opportunities and career paths in maritime government service and maritime industries, supporting government missions and the blue economy — will take place on the URI Quadrangle and is free and open to the public.
This year’s symposium will again promote the links between the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and URI as a top maritime center of excellence and education. Students from any program at the University are invited to hear more about options and opportunities in the sea services from more than 30 exhibitors scheduled to attend. Registration is not required but offered for parking/weather updates, by Sept. 26.
More than 300 students attended last year’s inaugural symposium, along with several local agencies and organizations. Some came with workforce needs to fill in the region.
Coastal engineer Jimmy Hill ’14, from Foth Infrastructure and Environment in Newport, attended last year’s event and hired two students to work full-time. He said the event was a fun change-up from the typical career fair and a good networking opportunity for the firm.
Ocean engineering graduate Chase Rynkowski ’24 was one of those students, and is now working as a waterfront structural engineer at Foth. Rynkowski says last year’s Sea Services Symposium played a pivotal role in his fledgling career, leading to two engineering internships. He accepted a full-time position with the company following graduation in May.
“I cannot express how important it is for students to attend these events,” he said. “It was an excellent opportunity to network and learn about the different opportunities in the ocean engineering industry. Simply just talking to each company provides a connection and insight on where and what you could be doing post-graduation.”
Alyssa Rauscher ’27, an environmental science and management / marine affairs major, also left last year’s event with contacts and valuable career advice. She says that the sea symposium gave her the chance to explore a path to join the NOAA Corps after graduation.
“It has been my dream to join for years now but I hadn’t been able to talk with anyone about the NOAA Corps in person until the symposium,” she said. “It was helpful to discuss steps I should take throughout college to better prepare me for the application process and life in the service. They were a wonderful resource and have made me even more excited to join. Students should check it out, regardless of their majors, because there is honestly something for everyone there!”
The event is open to students from URI as well as the Community College of Rhode Island and the state’s high schools to learn about sea service missions, career paths, and career opportunities through URI’s maritime degree programs. High school students can also see URI Undergraduate Admission for information on campus tours.
The symposium puts a spotlight on the nation’s sea services, URI programs and industries all over the blue economy, demonstrating the links among the academic world and its research to industries and military services, according to Bob Flynn, director of the Center for Military and Veterans Education at URI.
“It’s exciting to be able to spread the word about these great opportunities,” he said.
This year’s symposium is hosted by URI’s Department of Marine Affairs and the Center for Military and Veteran Education. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Memorial Union.