b'Mostofthepeoplewhowouldgointothemaritimefieldhavetohavealoveforthewater.Itisarewardingfieldwhichcanprovideacomfortablelivingandoffersmanydifferentareasinwhichtowork, says Curt. For our ferry service, some of the rewards come in the form of breath-taking sunsets and sunrises, as well as serving an island community that means so much to us.Andrew Bennett is a three-time recipient of the Raymond Plaunt Maritime Memorial Scholarship. He graduated in January 2021 from Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan, with a bachelors degree in Maritime Technology and a Third Mates Unlimited License.I got to meet Curt during my sophomore year while he was in town for a Captains Association event. He and his friends were so welcoming, says Andrew. Each year, I would get a chance to catch up with Curt on the ferry to Bois Blanc Island to visit my aunt. It was really encouraging to have so many people interested in my success and checking in.Andrew says he was working 60 to 80 hours per week as a lifeguard to help pay for his housing and tuition, but after receiving this scholarship, he was able to cut back on hours and focus more on his education.This scholarship allowed me the time to actually focus on and understand the material, instead of just short-term learning for a grade, which was an immense help, and will continue to help me throughout my career, says Andrew.Curt notes that education can be expensive, and the Plaunts strive to ease that burden for students who choose the water as a way of life.This scholarship fund is one way we can honor Raymonds legacy, celebrate our family tradition, and share our passion for the water, says Curt. Sharing that with the community and knowing this legacy will last forever through this fund is incredibly rewarding.l Passion with a Purpose 8'