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Scholarship
Each year, the Florida Harbor Pilots Association (FHPA) selects two minority cadets from one of the seven national maritime academies who show enthusiasm and aptitude for a possible career as a state harbor pilot. The selected recipients will each receive a $2,500 scholarship, plus all their pre-approved travel expenses to attend a training session with a pilot association in Florida, where they will receive the scholarship, get hands-on experience, and be exposed to many aspects of a harbor pilot’s career.
The deadline to apply for the 2023 scholarship is April 30, 2023.
For more information on our association’s scholarship opportunities, please contact Gretchen Winters at gretchen@floridapilots.com.
Claire Hyun, from Issaquah, Washington, is a sophomore at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point). She completed her maritime internship with the Jacksonville Pilots in July.
Kent Baron, from Hollywood, Florida, is a sophomore at SUNY Maritime College. He completed his maritime internship with both the Port Everglades and Miami Pilots in August.
Florida Harbor Pilots Executive Committee,
Thank you so much for the incredible opportunity and generous scholarship. This past week was unforgettable.
It is hard to express just how much this experience meant to me. Becoming a harbor pilot is seen as the pinnacle of a career at sea and for the first time it does not feel out of reach. The effort made by the FHPA to train and mentor minorities in this industry is significant. I left Florida feeling hopeful, encouraged, and motivated to finish my senior year strong.
Thank you again for the opportunity to peek into the world of being a Florida Pilot!
Very Respectfully,
Midshipman Claire Hyun 1/c
Class of 2023
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Juan Colon-Ortiz, from Riverview, Florida, is a sophomore at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He completed his maritime internship with the Tampa Pilots in October of 2021.
Fayth Stephenson, a junior at SUNY Maritime College. She completed her maritime internship with the Tampa Pilots in September.
Courtney Luce, a senior at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. She completed her maritime internship with the Canaveral Pilots in January.
Congratulations to the 2018 FHPA scholarship winners, David Chen and Taylor Lacy!
Michelle Perri, a sophomore at the US Merchant Marine Academy from Miami. She completed her maritime internship with the Port Miami Pilots in September.
Jace Bravo, a junior at Texas Maritime Academy from Boca Raton. He completed his maritime internship with the Port Everglades Pilots in September as well.
