Today on deck, Spirit of South Carolina hosted a small ceremony that marked a return, after almost two years hiatus, to her mission (stated in whole, further below).
Over the past five months, two graduating high school seniors, Jonathan Bautista from Berkeley High School and Keshaun Holmes from Stratford High School, each completed 120 hours of service as Apprentice deckhands. They were sponsored by the Harbor Freight Company's Apprentice Fellow's Program, whose aim is to enable youth to deepen their interest in and commitment to a trade, and deepen their practical skills and self-discipline as reliable-trusted members of the workforce. The road to those goals was documented in a comprehensive development plan mutually agreed upon and guided by a mentor, in this case, Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan Oliver.
And so, Jonathan and Keshaun laid in with other volunteers on Saturdays and occasional weekdays, learning basic deckhand skills, and working the the same maintenance projects, as other volunteers, but with the added dimensions of practicing the self-disciplines of the workforce that would make them attractive hires. In the course of that time on board Keshaun and Jonathan worked side by side with other volunteers as deckhands, picking up, as well as marlinspike skills, the lore and heritage of Charleston's maritime history, and hopefully building a new perspective of the maritime industry, and its contribution to the low country. While they never quite got to sailing, they did participate as deckhands for Spirit's engine Sea Trials in July.
This Saturday, they stood on deck among their families, their school educators, and fellow volunteer shipmates to receive their rewards for successful completion of their apprenticeship; a check from Harbor Freight for $1500. In addition.. Spirit of South Carolina benefited thru the gift of $500 from Harbor Freight for providing the platform for their successful apprenticeship experience.
The upshot of their experience should be a boost for Spirit of South Carolina. It raised her visibility significantly within a major School District (Berkeley County), generating interest in future collaboration to benefit their their students. With the right marketing, and attendant publicity, it could further grow relationships with other districts and organizations.
Thanks to the Volunteers present, Calvin Milam, Mikell Evatt, David Brennan, Danny Johnson and daughter Laura, Frank Thigpen, and John Whitsitt, who autographed a unique Certificate awarded to the apprentices by Bryan Oliver, attesting to their acceptance by their shipmates, and by His Majesty King Neptune, as "Deckhand".
SSV Spirit of South
Carolina is dedicated to honoring and curating the Seafaring History and diverse Maritime
Heritage of South Carolina by offering a unique educational platform for the
people of the Palmetto State, in particular her youth. Participants will experience programs designed
around an interdisciplinary hands-on curriculum integrated with the history and
literature of South Carolina and our relationship to the sea. Just as important, Spirit of South Carolina
will challenge and engage students with a unique Tall Ship experience which:
· Builds
Pride and a sense of achievement
· Increases
self-confidence and belief in one’s self
· Encourages
Self-reliance/independence
· Develops
Resilience
· Exercises
Self-control/personal discipline
· Appreciates
values of teamwork and cooperation
· Respects
and understands perspectives of others resulting in their own broadened
perspective
· Increases
knowledge/awareness of different social groups and increased ability to bridge
social differences
· Fosters
Organizational skills and time management
There is little that
Man has made that approaches anything in nature, but a sailing ship does. There is not much that Man has made that
calls to all the best in him, but a sailing ship does.
-Alan Villiers
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