The following was provided by Crowley Maritime Corporation: 

(LONG BEACH, Calif.; Sept. 22, 2011) ­- Crowley Maritime Corporation continued its commitment to education by awarding three California Maritime Academy (CMA) students with Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial scholarships during Wednesday night's Containerization and Intermodal Institute's Connie Awards presentation in Long Beach, Calif.

The students, Drew Kerlee, Stephen Luxton and Richard Darwood, received the scholarships for their strong academic record, interest in pursuing maritime careers and financial need.

Luxton, a native of Port Angeles, Wash., is majoring in maritime transportation and is a third-class squad leader with the cadet corps. He worked with the Associated Students of Cal Maritime (ASCM) as the environmental officer, a role that gave him the opportunity to institute small changes to make the campus more environmentally efficient. In the ASCM position he also helped host lectures featuring well-known maritime figures from the Bay Area.

"I feel fortunate to be preparing for a career in this vital industry," Luxton said. "I want to take this opportunity to thank Crowley for its generous support."

Darwood, a native of Central Michigan, is majoring in maritime transportation and is a first-class cadet. He spent 20 years as a professional sea-kayak racer and manufacturer of his own racing kayaks before deciding to pursue a career in marine transportation - a career that allows him to serve his family, community and country doing what he knows best.

"This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals," Darwood said.

Kerlee, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, but was raised in Seattle, is majoring in maritime transportation and is a first-class corps academic training officer. Among his accomplishments, Kerlee helped to found the cadet boat program, which provides in-depth, hands-on training on the academy's T-boats, or small passenger vessels. He also managed cadet website www.calmaritime.net .

"I've been participating in recreational sailing programs throughout my life," Kerlee said. "It seems silly now, but I never thought I could make a good living working on the water."

Crowley began awarding scholarships to students of CMA in 1997 with the assistance of the academy's selection committee, which chooses the scholarship recipients in April of each year. Crowley also provides internships to those recipients who are interested.

Since 1984, Crowley has provided more than half-million dollars in scholarship funding for approximately 200 students studying at maritime academies and other select institutions. The company has also donated more than $2 million over the years to support other educational programs.

In 1994, Crowley Chairman, President and CEO, Tom Crowley Jr., established the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship Program, in honor of his father, who guided the company to extraordinary heights before passing away in 1994. The company continues to give scholarship dollars to deserving students in the U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico. In 2006, the program expanded to Central America and to date has provided financial assistance to 25 students in that region.

To learn more about the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship or how to apply, click here.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 119-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides project solutions, transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its TITAN Salvage subsidiary; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.

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Caption, left to right: Crowley's Victoria Ellis, senior administrator, marine services, with scholarship recipients Luxton, Darwood and Kerlee