Mass. Maritime scholarship to honor freed capt.

April 16, 2009 10:43 AM Email| Comments (1)| Text size – +

By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy today announced a scholarship fund honoring Richard Phillips, a 1979 graduate and Vermont sea captain held hostage for days before being rescued by US Navy commandos.

Richard Phillips

Richard E. Lyall, a classmate of Phillips and a trustee of the Bourne college, started the fund with a $25,000 donation and set a goal of $100,000 to create a perpetual scholarship in Phillips's name.

"Captain Richard Phillips was a classmate of mine, and I applaud his selfless actions to protect the ship and crew during what must have been an incredibly challenging time," Lyall wrote in a message sent today to alumni. "In my opinion, his conduct was truly heroic and should be recognized as such by the school, the seagoing community, and the nation."

Phillips, a Winchester native who now lives in Underhill, Vt., arrived in Kenya today on board the USS Bainbridge. The crew of the Maersk-Alabama arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland this morning to be reunited with their families.

Phillips's brother-in-law, Tom Coggio, said this morning he was happy that Phillips was back on dry land, after being delayed when the Bainbridge went to assist another cargo ship that came under pirate attack. He said the family still doesn't know when he is scheduled to reach the United States.

"We're just waiting for the word," he said. "I think my sister's [Phillips's wife Andrea] going to run off with him somewhere."

In his message, Lyall praised Shane Murphy, a 2001 graduate of the academy for his role in retaking the cargo ship, which last week was briefly seized by a heavily armed band of pirates, and navigating it safely to Kenya. He also acknowledged the Navy's "remarkable effort in securing Captain Phillips’s freedom during the dramatic conclusion to this ordeal."

"I hope my fellow cadets from the Class of '79, as well as all of those in the Academy family, will join me in recognizing Captain Phillips's and Captain Murphy’s extraordinary actions," he wrote.

The college's foundation will match each dollar raised for the campaign.

"In any crisis, both danger and opportunity exist," Lyall wrote. "Now that the crew of the Maersk Alabama has safely navigated past the immediate danger, let us recognize our opportunity to celebrate the positive outcome. In doing so, we can create a lasting tribute that will help bridge the gap between need and aid for our current and future cadets."

Gifts to the scholarship program may be made on-line at www.maritime.edu/donate. "Captain Richard Phillips Scholarship" should be noted in the comments section of the webpage.

Contributions by check are also welcomed and may be made payable to MMA and sent to 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA, 02532. Please note Captain Richard Phillips Scholarship in the memo section of the check.