Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Holchul announced that Kingsborough Community College, one of the seven CUNY Community Colleges, will receive $857,543 in funding to support its Maritime Apprenticeship Program on Feb. 20. 

This initiative will prepare students for a career in maritime technology through an advanced academic lens, different from traditional career preparation. 

The approval stems from the $175 million New York State Workforce Development Initiative, devoted to growth in job industries. 

As a CUNY college, KBCC’s apprenticeship program will train students to excel in careers of maritime technology while also providing them with the resources to complete their education. 

“The apprentice will gain hands-on experience working as a paid employee, while attending technical courses as a matriculated Maritime Technology student one day per week during each semester at Kingsborough Community College,” as stated in a CUNY press release.

KBCC illustrates a one of a kind experience for college students in New York City. Instead of hustling in the city, apprenticeship recipients hustle overseas, learning the ins and outs of a career in maritime technology. 

Baruch students may not be able to pursue a degree on sea, but they can possibly land important paid internship opportunities through the STARR Career Development Center. 

“I think it’s great any time a company or organization invests into the youth by expanding their career path,” Baruch sophomore M’Niyah Lynn stated. 

However, this initiative forces Lynn to question New York State as the lines between a job and educational fulfillment begin to blur. 

“I understand that people want to make learning more interactive and mimic some real world situations to encourage people to learn, but money should be spent on improving the quality of education we already receive in CUNY universities and campus environments,” she said.

The Ticker reached out to John Nappo and Gerald Kenna, faculty of KBCC, for more information but has received no comments thus far.