Editor’s Note: The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) does much to ensure the boats you buy are safe and well-built. As the primary standards writer and standards setter for the boating industry, ABYC’s reach covers areas such as stability, fire-prevention, flooding, propulsion, visibility from the helm, and more. Boating editors apply the standard of ABYC when testing boats for published review. With all that the ABYC does for boaters, and for the reputation of boatbuilders, I encourage you to “return the favor” and submit nominations for the program described below. –Kevin Falvey
The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) Foundation is seeking nominations for its 2025 Educator of the Year Award, which honors an outstanding instructor who is shaping the future of the marine industry by training the next generation of marine service technicians.
Eligible candidates include educators actively teaching marine service technology for recreational boats in high schools, postsecondary institutions, or corporate settings.
“I am always impressed when I see how teachers connect with their students through hands-on training, classroom lectures, and lab work,” said Sarah Devlin, ABYC Foundation accreditation director. “They strive to ensure their graduates are trained to the highest standards, and they modify their curriculum and lesson plans to match the students in the classroom. These folks deserve all the recognition and appreciation we can offer.”
Keith Rollins of Suncoast Technical College in Sarasota, Florida, received the 2024 award. “Just being nominated for Educator of the Year, for me, was a great honor,” Rollins said. “Sometimes as a teacher, you’re working so hard to create a program that both the students and the teacher will enjoy, you don’t even realize that others are watching.”
Nominations are open until Dec. 19, 2025. The winner will be announced at the winter ABYC Foundation’s Educator Forum, scheduled for Jan. 27, 2026. This free online event provides both an educational platform for instructors and a networking opportunity for leaders in the boating industry. To learn more, and to register for the November Educator Forum, visit teachboats.org/educatorforum.
Nominations can be submitted at: teachboats.org/educator-of-year.
About ABYC
Since 1954, the nonprofit American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) has developed safety standards for boat design, construction, equipage, repair and maintenance. The essential global source of marine industry technical information, ABYC’s product safety standards, credentialing, education, training, and other tools help members make boating safer.
The ABYC Foundation supports the mission of the American Boat & Yacht Council, with a focus on workforce development and providing resources that create educational and lifelong career opportunities to both current and aspiring marine service technicians. To get involved, visit abycfoundation.org.
