Reid MacCluggage History Scholarship Winners Announced

The winners of the New London Maritime Society 2011 Reid MacCluggage Maritime History Scholarships are 1st Place winner ($1,000): Miss Julia McKenna, of Fitch High School, for her essay: A Battle Hero of a Different Kind at the U.S Naval Academy.

2nd Place winner ($500 Savings Bond): Miss Amy Whitehouse, of East Lyme High School, for her work An Ocean of Freedom: An Interview with Olaudah Equiano conducted by Benjamin Franklin.

This year, 12 area high-school juniors and seniors entered the competition.
Julia McKenna's piece was distinguished by excellent original research and her personal approach to the topic. Amy Whitehouse created an intriguing, imaginary interview between two 18th-century figures.

This annual competition invites entries from junior or senior students in good standing at the following high schools to qualify: East Lyme, Grasso Tech., Fisher's Island, Fitch, Griswold, Ledyard, Lyme-Old Lyme, Montville, New London, NFA, Norwich Regional Tech., St. Bernard's, Stonington, Williams School, Waterford, Wheeler .

Students enter an original essay, short story, novella, play, movie script or poem based on the theme: the African-American experience in the maritime world. There are no restrictions on the length or scope of your piece, but all entries must be typed and include a complete list of all primary and secondary research sources. Additionally, each entry must be accompanied by a cover page, stating the student's name, address and telephone number, as well as the name of the high school he or she attends, and a brief abstract describing the intent/content of the piece.

Following review by a panel of distinguished judges from the community, a scholarship of $1000 will be awarded for the most outstanding entry and a $500 savings bond for second place. The winners were contacted directly, and will receive the awards at his or her high school awards night.

If you have any questions, please contact the Custom House Maritime Museum, 860-447-2501.

The Reid MacCluggage Maritime History Scholarship was established to foster an awareness of the experience of African-Americans in the context of maritime history.
It honors the commitment of Reid MacCluggage, the editor and publisher of The Day newspaper from 1984-2001, to the development of multicultural awareness and excellent writing skills in students.

SPONSORED BY NEW LONDON MARITIME SOCIETY, INC.

In 1839, New London and its U.S. Custom House, now the Custom House Maritime Museum, played a small but significant role in the abolition of slavery in the United States--in particular, in the story of the Amistad.

As you may be aware, the original La Amistad was a Cuban ship that sailed from Havana in 1839 on the voyage that gave rise to the famous U.S. Supreme Court case - the first such case to set African captives free.

It was in New London where local abolitionists took that first important step towards setting the captives free: New London is the only American port to which the original La Amistad ever sailed, New London is where an abolitionist first spoke up in defense of the ship's captives, and it was at New London's U.S. Custom House where, ultimately, the ship & its cargo were auctioned after the conclusion of the trial. We should always remember: small players can have a profound effect.

Today at the Custom House, we tell the Amistad story with a new exhibition Amistad: A True Story of Freedom, and with special programs.

nlmaritimesociety.org

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