ANNAPOLIS, MD (Sept. 16, 2025) – 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 receives a prize pack from West Marine Pro and 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 www.teachboats.org/educatorforum.
Nominations can be submitted at https://www.teachboats.org/educator-of-year.
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Suggested social media: Nominations are open for the ABYC Foundation’s 2025 Educator of the Year Award! Help recognize outstanding instructors training the next generation of marine service technicians. Nominate by Dec. 19: https://www.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 www.abycfoundation.org.