A Message from the Executive Director

Happy New Year! 

As we reflect on 2025, one theme stands above all others: impact.

This year, the Chapman School of Seamanship trained nearly 800 students across our recreational and workforce development programs. These programs included Yamaha Marine Maintenance Technician Training, Professional Mariner Training (PMT), Yacht & Small Craft Surveying, NMEA Marine Electronics Installer certifications, and U.S. Coast Guard Master’s license programs—each designed to meet real industry demand.

Launching Careers & Honoring Service

Chapman graduates continue transition directly into maritime careers and U.S. Coast Guard service through our lateral-entry and professional pathways. Employment outcomes remain strong across our core workforce programs, with graduates achieving placement rates of 88.37% in Professional Mariner Training (PMT), 93.10% in Yamaha Marine Technician programs, and 90.63% in the Yacht & Small Craft Surveying (YSCS) program.

Alumni who took advantage of our lateral entry program - such as Boatswain’s Mate Third Class (BM3) Adam Schay, Sam Stitsky, Jacob Wunsch, Matthew Babby, and Jameson Kondratowicz - are now serving in U.S. Coast Guard units across the United States, exemplifying how Chapman training translates into real-world readiness, leadership, and service.

Youth Programs: Confidence That Lasts a Lifetime

During the summer of 2025 alone, 242 young boaters completed Chapman’s Youth Boating Programs. Students gained essential skills in boating safety, navigation, and seamanship—while building confidence, responsibility, and sound decision-making on the water.

Through partnerships with the Hobe Sound Nature Center and Loggerhead Marinelife Center, youth participants received direct exposure to coastal conservation, sea turtle protection, and environmental responsibility. These experiences reinforce a core Chapman value: good mariners are also good stewards of the waterways.

Scholarship support ensured access for families who otherwise may not have been able to participate, placing opportunity—and often a first experience at the helm—within reach.

Training That Meets Industry Demand

Chapman continued to expand and deliver high-demand workforce training aligned with the evolving needs of the marine industry. Programs included:

• Professional Mariner Training (PMT)

• Yacht & Small Craft Surveying

• Yamaha Marine Technician Training

• ABYC Marine Service Technology

• NMEA Basic Installer and NMEA 2000^® Installer certifications

Among more than 130 Yamaha training schools nationwide, Chapman ranks #1, graduating nearly 50 Yamaha Marine Technicians last year. This distinction reflects the strength of our instructional staff, hands-on training model, and close alignment with industry standards.

Through our partnership with Pursuit Boats, Chapman also trained nearly 100 new Pursuit owners in our “Confidence on the Water” course, helping them develop practical skills, situational awareness, and confidence at the helm during their first season of ownership.

Chapman further strengthened its collaboration with Scuba Diving International (SDI) to develop a modern, safety-focused curriculum that blends seamanship, boating safety, and diver awareness—supporting safer waterways both locally and globally.

Partnerships That Extend Our Impact

Chapman’s mission is amplified through strategic partnerships that enhance education, safety, and environmental stewardship.



• Hobe Sound Nature Center – Integrating local environmental education into youth programming and classroom learning
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center – Supporting sea turtle conservation, rehabilitation awareness, and hands-on environmental engagement
• Scuba Diving International (SDI) – Collaborating on curriculum development that promotes boating and diver safety standards worldwide
• Pursuit Boats – Supporting new-owner education and on-water confidence through hands-on training
• Stream2Sea – The official sunscreen of Chapman School! Providing reef-safe, eco-conscious sun protection that is proven safe for freshwater life, marine life, and coral ecosystems while keeping boaters protected on the water.

These partnerships extend Chapman’s reach beyond the classroom and strengthen the real-world impact of our training.

Stewardship of Place & Purpose

Throughout the year, Chapman students and staff actively supported conservation and community initiatives, including removing 60 pounds of debris during the Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup and participating in sea turtle conservation efforts.

These actions reinforce sustainability as a core value of maritime professionalism and reflect Chapman’s long-standing commitment to protecting the waters that sustain our industry and community.

Why Alumni & Donor Support Matters

Alumni and donor support directly offsets tuition for youth, veterans, and career-changing adults; maintains and operates training vessels; expands curriculum; and sustains campus infrastructure.

Programs such as the Alumni Fund, the Burgee Society Monthly Giving Club, and the Chapman Endowment ensure year-round impact and long-term sustainability—helping Chapman remain accessible, relevant, and mission-driven.

Your Support Fuels Our Mission

The impact outlined in this Year in Review is only possible because of the generosity of alumni, donors, and community partners who believe in Chapman’s mission.

Your support helps:

• Provide scholarships for youth, veterans, and career-changing adults
• Maintain and operate our training vessels and waterfront facilities
• Expand workforce development programs aligned with industry demand
• Ensure hands-on, safety-focused maritime education remains accessible

Looking Ahead

Chapman remains focused on strategic growth and program development to meet the evolving needs of the maritime industry. Key initiatives include:

• Expanding our ABYC Marine Service Technology course offerings
• Growing our NMEA training program offerings
• Launching our Yamaha Rigging Pilot Program in September 2026
• Introducing our Dive Boat Operations Course in June 2026
• Debuting our Boat and Yacht Detailing Course in Spring 2026

As demand for skilled mariners, technicians, and marine professionals continues to rise, Chapman is well positioned to deliver high-quality training that supports workforce development and safer waterways.

Thank You!

To our alumni, donors, board members, partners, and friends: thank you for standing by us as we continue to grow. Your support ensures Chapman remains Florida’s Maritime School in both name and action.

Fair winds and following seas.

Stay Connected With Chapman!