IYRS School of Technology & Trades is gearing up for its 27th annual Graduation & Launch Day on May 31, 2025. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. at Restoration Hall (449 Thames Street).
This year’s commencement speaker is Ben Sorkin, CEO of Flux Marine, a Bristol-based electric boating company. Over 70 students are set to graduate, and the school will launch four Beetle Cat sailboats, bringing their total of restored Beetle Cats to 174 since 1996.
The ceremony will also showcase two restored Herreshoff 12 1/2s, completed by second-year Boatbuilding students. These boats will be returned to their owners after graduation.
Marine Systems graduate Tom Stark is taking on The Transatlantic Race 2025, with several former classmates joining him as crew members.
Graduates from the Composites Technology program are landing jobs across the country, from FSL Composites in Honolulu to Irish Boat Shop in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
The Digital Modeling & Fabrication program has made its mark at Providence-based EXP Studios, a design and build company that works with high-profile clients like the Olympic Games and the Smithsonian Institution.
Boatbuilding & Restoration graduates often find themselves working in historic vessel preservation or using contemporary construction methods at various boatyards.
It’s worth noting that nearly 80% of IYRS students receive financial assistance. For more information about scholarship opportunities, visit iyrs.edu/admissions/financial-aid-scholarships-grants.
To learn more about the graduation ceremony, check out iyrs.edu/events/graduation.