Navy Week College Days Introduces High School Students to Local Colleges and the NROTC Program

WHO: For the first time in Rochester, the University of Rochester, The College at Brockport, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Saint John Fisher College are teaming up with Navy Week organizers to host College Days, bringing high school students to campus to learn about the educational opportunities available at Rochester Colleges and possible benefits of joining Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC).

TIME, DATE, PLACE: 9 a.m., Friday, July 15, University of Rochester River Campus

WHAT: College Days aims to introduce prospective students to four area universities associated with the Rochester NROTC program. The event allows students to learn about educational and scholarship opportunities that are available to NROTC students. The NROTC program was established nation-wide to train young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the unrestricted line Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve while also receiving an undergraduate college education.

At Rochester, 49 Navy and Marine Corps officers have earned post-graduate degrees in the past 10 years and nine Navy and Marine Corps officers are currently involved in post-graduate degrees and fellowships through area schools. Additionally, both the University of Rochester and St. John Fisher College participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, which provides financial support for Post-9/11 veterans.

Planned events for College Days include:
Keynote Address featuring Rear Admiral Gretchen Herbert
9 a.m., Hoyt Auditorium
Gretchen Herbert, University of Rochester alumna and Rear Admiral for the United States Navy, will deliver a keynote address, discussing why she chose a career in the Navy and the importance of public service. Herbert, who currently works in information technology and communications office of the Chief of Naval Operations staff, has also served within the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System at the Naval Facility in Bermuda and was commander of the Oceanographic Systems Atlantic. Following the keynote, admissions counselors from each college will present the educational opportunities available at their respective schools.
*Herbert will be available for one-on-one interviews directly after her address.*

Electronic Classroom Demonstration
1 pm, Lattimore Hall, Room 114
Rear Admiral Herbert, joined by Joel Seligman, president of the University of Rochester, will tour Rochester\'s newly installed electronic classroom, which will provide Midshipmen with electronic navigation and ship driving training tools. The classroom, which is outfitted with 12 computers with dual monitors, allows students to experience real-time ship driving scenarios, including altering the environmental conditions, changing directions, and has the capability to toggle between a normal and binocular views. The technology also aids in the honing of navigation skills and the ability to read electronic charts, skills Midshipman will need to be familiar with before they enter the Fleet. NROTC Rochester is the 16th program nationally to install this technology.

ABOUT NAVY WEEK: This year Rochester, along with 21 other American cities were selected to host Navy Weeks, which are designed to tell the Navy\'s story: what they do, why it is important, and what opportunities exist in today\'s Navy. Navy Week, which includes community visits by admirals and sailors and musical performances by the Navy Band, will culminate during the ESL International Air Show featuring the Blue Angles, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For information on Navy Week, visit http://www.navyweek.org/rochester2011/index.html or contact Lt. Michael Quisao at michael.quisao@navyweek.org.