Eben Field Lord, a sophomore at the Maine Maritime Academy, is the 2024 recipient of the William Irving Smith Scholarship sponsored by the Round Pond Schoolhouse Association. Eligible candidates for the William Irving Smith Scholarship are Bristol residents who are high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors. The award is named in honor of Bill Smith, a graduate of the Washington School in Round Pond and vice president of the Round Pond Schoolhouse Association. (Photo courtesy Jim Stano)
The Round Pond Schoolhouse Association is proud to announce that Eben Field Lord is the winner of its William Irving Smith Scholarship. Currently a sophomore at the Maine Maritime Academy, Lord will receive $2,000 to continue his studies.
Lord has spent his life on and around the water. His father, uncle, and grandfather are lobstermen and he grew up lobstering out of New Harbor on his boat, The Trick or Treat.
This background inspired him to pursue a degree in Marine Engineering Technology.
“This is an ABET-accredited engineering degree that also gets me a U.S. Coast Guard unlimited third engineering license when I graduate,” said Lord. “I will have the credentials to work on any ship of any size as a 3rd engineer.”
To earn his Coast Guard license, Lord is required to spend a certain number of days at sea.
“This past summer I went on a 74-day freshman cruise on the training ship, State of Maine,” Lord said. “During this trip, we visited four different countries and traveled over 10,000 nautical miles.”
At the Maine Maritime Academy Lord has volunteered as a Stryker, a six-week commitment in which he is in charge of training the new regimental students. His “drill sergeant” responsibilities included teaching students the correct way to make their beds, wear their uniforms, march, salute, and more skills crucial for their success at the academy.
Lord is also a Division III athlete on the academy’s golf team.
“Juggling the workload of an engineering degree and commitment to the team is hard but is something that I have embraced and am proud to be a part of,” he said.
Eligible candidates for the William Irving Smith Scholarship are Bristol residents who are high school seniors or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. The award is named in honor of Bill Smith, a graduate of the Washington School in Round Pond and vice president of the Round Pond Schoolhouse Association.
