Mercyhurst students set sail for historic summer adventure
For any Mercyhurst University student who has ever dreamed of being under sail on the Great Lakes; yearned to travel back in time; or to experience history on its own terms, the time is now.
Mercyhurst is partnering with the Flagship Niagara League this summer to offer its students the journey of a lifetime.
Beginning May 15, four Mercyhurst students will board the Schooner Lettie G. Howard, where they will live for two weeks and be trained by professional crew members, led by Captain William Sabatini, in traditional seafaring skills.
Students making the journey include Moira Sullivan, a senior Dance major; Jason Fragiotta, a junior Cyber Security major; Aidan Parrish, a sophomore Intelligence Studies major; and Isabelle Radcliffe, a sophomore majoring in History.
The Lettie G. Howard is the sole surviving example of a Georges Bank fishing schooner and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Although their journey starts and ends in Erie, the students will sail on voyages to major maritime museums and monuments of Lake Erie.
Mercyhurst History Associate Professor Dr. Ben Scharff introduced the three-credit maritime history course seven years ago, anticipating it would thrive as an annual summer learning experience.
“This program offers our students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the living history of maritime exploration,” he said. “By engaging directly with historic sites and artifacts, they’re not just learning history—they're experiencing it firsthand.”