The Coast Guard applauds the contributions of six Partnership in Education (PIE) award winners—five units and an individual. The PIE Program helps to develop the military and civilian workforce of tomorrow by investing in students’ academic achievement and wellbeing in communities across the country.
The impact during this past year is significant. The PIE’s volunteer workforce included 2,814 Coast Guard members and civilians from across 208 units. Together, they provided approximately 10,000 hours in service to 68,721 students, from elementary school to college. They also supported students through local community organizations.
While the achievements of all Coast Guard volunteers are important and impactful, five units and one individual deserve particular recognition because of their work during the 2023-2024 school year.
Here are the winners and what they accomplished:
Lt. Laura E. Irish — PIE Coordinator of the Year (awarded to an individual for their work establishing, sustaining or expanding high-quality educational partnerships during the previous year). Lt. Irish serves at Coast Guard Base National Capital Region (NCR), commanded by Capt. Patrick Sullivan.
- Irish coordinated the participation of at least 13 units in NCR that indicated they were interested in supporting PIE but had limited personnel to have their own program. Irish helped recruit 42 new volunteers that supported nearly 3,000 additional students through partnerships with their current schools, in addition to four new schools and two new community-based organizations.
- Lt. Laura Irish was pleased for the honor and plans to further strengthen the program in the metro area. “I’m looking to expand partnerships and volunteer engagement,” she said. “A wider range of opportunities at different locations in the DMV, both during and after the workday will help maximize participation. Most importantly, I want to make sure the program is strong prior to my transfer next summer so that the person coming in after me has the highest chance for success.”
Coast Guard Station Chatham — Best in Unit Partnership (up to 100 personnel, awarded to a unit for their work with one or more schools during the previous program year). Boatswain’s Mate Chief Petty Officer Spencer M. Hinman and the officer in charge, which is Boatswain’s Mate Senior Chief Petty Officer Ross B. Comstock, as well as, the 34 members, engaged with nearly 2,000 students.
- The team worked through school partnerships and community-based organizations to perform activities in reading, financial literacy and maritime history, sports and more. During field trips to the station, the workforce educated students about mission work and search and rescue technology—both past and present. Volunteers also joined Coast Guard recruiting efforts visits at local high schools and provided insights on careers and the marine industry.
Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) — Elizabeth City, Best Unit Partnership (more than 100 personnel, awarded to a unit for their work with one or more schools during the previous program year). The award also offers recognition to the PIE Coordinators: Operations Section Chief Kimberly Marie Cole and Chief Petty Officer Shane E. Fairbanks, the unit’s commanding officer, Capt. Patrick Lineberry, along with the 66 volunteers.
- They served 1,300 students at 15 partnership schools ranging from elementary to high school levels. Also, they increased their engagements by signing on two additional schools. The support included one-on-one readings, lunch room duties, renovations at a school’s courtyard and members even chaperoned a school dance.
- The Elizabeth City PIE Program includes: ALC, the Asset Project Acquisitions Center, Station Elizabeth City, Aviation Technical Training Center, Base Elizabeth City and the National Strick Force Coordination Center.
Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles — Best Collaborative Unit (up to 100 personnel, awarded to a unit for their work with one or more other entities to support one or more school during the previous program year). Awarded to Lt. Elizabeth C. Miller and Lt. Cmdr. John W. Schultz, who are the PIE Coördinators along with the commanding officer, Capt. Brent R. Schmadeke, and the ten station volunteers.
- At a local elementary school, they provided four tutoring sessions per week without cancellations through the 2023-2024 fall and spring semesters. The team was able to help significantly improve the reading and writing levels of two students who were behind with their grades. For most effectiveness, the air station conducted the tutoring along with reading activities through a partnership with Reading Partners Seattle, which already had a presence at the school.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston — Best Collaborative Unit (more than 100 personnel, awarded to a unit for their work with one or more other entities to support one or more schools during the previous program year). This credits the work done by PIE Coordinators: Ensign Thomas D. Unger, Lt. j.g. Michael A. Lypen, and Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Richard Nidiffer. It also honors the support of commanding officer, Capt. Keith M. Donohue, and deputy commanding officer, Capt. Nicole D. Rodriguez.
- The 100 volunteers engaged with almost 3,000 students through partnerships with Houston Independent School District and the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education, which is comprised of academic, federal and industry partners, as well as, maritime-focused high schools and colleges.
- The sector, along with their partners, helped establish the first Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program in Texas. They also helped students attain a merchant mariner credentials upon graduation to ensure their ability to more easily join the maritime workforce when they graduate.
- The sector also joined with local law enforcement agencies to host an event that included career opportunities and a Science and Engineering Fair and competition that was attended by more than 900 students.
Coast Guard Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber and Intelligence Service Center (C5ISC), Kearneysville — Sustained Excellence (awarded to a unit or individual who served at least three program years). The credit goes to PIE Coordinator Lt. Kathryn S. Rubio with the support of commanding officer Capt. Kevin M. Carroll and the 159 members of the workforce from C5ISC Kearneysville. Together, they volunteered and engaged with nearly 7,000 students in activities through partnerships with 11 schools and 4 community-based organizations.
- Over the last three years the team was able to sustain its former successes received in 2022 and 2023 cycle despite workforce shortages and completing primary missions. During last year, they received the Best Unit Partnership Award for large unit where they established ten additional partnerships, recruited 94 additional volunteers and increased the number of students in activities by approximately 4,000.
- Activities this cycle, included hosting a school supply and food drive, a Holiday Angel Tree, readings to elementary school students through the Read Aloud program, mentoring to school students and participation in Women in the Military Night. They also supported recruiting efforts and hosted interviews and career day activities.
The Coast Guard established the PIE program in 1991 after the 1984 Presidential Proclamation 5112 that called for Americans and U.S Agencies to become active in managing partnerships with schools and communities to improve education and the quality of learning. Visit the PIE Program Page for additional information on the program. If you’re interested in having your unit join, contact Eddie Stoker at 202-372-4519 or email him: Edward.A.Stoker@uscg.mil.
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