Beaumont School students participate in Project YESS

Beaumont students Ana Maria Vargas ’15, Molly Cogan ’15, Crista Keiley ’17 and Mary Martin ’16 aboard the Denis Sullivan.

View Image Gallery

Four girls from Beaumont School were among the 14 students who sailed on a tall ship for a weeklong voyage at the end of July.

They left on July 27 from Milwaukee, Wis., on the S/V Denis Sullivan and returned on Aug. 2.  

Since 2010, when the program began, Beaumont has had students on board. Another Beaumont student was among the three ambassador leaders.

The program is called Project YESS, Youth Empowered to Succeed Through Sailing. Its goals are for students to develop leadership, confidence and courage as crew on a tall ship. Project YESS was developed by the Rotary Club of Cleveland and funded by the Cleveland Rotary Foundation and other corporate, individual and foundation supporters. The project helps students, ages 14–17, by providing direction, developing community, and opening their eyes to career opportunities in the Great Lakes region.

“We absolutely treasure and appreciate the partnership we have with Beaumont," said Rotary club member Eileen Smotzer, who is in charge of the project. “We celebrate the fact that our Beaumont participants have been truly engaged leaders who model energy, intelligence, and enthusiasm to their YESS teammates year after year.”

YESS students develop teamwork, leadership, safety and navigational skills during a six-session land-based curriculum. Graduates then apply what they have learned to navigate a historic ship to its destination.

All costs, including curriculum materials, meals, transportation, and a berth on the ship, are covered.

Male and female chaperones accompany the students. This year’s female chaperone was a Beaumont alumna, who sailed on three Project YESS trips during her time as a Beaumont student.