“It’s Women’s History Month, which means it’s time to support women in boatbuilding at The Apprenticeshop,” said The Apprenticeshop, in a news release.

The ‘Shop is raffling off a 12’ flat bottom rowboat – a Susan Skiff – to raise funds for the Mary Lacy Scholarship for Women. The scholarship fund was established in 2020 to encourage more women to participate in boatbuilding apprenticeships as part of a long-term goal to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion across The Apprenticeshop. Since 2020, the scholarship fund has supported five women apprentices in its 12-week, 9-month, and 2-year boatbuilding apprenticeships. 

“In our 50th Anniversary year, The Apprenticeshop is proud to say that, for the first time in our organization’s history, four of our leaders are women, as well as alumna of our boatbuilding apprenticeships,” said The Apprenticeshop. “Board Chair, Rachel Davis ‘12-’13, Vice Chair, Emily Dueñas Cornell du Houx ‘17-’19, Executive Director, Isabella Feracci ‘05-’07, Director of Student Affairs & Outreach, Nina Noah ‘15-’17 all came back to The Apprenticeshop years after their own boatbuilding apprenticeships to ensure that experiential education through boats remains alive for future generations.”

Each year, the organization has raffled a skiff built by one of the current scholarship recipients to support the next group of women apprentices. This year’s skiff was built by apprentices Amber and Max and launched this past December. When asked about how this first project impacted her, Amber described how her confidence had grown hugely in a matter of weeks.

“I have the confidence to voice my opinions and questions a little louder, to try something new even if it scares me, to use tools that I didn't know existed three months ago, to offer solutions to things that didn't go right the first time, and to create whatever it is my heart desires…Although the work here is quite the challenge, I leave here every day with a sense of peace and the knowledge of something new,” she said. “I am so thankful to be at The Apprenticeshop and to be welcomed by its greater community. It truly feels like a home away from home.” 

From now until July 23, raffle tickets will be available on The Apprenticeshop’s website. The winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday, July 23, the last day of the ‘Shop’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Week. To purchase a raffle ticket, find out more, or spread the word to women who might be interested in the programs, visit https://www.apprenticeshop.org/donate/#mary-lacy-scholarship.