Welcome Aboard, Denis Sullivan!

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

To our community,

World Ocean School’s Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan in January 2022 which included expanding the impact of our programs, as well as a commitment to preserve and steward our beloved national historic landmark, Roseway. Last week, World Ocean School’s Board of Directors, in conjunction with the staff and Board of Directors of Discovery World, Milwaukee’s premier non-profit science and technology center, announced that the Denis Sullivan will join the fleet of World Ocean School.

We are thrilled to welcome Denis Sullivan, a vessel built for education just over 20 years ago, to our fleet. This three masted, gaff-rigged schooner was built by the Milwaukee community—over a thousand volunteers and nearly a million volunteer hours—all with the goal to inspire and educate. We now have an opportunity to steward Denis Sullivan, honoring her history, and to sail year-round providing opportunities for kids from around the globe. Roseway is the organization’s flagship vessel and will continue her work in the years to come. The addition of a second tall ship enables World Ocean School to expand our high impact programming and to provide program continuity to our students. 

Bryan Wunar, the CEO of Discovery World stated, “We are excited to find a partner in World Ocean School that is well positioned to ensure the Denis Sullivan will continue to provide educational opportunities for students around the world and further the ship’s original mission.”

In addition to continuing our work in St. Croix and Boston, we have committed to an ongoing partnership with Discovery World, providing opportunities for students from Milwaukee to sail aboard Denis Sullivan and Roseway. We are thrilled by the exciting opportunities that these two vessels will provide to our students. 

Be sure to follow along through this Ship’s Log as Denis Sullivan and our crew makes her way from Milwaukee to St. Croix for our 16th season of World Ocean School programs in the US Virgin Islands.

We are proud of our history of growth, constant reinvention, and commitment to the communities we serve. Thanks for your support, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard our newest addition, Denis Sullivan.

Eden Leonard

President and Executive Director, World Ocean School