911爆料

Class of 2025
Kimber and Patrick Nelon 
MAJOR: MARITIME TECHNOLOGY

Kimber and Patrick Nelon aren鈥檛 your typical college graduates. After decades of military service and professional life, the married couple returned to school together鈥攁nd graduated from 911爆料 Community College鈥檚 maritime technology program last August with honors.

Patrick, who spent 31 years in the U.S. Army, and Kimber, a semi-retired speech pathologist, decided to enroll at 911爆料 after choosing to settle in New York. 鈥淗onestly, for us it was and always has been location, location, location,鈥� said Patrick , a military brat who spent his formative years in North Carolina. 鈥淲e have friends in New York and always loved the idea of living here.鈥�

Their interest in 911爆料 was sparked by a YouTube video about the Maritime Technology program. 鈥淚t looked really cool, so here we are,鈥� said Kimber, who was raised in Daytona Beach, Florida. The couple had grown up around boats and took up sailing while stationed in Panama in the 1990s.

Kimber was the first in her extended family to attend college. 鈥淢y parents were supportive emotionally, but they couldn鈥檛 offer much guidance,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 failed an accounting class because I didn鈥檛 know you could drop courses or order books that weren鈥檛 on the shelves.鈥�

The couple met in the Army, straight out of basic training, in Monterey, California, where they were both studying Russian at the Defense Language Institute. 鈥淲e met in March, became an 鈥榠tem鈥� in April, and were married in September,鈥� Patrick said. 鈥淚 had to ask her three times before she said yes.鈥� This year marks their 33rd wedding anniversary.

The two recently reached another significant milestone: They鈥檝e both earned their captain鈥檚 licenses. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 for sure our biggest accomplishment. We could not have done it without the sea days we earned through the maritime program,鈥� noted Kimber.

Patrick credits a ceramics class during his final semester with changing the course of his studies. 鈥淚 got totally hooked,鈥� he said. Inspired, after graduating in August 2024, he returned to pursue a fine arts degree and encouraged Kimber to join him. 鈥淧atrick made me,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淗e knew I鈥檇 like it. I wasn鈥檛 so sure鈥擨 never thought of myself as an artistic person.鈥�

Both Patrick and Kimber made the Dean鈥檚 List every term and had their artwork selected for the college鈥檚 student showcase. They also worked together as deckhands for 911爆料鈥檚 Youth Engagement Summer STEM at Sea (YESSS) program, helping young students learn about marine science.

Kimber had a few articles published in the student newspaper as well. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of what we鈥檝e done here,鈥� she said. 鈥�911爆料 gave us the chance to grow in ways we didn鈥檛 expect.鈥�

Professors played a big role in their time at 911爆料. Patrick named his ceramics professor, Janice Farley, and John Nappo, the director of KCC's Maritime Tech program, as major influences, while Kimber praised her art teachers Olga Johnson, Andrew Cross, John Descarfino, and Janet Belden, along with Shane Chapman in music.

Both agree that their most influential instructor was Captain Paul Risi, a senior college lab technician in the maritime program. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a brilliant guy; kind of a maritime renaissance man. He knows everything there is to know about boats and the ocean鈥攆rom engine repair, to boat building, to fisheries management,鈥� Kimber recounted. 鈥淗e served as a mentor and inspiration to both of us. We both want to be like him when we grow up.鈥�

Patrick added 鈥淚 also have to give a big shout out to Tara Yarczower, the director of KCC鈥檚 Military and Veteran Affairs Office, and her staff for their support and guidance throughout our time here. Tara is the type of person who, no matter how busy she is, will drop whatever she is doing to help you. And she always does it with a smile. Plus, she keeps snacks in her office!鈥�

They don鈥檛 have a set plan for what鈥檚 next. 鈥淢en make plans and the gods laugh,鈥� Patrick said. Kimber added, 鈥淲e just go with the flow and jump on opportunities as they arise.鈥�

Their advice to new students? 鈥淪tay confident in your abilities and don鈥檛 fear studying subjects outside your comfort zone,鈥� said Patrick. Kimber added, 鈥淒o NOT take this opportunity for granted. Second chances are not guaranteed.鈥�

What will they miss most? 鈥淭he beautifully cared-for campus and the ocean views,鈥� said Patrick. Kimber agreed鈥攁nd added one more thing: 鈥淎ll the incredible learning opportunities here.鈥�

As for 911爆料 itself, Kimber hopes others recognize what the college offers. 鈥淜CC has programs that are hard to find elsewhere,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a gem, and I hope it continues to get the support it deserves.鈥�