Resident Graduates from U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Wayne resident Holli Bastinck received her commission from the U.S. Coast Guard May 22.

Bastinck received a Bachelor of Science in government. She will serve on the CGC Spencer in Boston as a deck watch officer.

The crew of the CGC Spencer has routinely helped seize illegal drugs and repatriate migrants since it was commissioned in 1986. The crew helped rescue more than 33,000 stranded civilians in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Bastinck shook hands with Vice President Joe Biden at the commencement ceremony. Biden mentioned Bastnick in his speech to the graduating cadets.

“One behalf of your Commander in Chief, let me say, congratulations on a job well done. Class of 2013, you didn’t just heed the call, you relished the challenge. On the playing field you excelled. You’ve been named All-American, All-Conference, All-New England, went off on international debating competitions,” Biden reportedly told the graduates. “Holli earned First Team All-American in softball and more important, her team won three state NEWMAC tournament championships."

Bastinck graduated from Wayne Hills High School in 2009. She was the 2009 Passaic County Coaches Association athlete of the year and a collegiate All-American in 2012 in softball.

Bastinck was cadet regimental commander while at the academy and won awards at the International Law Conference Competition in Italy this spring.

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