Story from WKYC Author: Annabelle Childers
16-year-olds Kurtis Harper and Phoenix Guerrero are spending their summer aboard a lifeguard vessel — protecting the public while learning the ropes of maritime careers.
“This is not your typical
high school experience,” said Kurtis Harper.
“You’re never doing the exact same thing, that’s why I love it,” said fellow intern Phoenix Guerrero. “It’s so unpredictable.”
Harper and Guerrero are working on PHASTAR 2543, a lifeguard boat that patrols Cleveland’s waterfront. They train under medical professionals, licensed captains and rescue swimmers — learning nautical navigation, emergency protocols, and boat operation.
“I have to be aware of what’s going on, like, to the side of me,” Harper said. “I mean, like, just now we have two jet skiers.”
Captain Drew Ferguson, the boat’s supervisor and founder of Argonaut, said the lifeguard vessel helps keep recreational users safely separated from large commercial vessels.
Ferguson co-founded the nonprofit Argonaut, which started Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School in Cleveland. The high school prepares students for careers in aerospace and maritime industries — and it’s where Harper and Guerrero attend school during the academic year.
“If they are going into the maritime industry, this is loggable experience,” Ferguson said. “So for every day a student is working aboard one of our vessels, that’s like a pilot’s flight time. Days at sea count toward their eventual licensure as a professional mariner.”
Beyond hands-on training, the experience builds confidence and connections.
“It’s fun. We have chats, we talk, and you meet a lot of new people, make a lot of good friends,” Guerrero said. “It will definitely help you in the future.”
Guerrero said the experience has shaped his career goals, and he plans to join the Coast Guard after her graduates from high school.
Harper also plans to pursue a career on the water, and he’s considering a path in EMS.
Ferguson said watching that spark take hold is one of the most rewarding parts of his work.
“It’s fun to see them discover their passion and then ultimately support them in getting there,” he said.
Argonaut operates Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School in partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. With recent federal funding cuts, Ferguson said they’re always looking for support to keep these student opportunities afloat.