Semester at Sea veterans Milt and Betty Waldron estimate they have spent over 4 ½ years at sea.
Dr. Milt and Betty Waldron stepped aboard their first Semester at Sea ship in 1990 at the suggestion of their daughter.
"We thought we would do it one time," Betty recalls with a laugh.
Nearly 30 years later, the couple has sailed around the world many times through Semester at Sea, with Milt serving as the ship's physician and Betty working as the Lifelong Learning coordinator.
"We added it up once, and we've spent over 4½ years at sea," Milt says.
Over the course of those years, Milt and Betty got to know countless students, staff and crew.
"They're part of our family," Betty asserts. On one of their first voyages, Betty realized that "even if we never go into port, this is one of the best experiences of our lives."
The Waldrons wanted to help share that experience with others, so they set up a charitable remainder trust (CRT), a gift that pays them income. At the end of the trust term, the balance benefits Semester at Sea. When the couple saw how easy it was to set up a life income gift, they created a second CRT to help students in need.
"Watching students mature and gain independence is one of the best parts of this program," Milt explains.
From making friends of all ages to traveling the world, the Waldrons are grateful for their time at sea.
"The impetus for our contributions is to make sure this program prevails," Milt says. "There's not another one like it, and the value people get out of it—well, we just want to support that."
Help Us Sail Into the Future
Support is critical to sustaining Semester at Sea, and your generosity will allow more students the opportunity to experience this program. Contact Planned Giving Team at or giving@isevoyages.org to learn about your giving options.