“The two things I remember most about NAP are the freedom to try and the camaraderie. NAP offered an unparalleled opportunity to put almost any plan into action. I don’t recall ever being told ‘that’s impossible.’ Whether it was asking to take over teaching an undergraduate course for a professor, bringing in an outside expert to teach a short-course, or putting together a multi-year survey, the answer was always ‘yes.’ This response speaks to the resources of a top-tier research university, but more importantly embodies the NAP faculty perspective that no one does great things – like underwater archaeology – without thinking big and acting with intent. I also remember the joy of working closely with smart people who were excited about the same things I was. It was hard to tell where work ended, and socializing began as conversations began in the NAP Library and ended in a Northgate bar. Thinking big, acting with intent and the connections I made through NAP have shaped much of the last decade of my career. On more than one occasion, I’ve asked myself ‘what would Donny Hamilton do’ and then called a NAP alum to talk through a plan.”