For Bella Horne, leadership is not about having the loudest voice in the room.

It is about making sure everyone has one.

That philosophy helped shape Horne’s experience at Cal Poly Maritime Academy and led to the junior marine transportation major earning national recognition as one of the maritime industry’s rising leaders.

Horne received the 2026 Women Offshore Horizon Award during the Women Offshore Organization’s annual convention in Houston. The award recognizes students, cadets and maritime professionals with fewer than five years of experience who are already making a positive impact while inspiring those around them.

“Cadet Horne has taken full advantage of the leadership-development opportunities Cal Poly Maritime has to offer. This award is well deserved as she embodies what it means to be an ethical and effective leader in our industry,” said Bets McNie, professor and chair of the Department of Marine Transportation.

For Horne, the honor represents more than an individual accomplishment. It recognizes the leadership journey she has embraced through the Cal Poly Maritime Academy Corps of Cadets, her growing experience in the offshore industry, and her commitment to helping create opportunities for the next generation of mariners.

Horne was one of two individuals with Cal Poly Maritime Academy ties recognized at the convention. Alumna and Women Offshore Conference keynote speaker Captain Kate McCue received the Wave Maker Award, honoring an individual who made a lasting impact on careers at sea through mentorship, leadership and a commitment to creating opportunities for others.

Horne is already working to do the same.

An accomplished cadet and emerging offshore industry leader, she serves as an official student ambassador for the Women Offshore Organization and was one of just nine U.S. maritime students selected to receive a Sea Term Scholarship from the Women Offshore community.

Her leadership extends throughout the Cal Poly Maritime Academy campus, where she serves as Deputy Corps Commander for the 2026–27 academic year, one of the highest student leadership positions within the Corps of Cadets. She previously served as a Divisional Executive Officer.

In that role, Horne sees her responsibility less as directing others and more as representing them.

“I want to be the voice for other people,” Horne said. “I want to hear what my peers have to say, their opinions and what they feel because there is always room for improvement and everyone wants to enjoy a meaningful and positive experience within the Corps of Cadets.”

That mindset has been reinforced through the Academy’s Learn by Doing philosophy, where leadership development happens not only in classrooms but through real-world experiences and responsibilities.

For Horne, that has included nearly half of 2026 spent in Oahu, Hawaii, working as a student intern for Seaward Services Inc., adding valuable hands-on experience to the foundation she is building at Cal Poly Maritime Academy.

But while internships and industry experiences have expanded her professional skills, Horne credits the Corps of Cadets with helping develop her confidence as a leader.

And sometimes, the most rewarding moments come from simply being part of the maritime community.

Her trip to Houston for the Women Offshore convention was one of those moments.

“I really enjoy attending larger events, networking and seeing the excitement shown by alumni, maritime graduates and professionals when they see me with my uniform on because they are thrilled to meet the new generation of mariners,” Horne said. “I appreciate the support they show to students like me.”

Those interactions offer Horne a glimpse of the community she is preparing to join—and a reminder of the responsibility that comes with representing the next generation.

For a cadet who believes leadership begins with listening, the Horizon Award serves as an affirmation that her voice is already making an impact.