Martha's Vineyard Awards $600K to 10 Student Scholars

Ten high school students from Martha's Vineyard are heading to college and career training this fall without the weight of student loans crushing their dreams.

MVYouth, a community fund supported by local donors, announced Tuesday it's awarding nearly $600,000 in scholarships to young Islanders pursuing education and workforce development. The scholarships cover the gap between what families can afford and what schools actually cost, making previously impossible opportunities suddenly within reach.

Five students received four-year college scholarships. Nicola Capece is heading to Swarthmore College, while Syius Rigali chose Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Charlotte Sebastian will attend Providence College, Tasman Strom picked Northeastern University, and Milo Sullivan is bound for UMass Amherst.

Three more students earned specialized healthcare and education scholarships. Emily Boyd will study healthcare at Wellesley College, while Elle Mone heads to Middlebury College to become an educator. Amelia Schaeffer chose Wesleyan University to pursue a healthcare career.

The final two scholarships went to students pursuing technical training. Savannah Matthews will study cosmetology at the Collectiv Academy, and Xeandre Miller is training in aviation maintenance technology at Cape Cod Community College.

"Most students face educational costs that are completely untenable for their families," said Lindsey Scott, MVYouth's executive director. The organization's advisory board reviews academic performance, character, community service, and career goals before selecting recipients who also sit for interviews.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond these 10 students. Over 12 years, MVYouth has invested more than $9 million in 123 young people, creating a pipeline of educated professionals who often return to serve their island community.

These "last dollar" scholarships fill the crucial gap that financial aid packages miss. They enable students to choose schools based on fit and opportunity rather than just affordability, fundamentally changing the trajectory of their lives and careers.

The workforce development scholarships particularly address local needs in fields like aviation, cosmetology, building trades, culinary arts, marine trades, and wind technology. These one and two-year programs prepare young adults ages 18 to 25 for immediate career success in essential industries.

Martha's Vineyard is proving that when a community invests in its young people, everyone wins.