MVYouth has awarded almost $1 million in education scholarships for 11 graduating seniors this year. The scholarships will help students with the costs of college and vocational school and workforce development.

Lindsey Scott, executive director of MVYouth, said that for many Island students the ability to afford a college degree is often out of a family’s reach.

“The reality of the cost involved in higher education is exorbitant.... Students open amazing doors at all these different schools, but are often short of the money it would take,” she said. “One of our goals is to help make higher education more accessible to more families.”

Nyoka Walters will attend Temple University.

Courtesy MVYouth

Nyoka Walters will attend Temple University.

Courtesy MVYouth

MVYouth was started in 2014, and since then has given away over $8 million in college and technical training scholarships to 113 students.

This year’s college scholarship recipients are: Kathleen Da Silva (American University), Kevin Peres (Providence College), Henry Shank (University of Vermont), Elliot Stead (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and Nyoka Walters (Temple University).

Vocational school and workforce development scholarships include students who plan to pursue a variety of fields including marine trades, wind technology and culinary arts.

“When we started MVYouth 11 years ago, we started with one scholarship program.... We realized that we were not supporting other layers of the class, kids who were interested in the trades,” Ms. Scott said. “The workforce development program opens the same doors to kids who want to get training.”

Lillie Cabral will study hairstyling at Paul Mitchell — The School and Gabriel Dos Santos will receive electrical engineering training at Upper Cape Tech.

Sofia Sampaio will study education at Stonehill College.

Courtesy MVYouth

Sofia Sampaio will study education at Stonehill College.

Courtesy MVYouth

Healthcare and education scholarship winners are Elaina Cacchiotti, who will study education at Allegheny College, Sofia Sampaio, who will study education at Stonehill College, Sawyer Schaefer, who will study nursing at the University of Vermont, and Sophie Winters, who will study occupational therapy at Providence College.

“Education and healthcare are two fields that are in great demand for employees,” Ms. Scott said. “Those careers really need to attract young people today. There’s been a fall off of interest. We are really hoping to use scholarship dollars to help students interested in those careers.”

Ms. Scott said that about one third of the student population at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School applied across the three scholarship programs.

“This was another pool of excellent applicants,” she said. “It’s always really rewarding and heartbreaking to select the students. We are thrilled to support the students who are finalists, but we would have loved to support more.”

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