Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation Announces Record-Breaking $365,000 in Scholarships Awarded in 2024

Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation (MVCF) is proud to announce the outcome of its 2024 scholarship cycle, with a historic total of $365,000 being awarded to support the educational pursuits of 86 talented Islanders. 

“This year’s scholarship funding of $365,000 is our largest total in the history of the foundation, thanks to the generosity of our donors. We all look forward to celebrating with these students as they achieve their goals.” stated Paul Schulz, Executive Director of MVCF.

Since its inception in 1982, MVCF has supported over 2,000 individuals, providing more than $5.1 Million in scholarships to help them pursue their dreams. This year’s awards continue this legacy of support, empowering students at various stages of their educational journey.

MVCF is committed to assisting students across different educational trajectories, including graduating high school seniors, current college students, graduate students, individuals returning to college after a gap, and those seeking professional development or workforce certification.

The scholarships were made possible through 27 separate funds managed by MVCF. These funds, established by various members of the Martha’s Vineyard community, including educators, healthcare professionals, activists, musicians, and philanthropists, ensure that local students can access educational opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

Lisa Reagan, Chair of the MVCF Scholarships Committee, reflected on the diversity of this year’s recipients, saying, “The Scholarships committee is honored to support such a large group of Island students whose interests and goals vary across sectors but who are all tied through the common thread of having been impacted by life on the Vineyard and how it shaped who they are. On behalf of this year’s recipients, we thank our community of donors and encourage the support to continue.”

MVCF is proud to support students across all stages of higher education, with four graduate students and six individuals returning to college or seeking professional development who all submitted applications.

Among the applicants are individuals with diverse interests and aspirations, including fields such as wildlife biology, environmental science, social work, aviation, maritime engineering, auto repair, healthcare, law enforcement, financial services, religious studies, medicine, veterinary science, and more.

Statistics from this year’s applicant pool reveal that 91% are graduates of or about to graduate from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, 25% are first-generation college students, 20% have English as their second language, 74% of this year’s applicants identified as needing financial aid, and 48% have previously received MVCF funding.

Applications for the 2024 scholarships were accepted online, with the portal opening in January and applications closing on March 15, 2024.