2023 was a transformative and productive year for me. I am still living in Los Angeles full-time and working at Larrabee Studios in North Hollywood. I am a full-time assistant engineer at Larrabee and have had the opportunity to begin taking on sessions as the lead recording engineer. It is certainly true that no day feels like work when you’re doing something you love. I now work regularly with many artists that I was only a fan of just a few years ago. This summer I was requested to work with an artist during their 3 month lockout in one of our studios while they were working on their upcoming album. Sadly it did cause me to cancel my usual summer trip home as well as miss this year's MVYouth party, but it was an incredible experience and easily the highlight of my year. This year was my first full year in Los Angeles without visiting home, and as amazing as it was I am hoping to not have to go another full year without visiting MV. The Vineyard really is a unique place and I was missing it by the time I made the trip home this past Christmas. It’s the perfect place to relax and reset from the hectic lifestyle I’ve become accustomed to in LA. As I’m writing this update in the employee lounge of Larrabee I am incredibly excited for what 2024 is going to bring and hope to have the opportunity to give you all a much more vivid update of my life at the MVYouth party this summer. I am in the process of working on many amazing projects and hope to be able to share them with you this time next year as they get finished and released by the artists.
Liam Weiland - Berklee School of Music
Galya Walt - Tufts University
Over the past year, I have had a fulfilling year of courses in my Master of Public Health program and feel very bittersweet about approaching graduation in May. In particular, I have enjoyed courses on theories of disease distribution, reproductive health and justice and qualitative research methods. All of these courses have completely changed my approach to my research, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in my final semester. In addition to courses, I have been incredibly lucky to be working with the PeRInatal Substance Use Research and Advocacy at Mass General (PRISM) research group which I have absolutely loved. I am passionate about pursuing a research career post-graduation aimed at increasing supports instead of surveillance for families impacted by substance use. Our research explores how residential treatment programs and clinics can increase family-tailored supports such as overnight nanny care or improving clinical tools to reduce reports to child protective services and build on familial strengths. I am so grateful to have a mentor and research team who inspire and motivate me to join this field. I am exploring paths to continue this after graduation potentially through a PhD program or through additional work experiences. Outside of school and work, I am grateful for a wonderful community and roommates in Somerville. I try to get up to the White Mountains and hike with friends as much as I can, and I love seeing the landscapes of all four seasons there. I want to thank MVYouth from the bottom of my heart for your support. My college experience gave me both sustaining friendships and academic foundations that have brought me to this work that I love!
Kae Vecchia-Zeitz - New York University
Since the last update, I have graduated from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy & Practice in which I earned a Master’s degree in Social Work. I am excited to share I am now employed at Resilience, a rape-crisis center in Chicago, where I work full-time as a prevention educator. As a prevention educator I teach sexual violence prevention education to K-12 Chicago Public School students, as well as facilitate sexual violence prevention trainings for medical advocacy rape crisis volunteers, and professionals working throughout the Chicagoland area. I began working in rape-crisis response and prevention as a 17 year-old Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School student when I chose to volunteer at CONNECT To End Violence. It has been a thoughtful, challenging road these last eight years, and I continue to learn and grow both professionally and interpersonally through doing this work. Thank you to MVYouth for supporting my access to education in both New York City and Chicago to get me to this place in my career.
Meghan Sonia - Anna Maria College
This past year has been incredibly eventful and surreal. I accomplished things that I have been dreaming of doing for years. Over this past year, I worked hard in my senior year at Anna Maria College. During this year, I got to continue playing my two favorite sports - field hockey and ice hockey, as well as excelling in my nursing class. Due to the hard work that I put in over my four years at this school, I was given the honor of speaking at my college graduation. During that speech I talked about my “Ohana”, the Hawaiian word for family. I talked about how growing up on the island and my time in college helped me create a group of people that I consider my family. Due to the support of this large family and hard work, I was able to get to where I am today. After graduating college with my bachelors degree in nursing, I went on to pass my nursing boards exam in July. I was officially a registered nurse. Instead of going right into the workforce after that, I decided to go back to school for a semester. During this semester, I worked to get a minor in psychology. I was fortunate enough to be able to compete in my last season of field hockey and become a part of the coaching staff for our college's ice hockey team. After finally saying my final goodbye to college, I transitioned into the workforce. I accepted a job at the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston on a Neuro step down floor. I am incredibly excited and thankful for the opportunities MVYouth has given me. It is because of their support that I get to be where I am today.
Emma Searle - Boston College
This past year has been filled with many exciting changes. My senior year at Boston College was a bittersweet one, as I looked forward to new endeavors while preparing to leave a place I loved so dearly. In May, I graduated cum laude from BC with a degree in Philosophy (Perspectives Concentration) and Communication. After graduating, I was fortunate enough to spend one last summer at home on the Vineyard. This fall led me to New York City, where I have been living and working as a Capital Markets Paralegal at a Wall Street law firm, focusing primarily on commercial mortgage-backed securities. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my work and am continuously excited by all there is to learn. I’ll begin studying for the LSAT this January and will be applying to law schools in the fall, with the hope of enrolling in the fall of 2025. I look to the future of my education and career with a immense sense of gratitude for the opportunities I have been afforded thus far. I am endlessly thankful for MVYouth’s generosity and support for both myself and the Island community at large. One of the greatest lessons I will carry with me from my years at BC is the immeasurable power of education. MVYouth’s dedication to Island students’ access to education is second to none, and I will be forever grateful for all of your efforts. Thank you.
Meghan Sawyer - Colgate University
It's hard to believe another year has come and gone already! I’ve been living in Boston since moving here in August of 2022. I’ve continued to work at Edelstein & Company, which is a CPA firm in Boston’s Financial District. More specifically, I work in the health care department. We provide accounting, consulting, and tax services for our clients, which are mainly in the healthcare industry. I love working downtown because it's in close proximity to all the fun things the city has to offer. There are lots of opportunities for things to do after work like concerts, comedy shows, and sporting events. One of my favorites though is to just grab drinks with coworkers. It's only been a little over a year since I began in this position, but I have already progressed in my career. In June I was promoted to senior associate! With this new role I’ve been given more responsibilities and more opportunities for leadership. I’m the “development coach” of three associates now and these associates report directly to me. I train them, help them with their projects as needed, and assist in their professional growth. My job is very dependent on the seasons. We are extremely busy during tax season working long hours. We make up for it in the summer though, when it's not so busy. Our work hours are decreased, and the firm shuts down for the whole week of the fourth of July. I was lucky enough to spend that week on the Vineyard with friends and family. I like living close to home because it's very easy to come back and visit. The community on the Vineyard is very special. I would like to thank MVYouth for all their support in getting me to where I am now. I can’t wait to see what comes next for me.
Jackson Pizanno - University of Massachusetts, Stockbridge
This fall and winter has been very different from what this time usually means for me. This time used to mean the beginning of another school year and another step to finishing the school chapter of my life. But this fall has been completely different. Instead of packing up and retreating back to school for the cold months I have decided to stay and work most of this winter in hopes to save some money and prepare to take a trip or move somewhere else in the near future. Though watching all my friends head back to school was sad, it is nice to slow down and get into more of a routine. I have been working at Tabor Tree on the island and enjoying it very much. I get to put my degree to work everyday and continue to hone my skills as an arborist. Everyday invites new challenges and excitement which makes it exciting to go to work everyday. The island can get very quiet in the off season so finding things to do has been very helpful in making the time pass. I play hockey at least twice a week which is very fun and the men's leagues on the island are competitive and some of my favorite parts of the week. I have also been playing disc golf which is a new hobby I have found and am very intrigued with it. The course on the island is also very nice and I enjoy walking through the forest and observing all the trees and habitat around me. I would like to thank MVYouth for making all this possible. I wouldn't have been able to make this much progress in education and my career without them and I am eternally grateful for what they have done for me and all the other scholarship recipients throughout the years.
Paulo Pereira Filho - University of Massachusetts, Amherst
I have been living in New York City for a little over two years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. I’m a big fan of the hustling and bustling nature of the City and how everything and everyone around it moves in a fast-paced manner. That being said, it’s always great to come home to the Vineyard when I get the chance to and slow the day-to-day pace down. This past year has been eventful in that I was promoted in July from Analyst to Associate at Morgan Stanley and joined the Global Industrials Group (GIG). Within GIG, I’ve had the opportunity to work on deals and projects related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A), initial public offerings (IPOs), and debt financing. Since the “Industrials” industry is broad in and of itself, there are many sub-industries the institutional clients we cover operate in. For example, I’ve worked on deals and projects for clients that operate in the agriculture, aerospace & defense, building products, specialty vehicles / EVs, and salt industries to name a few. The most interesting types of projects have been the ones involving M&A transactions since they are usually very transformative transactions for the companies we’re advising and, sometimes, the entire industry depending on the size of the deal. Overall, both professionally and personally, each day continues to bring a new learning experience and I feel as if I’m only just getting started, which is the most exciting part. I’m extremely thankful to MVYouth and its donors for the support over the years as I’ve grown and reflect each day on how none of this would’ve been possible without the help and generosity. Thank you, MVYouth!
Charles Parkhurst - UCLA
I was still working for myself as a trader at the end of last year when I decided to move down to Miami with one of my best friends from college. Having spent years in California and then New York, this seemed like the perfect place for me to go next. I’ve had a wonderful year in the city and, especially after moving around so much in the past few years, I think I’ve found a great place to stay put. Since the spring I’ve been working as an Investment Data Analyst for the global wealth and asset management firm, AlTi Global. After spending the last two years in the cryptocurrency space, I thought it’d be a great decision to take a job in traditional finance. Our firm has a large number of clients with portfolios invested in an array of private equity funds. My responsibility is to analyze the data held on the capital flows into and out of these funds over the last decade and calculate the performance of each of our client’s portfolios. I was hired as a contractor and the original scope of the project was set to just be a few months, but it’s been going very well and the firm has continued to expand the scale of the work they want me to complete. I’ve really loved my time there and have a wonderful group of coworkers. Outside of my work in the office, I’ve begun working with one of my friends from college that started his own real estate investment firm. We live together here in Miami, so it’s a wonderful experience learning about a new industry and working on an exciting entrepreneurial venture with one of my good friends. I’m very excited for the year ahead!
Annie Ollen - Barnard College
2023 was another year of growth as I continue my career in education on Martha’s Vineyard. It is my third year working at the West Tisbury School – now in my new role as a Math Interventionist. In this role, I support students to meet their individual math goals and boost their confidence as math students. I am in the process of applying to graduate schools for a Master’s in Education with a focus on teaching middle school math. I hope to start classes next fall. In addition to supporting students in the classroom, I am one of the adult supervisors of the Student Council which helps to organize community service projects and school-wide events. I also coach the volleyball team in the spring, and am the Assistant Director for the school play. Everyday I am thankful for the opportunity to work in the same elementary school and community that helped to shape the person I am today. The teachers and mentors that provided me with an incredible education and passion for learning are a huge reason why I fell in love with teaching as an adult. I hope to be able to create the same positive impact for the next generation of island kids. MVYouth’s continued investment in the young people on this Island allows kids like me to keep dreaming to achieve whatever they aspire to. I am so thankful for MVYouth and its passion for supporting students across the island. I am excited to join their Advisory Board this year to help give the same gift to other island kids that was given to me almost ten years ago.
Madeleine Moore - University of Chicago
In 2023, I was thrilled to lead an effort to unionize my workplace. This was over a year in the making and involved countless hours of personal contact and organizing. This past July, we received voluntary recognition from our management team and I am now proud to call myself a member of the Communication Workers of America, alongside over 150 of my coworkers! Outside of labor organizing, I continue to work to fundraise for politicians such as Senator Brown and Senator Warnock, as well as nonprofits like Save the Children at MissionWired. In this role, I advise clients on digital strategy, as well as write, draft, and produce fundraising email and SMS messages. After a hard fought and successful 2022 cycle, I am excited to work hard to protect these seats in 2024. I continue to love living in D.C. and always find time to explore new museums, restaurants, and more. However, I am always thrilled to travel back home and see my siblings, one who is now working at the West Tisbury School and another who is now a senior at MVHRS.
Evelyn Medeiros - Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science University
After working on a med surg floor in Boston, I decided to challenge myself to explore a new area of nursing by taking a position in an endoscopy unit here in New Jersey. While learning from incredible endo nurses, doctors, and techs, I have had the opportunity to explore a different side of healthcare in a specialty where I feel more fulfilled as a nurse. On my unit, we perform several different types of endoscopic procedures for patients suffering from a vast number of gastrointestinal and pulmonary issues. As an endo nurse, I get to admit patients, participate in a wide variety of procedures, and also recover the patients afterwards. I love that I am always doing something different than the day before and I am constantly learning more about the human body, meeting new patients that I get to connect with, and participating in such highly specialized procedures. From comforting someone before their first colonoscopy, to emergently stopping a GI bleed, to caring for my patients’ post op complications, I now have the opportunity to help patients in a way so different from before. I truly feel that I have the ability to more directly and more effectively care for my patients due to my unique position as an endo nurse. I am so thankful for how far I have come since first starting nursing school to where I am now as an RN, and none of it would be possible without the generous help from MVYouth. As part of my growth this year, I have even been able to train other new endoscopy nurses, as well as teach new grad nurses skills not taught in nursing school such as how to start an IV. This year has been so rewarding and I look forward to what my nursing future has in store.
Louise McDonald - New York University
During my final semester at NYU, I immersed myself in joy and celebration, savoring the last few weeks of my college journey while diligently preparing for the corporate world. Throughout my tenure at NYU, I leveraged the plethora of job opportunities available in the city, and benefited from NYU's post-graduate career resources, which is dedicated to guiding students through the challenges of securing a job in their desired position and industry. This proactive approach led me to secure an asset management internship at Cohen & Steers within their Institutional Relationship Management department. Following the successful completion of the 12-week internship during the summer of 2022, I was not only granted but also enthusiastically accepted a full-time offer in my senior year, commencing in August 2023. Now, five months into my dream job in Midtown Manhattan, I am profoundly grateful to MVYouth. With MVYouth's invaluable support, I had the privilege to connect with talented and ambitious students and educators in the world's greatest city, enabling me to apply my knowledge to a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets. Today, my focus is on further expanding my expertise in the real assets space while delivering top-tier client service to our institutional clients. I am fueled by excitement and determination to thrive in my professional career, acknowledging that this achievement wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of MVYouth. Thank you & cheers to 2024!
Casey McAndrews - Hamilton College
It’s hard to believe that I am almost halfway through medical school already! As a second-year at UNECOM, I have completely fallen in love with learning the pathophysiology behind various medical conditions and the puzzle of figuring out how to best care for patients. A lot of this year has been learning how to recognize different clinical presentations and mastering exam skills to prepare for the next two years, during which I will spend the majority of my time on the hospital floors learning in real time. Outside of school, I have had a few incredible opportunities that have helped me to further explore my passions. Over the past year, I have continued to volunteer at the elementary schools in the local community, both through mentorship and teaching. Through our school’s Pediatric Club and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), I have been able to participate in advocacy initiatives to learn how to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and gun violence prevention in pediatric populations. This past summer, I was selected for the 2023 Endocrine Society Research for Medical and Graduate Students (REGMS) Award, which supported my work on a research project examining the effects of calorie restriction on bone morphology in a preclinical model. The REGMS program brings together students from across the country who are conducting research in endocrinology and provides a variety of opportunities for career development during weekly seminars led by experts in the field. As a REGMS recipient, I will have the chance to share my work at the ENDO Conference in Boston this June! Thank you, again, MVYouth for all that you do. I am forever grateful for your support.
Marlla Lemos Lane - University of Massachusetts, Boston
2023 marked my third year building home in Seattle, Washington and my first out of grad school. I continued my work as a therapist and care coordinator in Seattle Public Schools until June but ultimately decided not to return due to an unexpected personal loss and burnout. I’m grateful to have spent the year learning from and supporting such resilient young people while gaining an understanding of the systems that are struggling to meet their needs. During the summer months, I nannied for two energetic toddlers and got back to my animal-loving roots working as a stable hand on a large horse farm. This fall, I began in my new role as the care coordinator for a collective of therapists who specialize in politicized healing and trauma processing for the queer and trans community. I am excited to be a part of this collective and their commitment to connecting political conditions with individual and collective mental health. Amidst a full year, I continue to explore my own gender and feel increasingly embodied as I integrate pieces of my expression that were long buried. Life is short and what an honor to really live it! Thank you MVYouth for your support during undergrad and for being part of the reason I can pursue such a full life, post-grad and beyond.
"LG" Jacobs - Hamilton College
2023 marked my third year building home in Seattle, Washington and my first out of grad school. I continued my work as a therapist and care coordinator in Seattle Public Schools until June but ultimately decided not to return due to an unexpected personal loss and burnout. I’m grateful to have spent the year learning from and supporting such resilient young people while gaining an understanding of the systems that are struggling to meet their needs. During the summer months, I nannied for two energetic toddlers and got back to my animal-loving roots working as a stable hand on a large horse farm. This fall, I began in my new role as the care coordinator for a collective of therapists who specialize in politicized healing and trauma processing for the queer and trans community. I am excited to be a part of this collective and their commitment to connecting political conditions with individual and collective mental health. Amidst a full year, I continue to explore my own gender and feel increasingly embodied as I integrate pieces of my expression that were long buried. Life is short and what an honor to really live it! Thank you MVYouth for your support during undergrad and for being part of the reason I can pursue such a full life, post-grad and beyond.
Danielle Hopkins - Barnard College
2023 was a fulfilling and exciting year for me. Last spring I chose to attend Yale Law School after an incredible application cycle where I was accepted into every school I applied to except for one waitlist. I was really torn in my decision between NYU and Yale but ultimately I found that Yale was the right place for me. I also was awarded and named a recipient of a scholarship from the Marshall-Motley Scholar Programs from the Legal Defense Fund. Being a Marshall-Motley Scholar has been an incredible honor and privilege and it has truly made my first semester at Law School all the better. Moving to New Haven in August and beginning my first semester of Law School was incredibly challenging but also very rewarding. I have made some amazing friends and learned so much in my courses. The second half of my year was mostly filled with classes, studying and trying to stay on top of all the material I learned but I also found time to explore some other interests of mine. I became the social media head for the Yale Black Law Students Association (BLSA), and also joined the BLSA mock trial team where we will be competing next February in Buffalo, New York. I also am part of the organizing team for Reb Law (rebellious lawyering), a conference held annually at Yale Law School to bring together “practitioners, law students, and community activists from around the country to discuss innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change.” I am so excited to begin my second semester later this month but am grateful for the time I have now to rest and connect with family and friends. I am so grateful for the support and opportunities MVYouth provided me throughout my four years of undergrad and beyond that have gotten me to this point. Thank you, MVYouth!
Samantha Hargy - George Washington University
The last year has brought many life changes, both personally and professionally. My mom unexpectedly passed away in February 2023, and I took a few weeks off from my graduate studies to travel home and be with family. Even so, in May I graduated on time from Johns Hopkins SAIS with a Master of Arts in International Relations. With no solid plan for after graduation, I moved back to the island while I waited to hear from job applications. For those familiar with Edgartown Seafood, you'll be interested to know that the business was purchased by three of my best friends in March 2023, who contacted me and asked if I would assist them with their bookkeeping. With zero bookkeeping skills but lots of ambition, I took on this project and continue to hold this position. If you're ever in need of great seafood, go say hi to my friends (and now bosses) Andy, Jimmy, and Crockett at Edgartown Seafood! In May I accepted a position at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC, where I work as a Program Coordinator in the Mexico Institute. The Mexico Institute seeks to increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between the United States and Mexico through the active discussion of issues relevant to both countries. Mexico and the United States will both hold presidential elections this year, and the two main candidates in Mexico are women, so there is a lot of interesting and meaningful work to be done. As part of the position, I enjoy frequent trips to Mexico and the opportunity to continue practicing Spanish. I hope everyone had a happy and healthy year!
Lena Hanschka - Colby College
For the last year, I have been based in Burlington, VT, working at Champlain Community Services (CCS), a nonprofit that provides developmental services and health care to Vermonters with intellectual disabilities and autism. I joined the CCS team as a Direct Support Professional last January and worked one-on-one with individuals helping to support them in the community, navigate their daily life, and respond to challenges as they arise. In June, I stepped into a new role as a Service Coordinator and I now manage a caseload of 11 clients. My responsibilities include: helping individuals manage their finances; scheduling medical appointments; coordinating supports both in the community and in the workplace; and overseeing the many other details that help enable people to live as independently as possible. I love being a part of this organization, which helps foster a more inclusive and supportive community here in Vermont. I have learned a great deal from the people I work with and can truly say that I have become a better person because of my time with them. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my clients, their families, and my colleagues for challenging me to think more deeply about what it means to live in a community where everyone has the opportunity to feel included, nurtured, and sustained. Thank you to MVYouth for helping me get to where I am today.