Everyone can agree that your first step in anything is never easy. Leaving what has been home for all my life is not easy. But Rhode Island College made the process easier. RIC is the perfect distance, I’m far enough to have my space, but close enough to go home whenever. Stepping on campus with tears in my eyes went from such a scary feeling to a feeling of comfort. RIC gave me the rural comfort from back home but also gave me a city for when it's time for a break. During my first semester away, I was able to experience such amazing yet scary experiences while being challenged both academically and emotionally. Though this semester came with many challenges, I couldn’t be more happy and thankful for going through those challenges. MVYouth gave me an opportunity to chase my biggest dream since I was a kid. MVYouth was something I didn’t think was possible for me. I applied with so many nerves sure that maybe I wouldn’t move forward, scared of what would come next. But I couldn’t thank MVYouth enough for the amazing opportunity and support. Though nursing school is far from easy, realizing that I’m one step closer is my motivation.
Rebecca Mandelli - Providence College
The school year started and I was full swing into the Providence College groove. I barely got to say bye to my parents and was already bombarded with the typical “where are you from?” and “what’s your major?” questions. Although I felt like I never had time to process anything due to the go go go of the first couple weeks, I still found myself upset and missing home. I love my roommates and they tried really hard to get me out of the room and to the various activities going on around campus. At this point school was picking up and I felt like I had finally gotten the hang of where things were on campus and I was starting to make different friendships. The third week of school I declared my double major and my minor, the work load definitely added up and I did feel like I was drowning for a good portion of the semester. But I kept telling myself that this is why I was here and that I needed to do this so I could be successful in my future career. Aside from school I tried out and became a part of the women’s club hockey team and through that I have made so many friends. I also am a part of Best Buddies and try to help out at the Special Olympics whenever I don’t have hockey. After Columbus Day I went back to school and tried to make the most of it until I would be back for Thanksgiving. I had friends visit me and I tried to get out there more. This past month I have fallen in love with Providence College and I don’t think I could ever see myself anywhere else. The school work is definitely challenging but my professors are so kind and helpful. I have also found a good groups of friends that I love to be around. PC is slowly becoming home and I can’t wait to go back next semester! I love Friartown!
Georgia Magden - University of Mississippi
I am currently on a gap year before I attend the University of Mississippi and so far it has been marvelous. During the month of September I continued my job at Vineyard Pilates & Bodywork and “helped” Annie Ollen (2015 MVYouth recipient) coach girls JV soccer (I think I did very little in the way of actually coaching). After that, I went down to northern Mississippi and have been gallivanting around with my grandmother ever since. My grandmother grew up and spent the majority of her life in the University of Mississippi’s college town and she has happily shown me all that this state has to offer. I’ve met influential Mississippi politicians, joined a Political Action Committee, gone to the royal ballet, met the former chancellor of the University, read a lot, attended Ole Miss athletics and music performances, helped my grandmother clean out her garage (no small feat let me tell you) and built a community I am excited to use during my time in college. Personally, taking a gap year has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has only reaffirmed my desire to attend this school and it has given me the opportunity to build relationships with people separate from the school community. It has also allowed me to recuperate from an incredibly draining senior year and ensure that I will be able to give my best once I actually get to college. I am incredibly grateful that MVYouth has allowed me to take this time off and the peace of mind scholarship affords cannot be overstated.
Olivia MacPherson - Bridgewater State University
I knew from the moment I stepped on campus that this was the place I needed to be to continue on in my career path. Now that the first semester is over, I can say it did not disappoint. I have gotten to join the poetry club, participate in events for my major, and meet a bunch of new people. I just wrapped up the first semester and am excited to start on the next. This semester I focused on my core credits for general studies, making sure I was on track with what was necessary to get to the next year. I especially enjoyed my class in sociology, and plan on taking more classes of this subject in the future. I even signed up for another next semester. Now that a lot of my credits are figured out, and I have either taken or signed up for all my first year core requirements, I will be taking a child study course. I am super excited to officially start classes for my major, and have even found an extra program that should help out with this. I applied for and made it into a program for next semester (and quite possibly beyond that), that while not necessarily part of the early education program, will be an incredible supplement to it. In this program called the CPDC (Child Physical Development Clinic ), college students work with children with special needs, helping them with fine and gross motor skills. The program meets at the gym, and I will be assigned a child to work with for the semester. I heard of this program when originally touring the school, and it was one of the factors That made me choose Bridgewater. The university is so welcoming, and It feels like there's an opportunity around every corner.
Josh Lake - Providence College
My first semester at Providence College has been full of amazing and unpredictable experiences which have allowed me to learn, grow, and adapt. As a Marketing major, I have been introduced to new concepts and strategies that I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about. Adjusting to this new way of life has been uncomfortable and rewarding. I have loved being exposed to new people, personalities, egos, and emotions which have provided me with profound perceptions regarding resilience and adaptability. One of the most beneficial experiences I have gone through so far was provided to me by joining the Entrepreneurship Society. I’ve had the privilege of listening to different Providence alumni entrepreneurs speak about their paths and participated in the Annual Elevator Pitch competition held by the Business School. In this competition, I pitched my business proposal for a basketball camp, Island Hoop Group, that I’m planning to start next summer with one of my best friends, Sam Zack. This experience provided me with the perfect opportunity to indulge in something uncomfortable and atypical. I received a great amount of constructive advice and knowledge regarding public speaking and opening a business through my personal coach and the judges. I have participated in a lot of intramurals such as Flag Football, Spike Ball, 3v3 Basketball, and 5v5 Basketball. I'm also a part of the Club Basketball Team which has kept the high school sport element alive; we practice two times a week and play other schools during occasional weekends. The Providence location has served me well, I’ve been able to take advantage of being in close proximity to my Dad who lives off island, allowing me to spend quality time with my eight year old brother. This semester has been full of transformative and unique experiences that I wouldn’t have had without this scholarship. Not a day goes by where I don’t feel such gratitude and love for this organization and our community. Thank you for your continued trust and support!
Gerry Kane - New England Institute of Technology
My first term went by very fast and was full of excitement. It felt very nice to be able to get off the island and be around a different scenery for a change. It was a little hard to get used to. Once I started to make friends and get to know my classmates, time started to fly by. Being so closed to Providence has made it very easy to make new friends and life never get boring. It was very cool experience to learn and hear stories from my teachers who have been in the HVAC field for decades. It made learning so much easier because of how much knowledge they had to share. I made the right choice going to New England Tech! At NEIT learning is very hands on, which is where I strive. Being from Martha's Vineyard, it was very nice being able to see this from a different perspective. I have tried out some of the different clubs that New England Tech offers including the golf club, the intramural basketball league and pool club. I was worried about going to college because school was never my strong suite but with the amazing teachers here and all that NEIT has to offer has really made me enjoy being here, want to pay attention in class and get good grades. It was very easy to get used to college, I really enjoy my schedule. It gives me time to get all my homework done and still have time to enjoy life with friends. I can’t wait for the next semester to start I can only imagine the experiences that I will have!
Greg Clark - New England Institute of Technology
I’m currently in the last couple week of my degree before graduation. I’ve enjoyed my time at the New England Institute of Technology, but I’m ready to move onto the next chapter of my life; beginning my career in the marine industry. Looking back on the last year and a half I couldn’t be happy with my choice in a Marine Technology degree, the broad range of subjects I learned about will be invaluable for my future career. From engines, to plumbing, to electronics, radar, and more I have a broad range of potential fields of work for my future. I’m currently in discussions with several companies about where I want my future to lead me. This week I’ll be touring and talking with the team at a major boat manufacturer here in Rhode Island that recently reached out to me. It’s not uncommon to be hired before graduation in my degree. I’m excited to see where the future will take me, and I’m keeping my options open! My passion lies in the electronics involved onboard ships, as well as smaller vessels. I still feel I have so much to learn, and choosing the right company to help me progress my learning is both a daunting and exciting step! I feel so thankful to the MVYouth scholarship for their assistance in helping me achieve my dreams! It truly has made such a profound difference in my life. They’ve been with me every step of the way, making sure I had the proper tools to succeed. Although I feel my educational journey is not yet over, they’ve helped me build a very solid foundation for further learning in my career.
Nick Carpenter - Northeastern University
I had a great time in the Bay Area for my first semester at Northeastern’s Oakland campus! I enjoyed my classes (Financial Accounting & Reporting, First-Year Writing, Introduction to Marketing, and Principles of Microeconomics) and learned a lot in and out of the classroom.I also enrolled in a one-credit course called Global Learning Experience, which was unique to the Bay Area. While the number of extracurricular activities was limited on the Oakland campus, I was able to attend speaker events such as the Tuesday Speaker Series for the Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club) and the Disrupt Speaker Series, which was for the FinTech club. Lastly, I participated in NU Oakland’s Husky Startup Challenge, in which I developed a product idea and created a slideshow covering everything from the problem the product solves to its business model. My product was an app that locates the nearest water refill stations on a map, which would decrease the amount of plastic waste used and save consumers money. Unique to Northeastern’s Oakland Campus were Experiential Treks (E-Treks), in which we each visited a nearby business headquarters in a group, ranging from Google to a local bagel bakery. I went to the Intuit headquarters in Mountain View and learned how different departments must come together to develop a product. My favorite part of being in Oakland was going into San Francisco. I went on an excursion to Alcatraz, which was cool to see and learn about the island's history. The restaurants we went to were amazing, and the distinctiveness of the neighborhoods is what made San Francisco a very fun city. My favorite singular trip off campus, however, was to Lake Tahoe. The scenery was amazing, and fortunately, it was warm enough for me to go for a short swim. Overall, I had a great first semester in Oakland. I had the perfect balance of learning in school, narrowing down what I want to do for my career, and having fun exploring the West Coast. Now that I am in London, I am even more excited to see what this city has to offer and travel to other places in Europe!
Emma Burt - Smith College
I swear I just left the island in August to head to Smith and now I’m already back for winter break. Smith has quickly become a second home. The Northampton community is very similar to that of the Vineyard which made the transition to college relatively smooth, though I still had my moments of homesickness. The amazing friends, professors, and community I have met while only being there for one semester have made me truly excited for the years to come. A huge part of my first semester was learning new study habits for college. I found my go-to study nook in the library right in front of a window so I could watch the lawn as I crammed. Before every chemistry exam, I would walk to a coffee shop with a friend and study before going to take the exam together. And any time I sat down to study I needed to start by doing all the New York Times Games. I found this really helped me to focus and meant I could procrastinate working just a little longer. At school I also made habits of going to the gym, going on walks, and practicing piano. It was nice to pick up hobbies that I did not do much in high school, while also keeping up my old hobby of singing via the Glee Club. Throughout the semester I was the subject of a friend’s assignments for her digital media class; posing for a photoshoot and acting in her final project short film, which is not something I could have predicted myself agreeing to a few short months ago. Next semester my course load is more challenging than it was this fall but now that I have settled in Northampton I feel ready for the difficulty. I am especially eager to take organic chemistry and an engineering class about sustainable energy since I have ambitions to work in conservation post-graduation.
Liam Weiland - Berklee School of Music
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.
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.