Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowships were granted to 18 recipients this year, including students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees, and professionals seeking advanced degrees and project initiative-based grants.

The fellowship program began in 2006 and since then has provided funding for hundreds of Islanders. The program gives money across a wide variety of mediums, with a special focus on environmental and sustainability issues.

Marge Dolan, Anna Koppel, Thamiris Marta, Sophie Pittaluga and Morgen Schroeder will receive project initiative-based fellowships.

Ms. Dolan is working with Health Aging MV to research, test and implement a program that uses technology to connect volunteers and organizations.

Ms. Koppel will work with Martha’s Vineyard Builders Association to create Spark, an Island-wide community event with a goal to revive interest in trades and skills with a hands-on approach to a sustainable future.

Ms. Marta and Ms. Pittaluga are focused on the Island’s transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2040 with Vineyard Power’s energy transition program.

Ms. Schroeder will serve as the climate change communications specialist with the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. She will implement a two-year communications campaign to raise awareness and develop community engagement.

Six Islanders will receive fellowships for continuing education in their respective careers.

Kim Garrison will study for a PhD in human development at the University of Rochester and receive a leader effectiveness training certification from Gordon Training International. This is Ms. Garrison’s second fellowship, after being awarded one in 2020.

Sasha Iammarino is enrolling in the speech language pathologist assistant program at Elms College. Fluent in both English and Brazilian Portuguese, she is currently working as a medical interpreter at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, as well as a school interpreter.

Jesse Jason will pursue a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling: dance/movement therapy at Lesley University.

Annie Ollen will attend Merrimack College to pursue a master’s degree in secondary education with a focus on middle school mathematics.

Kara Shemeth, currently the conservation assistant for the town of Edgartown, will earn a geographic information systems and data communication professional certificate from the University of Vermont. She previously received a Vision Fellowship in 2016 and received a master’s degree in environmental policy and management with a focus in public policy from American Public University.

Pricila Vilaca will pursue her undergraduate and master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University through their online program. She established the first Portuguese support group to address the growing issue of domestic violence within the Brazilian community on the Island.

Five high school seniors will receive college scholarships of $10,000 per year for two years: Clara Athearn (College of The Atlantic); Oona Carroll (Mount Holyoke University); Robert “Huck” Moore (Yale University); Lyla Solway (North Caroline State University); and Brooke Ward (Florida Atlantic University).