For 19 years, the Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship has provided support for Vineyarders working to improve the social and environmental sustainability of the Island.

This year, the organization has awarded fellowships to nine Islanders working to address a variety of issues, including reducing the drop-out rate for Brazilian youth and restoring natural habitats on Island.

The program also awarded academic scholarships to six students who are pursuing a variety of fields, including peace studies, biochemistry and museum studies.

Melissa Hackney, the executive director of Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship, said that going through the fellowship applications each year is an uplifting process.

“They are people who are so passionate about what they do and... people who are committed regardless because our current environment, the political environment, is extremely challenging for so many nonprofits,” she said.

Ms. Hackney added that choosing fellows this year was especially difficult because of the increased pressure on nonprofits from potential federal funding cuts. She highlighted two projects she said felt were particularly timely.

Haley Dolan of Island Health Care and Merrick Carreiro of Island Grown Initiative will work together to better provide food and nutritional support for Vineyarders through the Island Nourish Network project. Tom Persinko was awarded a fellowship for creating a documentary film about the Brazilian community on the Island.

Additional recipients include Maggie Craig, Rodrigo Honorato, Judy Jones, Krystle Scheaffer, Matt Taylor and Indaia Whitcombe,

Potential fellows are nominated by Island nonprofits and schools. Ms. Hackney said the organization fosters community by connecting fellows to potential mentors and by encouraging communication between the fellows.

“It’s also a development of a community of like-minded people who are committed to the sustainability and resilience of the Vineyard and its people,” Ms. Hackney said.

Four graduating seniors — Shevaun Brown, JackSun Engler, Emily MacMillan and Nyoka Walters — were honored with Vision Scholar awards of $20,000 over the course of two years of study. Noah Manning, who is finishing his freshman year at Cornell, also received a Vision Scholar award.

Sam Gurney, who studies wildlife and fisheries science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, received a second two-year Vision Scholar award.

Students are recommended by the guidance offices at their high schools.

“They have been incredible partners in finding young people who embody the ideals of the Vision Fellowship,” Ms. Hackney said.