Mayville Scholars

The Mayville Scholarship supports first-generation and/or low-income students in Massachusetts who demonstrate strong academic excellence and a deep commitment to their communities. The scholarship awards $30,000 annually for each year recipients attend a four-year institution in the United States. This year, the scholarship received many outstanding applications, and we were grateful for the opportunity to read applicants’ powerful stories, achievements, and aspirations. After a highly competitive selection process, four recipients were chosen. We sincerely thank all students who applied and shared their journeys with us.

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Mary Adegbesan

At just 18, high school senior Mary Adegbesan is a published author, nonprofit founder, and nationally recognized leader in technology education. She is the founder of CTRL Code, a 501(c)(3) organization that has reached over 400 students globally through free coding workshops, mentorship, and STEM resources for underrepresented youth. Through her work, Mary is committed to making technology education accessible to students everywhere, regardless of background.

Vinay Murugan

After losing his younger brother to cancer, Vinay became deeply passionate about health equity and ensuring that no family has to endure such hardship without support. He has helped raise thousands of dollars’ worth of medical kits for underserved communities across Massachusetts. With a strong interest in business and entrepreneurship, Vinay has competed in Business Professionals of America, earning national-level awards for his entrepreneurial skills. Through service and leadership, Vinay is committed to creating more equitable systems for vulnerable communities.

Sahana Venkatraman

Sahana is the founder of Mission:MathMinds, a global initiative empowering girls by eliminating math anxiety and expanding access to math education. Her work has reached over 21,000 girls worldwide. During the summer, she led math programs for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland, an experience that deeply shaped her commitment to educational equity. An accomplished researcher and author of two books on service and leadership, Sahana has published peer-reviewed research at Yale on math education and at Stanford on AI in electric vehicles.

Mia Zheng

Mia Zheng is the co-founder and president of Living Outside, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 19 global chapters dedicated to destigmatizing homelessness through the direct distribution of care bags. Alongside her sister, Mia has impacted over 5,000 lives by reframing distribution as a platform for acknowledgment, conversation, and authentic human connection. Her mixed-methods research supports this model, demonstrating that relationship-centered outreach can reduce bias toward unhoused individuals. Beyond Living Outside, Mia serves as Global President of the Junior Economic Club and Executive Director of Innoverge.

Note about eligibility

For applicants interested in applying or those who are already scholars, please see the requirements. Note that they may be subjected to change in the coming months.

Requirements

-GPA: Above a 3.95 (up till end of junior year)

-SAT/ACT Score: Above 1500+/34+

-Must submit CSS profile confirming they come from a first-generation or financially underserved background

-Must be pursuing a 4-year degree at an institution in the US.

-Teacher recommendation

-Resume

-600 personal statement essay

After Acceptance:

Senior-year grades reflect your most recent academic performance, and therefore carry the most weight out of all the grades we look at. We expect students to earn nothing below an A in order to maintain the academic standards upheld by Mayville Scholars.

The same expectations apply to your college grades, and we will continue to expect outstanding academic performance as in high school.

Mayville Scholars

Note about eligibility

For applicants interested in applying or those who are already scholars, please see the requirements. Note that they may be subjected to change in the coming months.

Requirements

Sponsors