Two Nantucket High School seniors won full four-year college scholarships Tuesday night when the Nantucket Golf Club selected them as the 2021 Nantucket Scholars.
JohnCarl McGrady and Cameron “Camie” Strojny were chosen among 10 finalists for the scholarships that cover four years of tuition and fees at the college or university of their choice. McGrady plans to attend Williams College in the fall, while Strojny is deciding between Fairfield University and St. Anselem College.
“I was very honored to go through this experience and to have such a great opportunity, but to hear my name, I didn’t believe it,” said Strojny, who is the senior class president, a three sport athlete, volunteer and member of the National Honor Society. “This community raised me, it’s not just my blood family, every piece has helped me to get to where I am today and I’m so grateful.”
McGrady, who was described by the scholarship panel as “intellectual” and “unconventional,” is also a member of the National Honor Society and co-editor of the Nantucket High School newspaper, Veritas. Williams College, McGrady said, is his dream school.
“Everyone who was a finalist or even applied is an amazing person and student, I’m so happy and I’m so happy for Camie,” McGrady said. “It’s incredible. You work so hard and put all this effort in, this is what you go for. Moments like this.”
The 10 finalists were selected from 34 applicants who participated in a rigorous evaluation system for the scholarships, including interviews, activities, forums, and presentations. The final group was a “magnificent representation of the senior class and the community of Nantucket,” said former Nantucket Public Schools Superintendent Mike Cozort during the award presentation.
The Nantucket Golf Club launched the Nantucket Scholar program in 2006, and has since funded four-year scholarships for 32 island students. The scholarships are awarded annually in April to “a student who has established a pattern of academic and personal success at Nantucket High School” and have demonstrated “honesty, integrity, morality and responsibility.”
Nantucket Golf Club chief operating officer Tom Bresette made the announcement just before 7 p.m. last night.
“This is a night of gratitude,” Bresette said.
For the second year in a row, the scholarship ceremony, which is typically held at the Nantucket Golf Club clubhouse, was conducted virtually and broadcast live by Nantucket Community Television. The other finalists for the scholarship were: Waverly Brannigan, Ruby Dupont, Reese Burns, Maisie Cocker, Kathryn Genthner, Kameilia Barnett, Isabella Cutone, and Brian Nolasco Ramirez.
