Cape & Islands Vets Award Scholarships, Recognize Individuals

The Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center (CIVOC) awarded five outstanding local students with $1,000 awards at its annual Scholarship and Recognition event on June 27 at the JFK Hyannis Museum

Jim Seymour, Executive Director of CIVOC said, “Our scholarships recognize academic achievement and a connection to our veterans among our high school students here on the Cape.”

The first three scholarships  awarded were named for the three original founders of the Nam Vets Association, which in recent years has become the Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center: Roy Pacheco, Michael Trainor and Greg Morrison.

Madeleine Bengtsson, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, was the recipient of the Roy Pacheco  Memorial Scholarship.

The Michael Trainor Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Abigail Goodwin, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School.

The Greg Morrison Memorial Scholarship went to Raven Bennett, Nauset Regional High School.

The fourth scholarship is named for Marine Captain Eric Jones, a Mashpee native and Marine attack helicopter pilot who was tragically killed in a helicopter collision during a combat mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2009. The Captain Eric A. Jones, USMC Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Samuel Husted, Sturgis Charter Public School.

The fifth scholarship is named for Marine Corporal Nicholas G. Xiarhos, a Yarmouth Port native and graduate of DY who was killed in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2009 while going to the rescue of his fellow Marines in combat. The award went to Lyndsey Dobson, Sandwich High School.

CIVOC also presented recognition awards to those in the community who collaborate and partner with us in our mission to serve veterans and their families. The nominations came from the CIVOC Board and staff, and reflect contributions across the areas of sponsorship, community partnership, business partnership, volunteerism, and advocacy. The award winners were: