Mattapoisett Land Trust scholarship winners

MATTAPOISETT -- The Mattapoisett Land Trust has chosen two recipients for its annual scholarships.

Colin Mackin, son of David and Ilana Mackin, and William Stark, son of William and Lisa Stark, will each receive $1000 in scholarships from the land trust.

The pair were chosen for their work ethic, trustworthiness, reliability and shared love for the environment. Mackin will attend the University of New Hampshire for environmental engineering in the fall, and Stark will attend UMass Amherst.

"Over a 10 week period, in late winter 2020 and spring 2021 Colin volunteered to monitor usage of MLT trails at a number of our properties,” Land Trust President Mike Hugenin said. “Each week he would set up a camera to track usage. Colin was organized, reliable, and a real pleasure to work with."

Mackin also helped build an outdoor reading park and picnic area at the Rochester Plumb Memorial Library.

“I witnessed firsthand the effort that Colin put into making his vision a reality,” Youth Services Librarian Lisa Fuller said. “He demonstrated an outstanding work ethic, excellent communication skills, strong organizational and leadership abilities, and an admirable personal drive to provide a beautiful area for the library and the community.”

A hobbyist blacksmith, class Senator and AP Chemistry student, Stark’s chemistry teacher Alyssa Whitney said he “excels in academics” because of his study habits.

“Will is not only a talented woodworking craftsman, but a loyal friend and kindhearted,” said John Nadeau, owner of JNJ woodworking, where Will has worked for the past two years.