Jully Myrthil, a Cranston resident and 2024 graduate of Village Green Virtual Charter School, was awarded the Rhode Island Foundation’s biggest scholarship. As she heads to Bentley University to study business, she will receive up to $80,000 in scholarship funds over four years.

Myrthil is one of six Rhode Island students to receive the 2024 scholarship, which is funded through the Carter Roger Williams Scholarship Fund. The scholarship aims to “encourage students to think big about their future,” a Rhode Island Foundation press release reads.

“I am committed to creating a world where everyone has the tools to succeed and live healthy lives, regardless of background or location,” Myrthil said.

Last summer, Myrthil attended a social entrepreneurship Leadership Institute pre-college program at Brown University, which “helped me realize I could utilize my entrepreneurial mindset and knowledge to create the change I want to see in the world.”

Especially dedicated to youth mental wellness in Black, Indigenous and people of color’s communities, Myrthil hopes to increase accessibility to “culturally competent mental health care.”

“I believe that combining my passion for public health and entrepreneurship can help me achieve this goal,” she said. “My ultimate goal is to start my social enterprise and utilize my ventures for social good.”

As a student at Village Green, Myrthil pursued her passion for public health by interning with Lifespan, as well as serving as a youth health ambassador for the state Department of Health and an Afterschool Alliance youth ambassador. Myrthil also co-founded Shades of Knowledge, a nonprofit organization that distributes books with BIPOC representation to underserved communities.

The Carter Roger Williams Scholarship Fund, started by Letitia and John Carter in 2017, is intended to honor the legacy of Rhode Island founder Roger Williams, the press release reads.

Roger Williams’ “unwavering commitment to inclusivity and justice reminds me of the values I aspire to uphold… My work aligns with Roger Williams’ principles of inclusivity and respect for diversity, and I am honored to be a part of this movement toward positive change,” Myrthil wrote in her application for the scholarship.

The other five scholarship recipients include students from Providence, Woonsocket and Pawtucket. This year’s Carter Roger Williams scholarships will total up to $480,000 over the next four years.

“The world of possibilities just got wider for these students. Thanks to the steadfast commitment of the Carter family, we can continue to help students chart their own paths to educational success,” David N. Cicilline, president and CEO of the Foundation, said in the press release.

“A piece of advice I would like to share with the next year’s class is to always give your best,” Myrthil said. “Practice giving a little more each day, and make an effort in all aspects of your life. Get inspired by people who have already achieved what you are striving for and ask for help when needed.”

Editor’s Note: Anisha Kumar is a Beacon Media editorial intern from Brown University.