This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival.

That’s 50 years of highlighting the arts, pumping money into the local economy and giving back to worthy causes in the community.

The Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival Association this week announced its 2014 scholarship winners. The three students were recognized during the festival association’s meeting Monday.

The board reviews applications submitted by Coupeville High School seniors and awards the scholarships based on their community involvement and volunteerism, including work for the festival.

This year, the festival association awarded three $1,500 scholarships to Heni Barnes, Andrew Walker and Sydney Aparicio.

Over the past 50 years, the association has awarded more than $750,000 in grants and scholarships to various projects and programs within the community. Among the association’s earliest purchases was the historic blockhouse near the museum.

The festival itself is produced entirely by volunteers who keep it running like a well-oiled machine.

Putting on the event takes months of preparation and planning, and the hard work pays off with one of the island’s most popular annual events.

In addition to drawing vendors, local residents and tourists, the festival is a venue for other nonprofit groups to raise funds.

For several years, the Boys and Girls Club has managed the parking lot, which serves as a fundraiser for the organization.

Coupeville School District History Day competitors pick up garbage during the event and, in return, the association funds that school program.

The Arts and Crafts Festival serves as a reminder of just how beautiful and dynamic Coupeville is, and how a community can come together to accomplish great things.

It takes a lot of work to organize such as a festival. Whether you support it with your patronage and spending or by volunteering to help, it is a reminder that great things can be accomplished when a community like Coupeville comes together.

As volunteers gear up for their 50th festival, which is Aug. 9-10 this year, we thank them for all their hard work and contributions.