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16
Apr
ҹ Awards 81 Scholarships Worth $1 Million
Full ҹ staff come together to review student applications
WINOOSKI, VT, April 16, 2025 – More than 200 Vermont students were selected to receive 81 ҹ-assisted scholarships, totaling approximately $1,000,000.
ҹ-assisted scholarships are administered by ҹ on behalf of donors. Scholarships allow students to help fund college, or training to improve their job skills. Financial support impacts students in ways that range from allowing them more time to focus intently on their studies and personal growth, to helping students pursue majors that they are passionate about and will benefit our communities.
Scott Giles, ҹ President and CEO, noted, “In addition to achieving extraordinary academic and community service goals, many scholarship applicants are motivated to grow into careers that will help others—paying it forward with a lifetime goal that spans generations. We congratulate this year’s 200 recipients, who are shining examples of future leaders.”
The scholarship applications are reviewed and awarded by the full ҹ staff, on an otherwise routine workday that is set aside for a full day of focus on scholarships. ҹ employees across all departments, and some board members, organize into teams to review—and dive deeply into student stories.
“Coming together as a full staff to review scholarships gives us all a chance to collaborate in service to a remarkable group of applicants and recipients,” noted Giles. “Participating in the scholarship award process provides a powerful and compelling window into the bright, resilient, students we serve.”
The scholarships encompass a wide array of academic interests, including business, health care, technical industries, public safety, agriculture, and education. There are scholarships for specific towns and counties, graduates of certain high schools, and people who are traditionally disadvantaged. Other scholarships are offered to children of parents working in specific career fields. Some scholarships offer one-time awards, while others offer additional financial awards for each subsequent year of study. The amount awarded generally ranges from $500 to $6,000.
Examples of smaller awards include up to four $2000 scholarships from the Grand Isle County VFW Scholarship to support higher education for local Vermont high school seniors pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree, and one or more $1000 scholarships from the Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship for passionate and dedicated college students who are studying to be teachers.
Larger scholarships include the John Cooper Hubbard Scholarship, which provides up to $50,000 in total awards to students studying nursing or pursuing advanced medical training, and the THV Scholarship, which provides up to $25,000 in total awards for Windham County residents to seek education to contribute to freedom, peace, and social understanding throughout the world.
ҹ began awarding scholarships in 1965, when it was created by the Vermont legislature to administer need-based grants and merit-based Governor Phil Hoff Vermont Honor Scholarships (formerly, the Vermont Honor Scholarship), which provides funds for outstanding seniors nominated by Vermont high schools and technical centers. From 1968 – 1989, Senatorial Scholarships were awarded in association with state senators, and the Burlington Veterans Club tapped ҹ to award an annual scholarship for Vermont students pursuing a postsecondary education. Over time, ҹ donated space to outside groups to interview candidates, began to help with private and foundation scholarships, and published a booklet for students that listed all scholarships. As the decades unfolded, the program grew to be the robust partnership initiative of today.
ҹ also manages an additional 40 scholarships on behalf of outside organizations. For more information on how to collaborate with ҹ on a scholarship, contact scholarships@vsac.org or visit the ҹ website.
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ҹ is a public, nonprofit agency established by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to help Vermonters achieve their education and training goals after high school. ҹ serves students and their families in grades 7-12, as well as adults returning to school, by providing education and career planning services, need-based grants, scholarships, and education loans. ҹ awards millions of dollars in grants and scholarships for Vermont students and administers Vermont’s VT529 savings plan. Find us at www.vsac.org or check out Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.