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VSAC scholarships booklet connects Vermont students to education funding opportunities

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If you had a 1 in 100 chance of winning $5,000, you’d probably buy that lottery ticket, right? 

Many of the college scholarship programs administered by VSAC have similar odds (for varying amounts of money), so it pays to research available programs and, if you see one that suits you, put in an application. 

We recommend starting 9 to 12 months before the start of the academic year for which you need funds. A great place to start is the VSAC scholarship booklet, which contains information about funding opportunities that are available only to Vermont residents or to students who will work in Vermont after graduation. Here in our state’s “small pond,” you probably have a higher chance of winning a scholarship than if you were competing nationwide.

This year’s booklet includes information on 150 scholarships administered by VSAC, plus an additional 41 scholarships run by outside organizations. Here’s a peek at what’s inside. 

Scholarships for niches and needs

There are scholarship opportunities for a wide range of academic interests. Some of the more common fields include business, technical industries, public safety, agriculture, health care, and education. 

There may be specific scholarships for residents of your town or county, graduates of your high school, or members of traditionally disadvantaged groups. Other scholarships are offered to children of parents working in specific career fields.

Finally, students who are single parents may want to check out the Bernice Murray Scholarship, which covers up to $4,000 in child-care expenses for single parents who continue their education. 

Award amounts from $500 to $6,500 and more

Some scholarships offer one-time awards, while others are renewable, meaning the student can receive additional financial awards for each subsequent year of study. The annual award amounts generally range from $500 to $6,500, though there are some exceptions, including forgivable loan programs for medical, nursing, and dental students, and for those studying to become mental health professionals, nursing faculty, or teachers. Those interest-free and forgivable loan programs generally cover the student’s full tuition, and they are similar to scholarships in that they are money for school that a student does not have to pay back. There are also generous tuition benefits for college students as well as students seeking training in non-degree programs, certificates, or continuing education who join the Vermont National Guard. 

New scholarships for academic year 2024-2025 

Those who have perused the scholarship booklet in prior years may want to take note of many VSAC-administered scholarships and loan programs that are brand-new for the 2024-2025 academic year. They are all marked with “New!” in the booklet.

Here are a few of the new scholarships that benefit students in particular communities:

• The Jim Spadaccini Technical Scholarship, sponsored by the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary Club, will offer up to $2,000 annually to a Charlotte, Shelburne or Hinesburg resident pursuing a degree or certificate in a skilled trade or technical field.
• The Ron and Judy Sprague Memorial Scholarship will offer one $1,000 scholarship to a resident of Rutland County.
• The Krishnan Venkataraman Memorial Scholarship will offer one scholarship up to $2,000 to a student who identifies as one or more of the following: BIPOC, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Indigenous, Black and/or Hispanic.

Here are a few of the new scholarships that are targeted to students pursuing particular fields of study:

• The Mary K. Hale and J. Stewart Garven Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the Newbury Alumni Association, will offer one $1,000 scholarship to a Newbury, VT resident who will graduate or has graduated from Oxbow High School seeking a certificate or undergraduate degree in the field of education.
• The Vermont Police Association: John J. King Scholarship will offer one $1,000 scholarship to a student who seeks an undergraduate degree in public safety.
• The Jedidiah Zabrosky Scholarship, sponsored by the Zabrosky family, will offer one scholarship up to $2,000 to a graduating high school senior who seeks an undergraduate degree in special education.
• The Green Mountain Veterinary Scholarship, sponsored by the Harold Mitchell Family, will offer up to $5,000 annually to students enrolling in their first year of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, or their first year of a Veterinary Technician program.

Deadlines and requirements: Apply now!

The application deadline is February 14, 2024 , for all VSAC-assisted scholarships, which require a completed FAFSA and Unified Scholarship Application (USA), plus a general essay. The VSAC scholarships booklet covers any additional application requirements, such as recommendation letters or transcripts, for each individual scholarship. Deadlines and requirements for the non-VSAC scholarships vary. 

Again, the 2024-2025 scholarships booklet can be downloaded here , or a printed copy can be ordered for free . Anyone with questions is encouraged to talk with the VSAC outreach counselor at their school, visit vsac.org/scholarships , or call 888-253-4819.

This story is produced by Vermont Student Assistance Corp., created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency, to advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they achieve their education goals. Our vision is to create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to higher education are closed to them. We begin by helping families save for education with Vermont’s state-sponsored 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or career training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and again as adults. Our grant and scholarship programs attract national recognition, and our loan programs and loan forgiveness programs are saving Vermont families thousands of dollars in interest. Visit  vsac.org   to learn more.

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Vermont Student Assistance Corporation Scholarships

Before you get started on applying for VSAC-assisted scholarships, here are 3 things you should know:

• Scholarships are competitive: Your goal is to help the scholarship committee get to know you and believe in you. From proofreading your application to writing a powerful scholarship essay to getting great recommendation letters, you’ll want to be professional while at the same time being you.
• Communication is key. To succeed, you’ll need to own the application process. Scholarship committees expect you to complete all requirements on time. So, don’t wait for others to follow up. Be proactive and verify that all items are complete and on time.
• Eligibility is important: You and others will expend time and energy on the application process. So, before you start, make sure you’re eligible for the scholarships you’re applying for—and make sure you meet all requirements and submit your best work.

Finding scholarships

To apply for a VSAC-assisted scholarship or a forgivable loan, you’ll need to determine which scholarships or forgivable loan you’re eligible for, complete the Unified Scholarship Application (USA, a single application for all VSAC-assisted scholarships), and submit required documents. Look in the VSAC scholarships booklet for a list of all available scholarships.

Download VSAC' Scholarships for Vermonters book download icon  (PDF) for 2024–2025 or order a free print version by mail.

After the deadline for VSAC-assisted scholarships passes, students can still apply for others that are administered by other organizations.  Refer to the "Other Scholarships" section of the VSAC scholarship booklet for all deadlines open through July.

HERE’S THE INFORMATION YOU’LL SEE FOR EACH SCHOLARSHIP:

VSAC ID: A unique code for each scholarship that you’ll need in order to complete the USA. Write down the VSAC ID of any scholarships you’re interested in as you go through the booklet.

Eligibility: The specific criteria you’ll need to meet to be eligible for the scholarship. You're eligible only if you meet all the listed criteria.

To apply for a VSAC-assisted scholarship, you must:

• Be a Vermont resident, unless otherwise specified in the description. If you’re not sure about your residency, download our Vermont residency brochure.  
• Be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen (unless a particular scholarship specifies otherwise). If you’re not sure about your status, visit the Student Aid website and search for Are you a U.S. citizen?
• Have Vermont listed as your home of record if you're in the U.S. military

There may be additional eligibility requirements for certain scholarships, such as:

• The type of school you will attend (accredited school approved for federal Title IV funding)
• A specific major or field of study (engineering/technology, social work)
• A certain town or county of residence (Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle etc.)
• A demonstration of financial need, academic achievement, community service, etc.

Renewability: The number of years that the scholarship can be renewed (if applicable). Instructions for renewal will be included in the letter notifying you of the award.

Amount: The number of scholarships available and the possible dollar amount awarded

Selection: The documents and criteria the selection committee will consider when choosing the best candidate for the scholarship

Estimated # of applications: The estimated number of applicants, based on prior years

Estimated awards: The estimated number of scholarships awarded, based on prior years

Important deadlines for VSAC-assisted scholarships 

Starting October 1, 2023

• Review descriptions in VSAC's scholarships booklet and identify those for which you meet all eligibility requirements.
• Submit the Unified Scholarship Application (USA) online.
• Draft your essays and ask for feedback from your guidance counselor. Get tips on writing your admissions essay.
• Identify the people who you will ask to write your letters of recommendation and share your strengths with them. Get tips on getting your college recommendation letters.
• Begin submitting all required documents (transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, etc.).
• View the status of your scholarship applications online through MyVSAC.

In December 2023, submit a FAFSA

On or before February 14, 2024: Submission/postmark deadline!

All required documents (transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, etc.) must be submitted or postmarked on or before this date. If applying for a forgivable loan, you are encouraged to apply by the deadline; however, applications will be accepted after the deadline provided funding is available.

NOTE: After the deadline for VSAC-assisted scholarships passes, students can still apply for the scholarships that are administered by other organizations.  Refer to the "Other Scholarships" section of the VSAC scholarship booklet for all deadlines open through July.

Before May 1, 2024:

VSAC will notify students of scholarships or the forgivable loan for which they were chosen as recipients. Check your MyVSAC account (click on "Work with VSAC-Assisted Scholarships") for the status of all scholarships.

Before June 1, 2024:

Through MyVSAC, colleges/universities can view the scholarships awarded to students.

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VSAC Bernice Murray Scholarship

Scholarship description.

To be eligible for the Bernice Murray Scholarship, applicants must: be a single parent with primary custody of at least one child 12 years of age or younger; be seeking an undergraduate degree; be enrolled at least part-time; demonstrate financial need; and be attending an accredited school approved for federal Title IV funding. Selection for this scholarship will be based on financial need, a recommendation letter and a personal essay. Applications run from October until the due date.

This scholarship was created by former U.S. Senator James M. Jeffords of Vermont, along with family and friends of Bernice Murray, longtime aide to Senator Jeffords. The scholarship was established to honor her unselfish contributions to improving the lives of Vermonters.

VSAC helps students of all ages save, plan & pay for college and career training. VSAC administers more than 120 scholarships available to Vermont residents and we want to encourage you to apply. This scholarship was established by the friends, family and colleagues of Carol Hurley, a VSAC outreach counselor who helped first-generation college-bound students prepare for college.

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Scholarships or Forgivable Loans

VSAC administers more than 150 scholarships or forgivable loans for Vermonters.

Learn more about VSAC-assisted scholarships

With VSAC’s online Unified Scholarship Application, you can complete one electronic form for all VSAC-assisted scholarships or forgivable loans. The application can be filed online after October 1, in addition to any additional documents that may be required for the scholarships you are applying to.

Scholarships or forgivable loans are usually looked at in one of three ways:

• To fill "unmet need," meaning to fill the difference between the cost of the college and the financial aid you’ve been offered.
• To reduce the amount in loans you need to borrow.
• To reduce your college's grant assistance to you.

Call your school's financial aid office for specific information on how your school treats scholarships or forgivable loans.

Log into your MyVSAC account  and click on “Work with VSAC-Assisted Scholarships.” Look for “Submit Application” and “Unified Scholarship Application (USA),” and follow the instructions.

Log into your MyVSAC account  and click on "Work with VSAC-Assisted Scholarships." Look for “Required Documents” or “Upload Scholarship Documents.”

How do I know what documents I need to submit? Each scholarship or forgivable loans description in VSAC’s scholarships booklet indicates the documents that must be submitted in order for your application to be considered complete.

Through your MyVSAC account , you can view the list of required documents you’ve submitted and a list of required documents that are still outstanding.

How do I label the documents? All documents must be labeled correctly with the document name, your name, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Recommendation letters and portfolios are the exceptions and must be labeled with the document name, your name, and your date of birth.

How do I submit documents? Once logged into your MyVSAC accoun t, look for “Required Documents” or “Upload Scholarship Documents.” From here, you can upload documents saved to your computer to VSAC. Do not send more than one type of recommendation letter unless it’s specifically required by the scholarship or forgivable loan (see each scholarship description).

VSAC will process each document as the document type you selected. For example, if you upload a letter under the label “Letter-Non-Relative” and it’s actually a community service letter, your application will reflect receipt of the non-relative letter, and any scholarship or forgivable loan that required the community service letter will be considered incomplete.

If you’re unable to submit your required documents online, mail them to VSAC:

VSAC Scholarships Program PO Box 2000 Winooski, VT 05404-2601

For information about renewing a scholarship, sign into your MyVSAC account .

Click on “Work with VSAC-Assisted Scholarships” and then on “Renew a Scholarship.”  

Yes. You can view scholarships or forgivable loans listed on your USA, verify required documents received and outstanding, view awards and view disbursements online through your  MyVSAC account .

You may also inquire about the status of your application by contacting VSAC Scholarships Program at [email protected] or 888-253-4819.

If you were chosen as the recipient of one or more scholarships or forgivable loan, VSAC will notify you before May 1.

How are students and schools notified?

• Scholarship or forgivable loan recipients are notified by letter through the U.S. mail.
• Colleges/universities can view your award online through their school MyVSAC account . However, we recommend that you provide a copy of your award letter(s) to the financial aid office.

What do I need to do?

• Submit a copy of your award letter(s) to the financial aid office at your school.
• Write a thank-you note to the donor of your scholarship or or forgivable loan. Letters should be mailed to the VSAC Scholarships Program, PO Box 2000, Winooski, VT 05404. VSAC will forward your letter to the appropriate contact person.

How will my scholarship or forgivable loan be disbursed?

• Scholarship or forgivable loan funds will be mailed directly to your school each term/semester after your enrollment and satisfactory academic progress have been verified.
• Your award will be divided between the number of terms/semesters your school has in its standard academic year (typically fall/spring or fall/winter/spring).
• If you plan to enroll for summer term and have not used all of your scholarship or forgivable loan during the standard academic year, contact VSAC’s Scholarships Program.  

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