On July 6, Vermont Student Assistance Corp. announced it will award over $700,000 in scholarships to college-bound seniors who graduated from high school in June 2016. Funded by VSAC’s federal GEAR UP grant, each of these 350-plus high school graduates who enroll at a postsecondary institution in the fall will receive the $2,000 scholarship.
GEAR UP, or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a grant program of the U.S. Department of Education designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. VSAC has been awarded the GEAR UP grant since 1999 and its counselors worked with more than 3,100 middle and high school students one-on-one and in small groups in 52 schools across the state this past year. GEAR UP funding also allows VSAC to provide support to parents in the form of high school and college planning information, assistance with college and financial aid applications and career planning information for their children.
“Congratulations to these high school graduates, they are taking the most important step in their future–continuing their education,” said Scott Giles, VSAC president and CEO. “VSAC knows the cost of continuing their education for these students is a big investment. VSAC’s partnership with high schools and students helps unlock career paths and financial aid to make those investments pay off.”
The following Vermont students will receive the $2,000 scholarship.
Black River Union High School: Alyssa Dejesus, Caleb Wills, Earle Brown, Morgan Collins, Meghan Garrow, Taylor Gilmore, Donald Grenier, Sadie Koponen, Alyssa Letourneau, Katie Lincoln, Alden Livingston, Sullivan Miele, Henna Patel, Sabrina Robinson, Paige Wade
Fair Haven Union High School: Makayla Ackert, Ryan Alexander, McKenzie Apjohn, Kelsi Bean, Briley Blackbird, Jordyn Bolster, Rachel Casey, Kaitlyn Clark, Cara Cummings, Meriah Disorda, Megin Eaton, Sophia Hadeka, David Kitchin, Emmaline Lipka, Mollie Mortenson, Kaitlyn Pellerin, Kayla Reed, Jacqueline Szabo
Green Mountain Union High School: Sarah Baker, Emily Castillo, Matthew Chambers, Wilson Church, Kyle Cyr, Noah DiStefano, Alisha Dykes, Rylee Ewald, Thomas Foster, Robert Haseltine, Isis Hastings-Vincent, Anna Huckins, Jared Jackson, Reilly Knipes, Sarah Martel, Cooper McCoy, Heather Morse, Kaili Osier, Connor Rose, Sarah Schleimer, Hannah Sheere, Megan Spinrad, Alexandria Steele, Madison Thomas, Mary Thompson, Lucas Trask, Shane Verespy, Kaitlin Wells
Middlebury Union High School: Madelyn Gardner, Adrianna Guyette, Udai Sharma
Mill River Union High School: Amber Hoisington, Kelvey McGinnis
Springfield High School: Larry Ayer III, Alexis Bellows, Conner Benson, Parker Day, Leah Godin, Brooke Goodwin, Kelsey Gould, Samuel Grasley, Bryn Hemmings, Olivia Hoag, Geremiah Howarth, Josh Hoy, Rena Lirakis, Elizabeth MacKenzie, Samantha Metcalf, Lillianna Moore, Hannah Morancy, Calista Polidor, Zeb Reardon, Alexa Reichardt, Taitum Rivers, Arianna Rowe, Sage Scheffler, Faith Scott, Xin Shi, Jacob Silovich, Laurana Slobodnjak, Joshua Stebbins, Charissa Swan, Elliot Thompson, Benjamin Tubbs, Zachary Tubbs, Jade Twombly
Woodstock Union High School: Marah Adams, Alyssa Baker, Ian DuPont, Elise Geschardt, Kaylie Millard, Gabrielle Rozumek, Jackson Wood
