VSAC awards $700,000 in scholarships across state

WINOOSKI (July 6, 2016) – Vermont Student Assistance Corp. has announced it will award over $700,000 in scholarships to college-bound seniors who graduated from high school last month.

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 federal 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.”

About VSAC – Changing Lives through Education and Training since 1965

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation is a public, nonprofit agency established by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to help Vermonters achieve their education and training goals after high school. VSAC 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. VSAC has awarded more than $600 million in grants and scholarships for Vermont students, and also administers Vermont’s 529 college savings plan. Find us at www.vsac.org or check in on Facebook and Twitter. #changing lives

About GEAR UP

GEAR UP is a competitive grant program of the U.S. Department of Education that increases the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education by providing States and local community-education partnerships six-to-seven year grants to offer support services to middle and high schools. Students and schools must meet federal requirements to be served by GEAR UP. At caseload schools, students are nominated by school personnel based on their potential to succeed in postsecondary education, and income eligibility. At cohort schools, whole grades of students are served by a GEAR UP counselor through a variety of activities. Cohort schools are schools where 50 percent or more of the school population is eligible for free/reduced meals.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 6th, 2016 at 9:35 am and is filed under News & Views, Recommended Reading, VSAC News Releases.Both comments and pings are currently closed.