VSAC will be closed Friday, July 3, 2026 in observance of Independence Day.
Blog Archive: Adult Student
Jamira Armah was able to come to the United States from Ghana through a Visa lottery. She first settled in New York City, where she trained as a certified nursing assistant. She moved to Vermont in 1999 for a relationship and met with the Educational Opportunity Center program counselor for the…
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For families with a high school senior, now is when most college acceptances arrive in full force (congratulations!), and with them, financial aid offers. It’s an exciting time and—let’s face it—also a bit overwhelming as deadlines loom: Most colleges require a deposit by May 1. That means that…
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When she was in her mid-twenties, Lauren Craig thought she had hit a dead end on her career path. Fortunately, with some heavy encouragement from a friend and some financial help from VSAC, some new doors opened, and today, she’s working in a job she loves. “I’ve kind of jumped around a lot, with…
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Through determination and VSAC’s support, Eden Towers turned challenges into opportunity—earning scholarships to pursue her dream of becoming a paramedic.
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When Gail Trede started her college path she was in her mid-50s. It started because she had earned the opportunity to take an online class at no cost through volunteer work. But she was reluctant. She didn’t think she was smart enough. Her confidence was so low, someone else had to actually sign her…
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Fexhrije Ilazi had two years left of college when she was forced to end her pursuit of a degree. She was living in Kosovo and the war there left both her homeland and her dreams in smoldering ruins. Fexhrije eventually moved to the United States as a refugee with two little children. She didn’t…
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Meghan Lewia helps keep people healthy now, but she does so from behind the scenes. She is a friendly voice and guiding hand in making sure patients, many with chronic conditions, are getting the tests and regular care they need. Meghan’s plan is to get out of the office and into some scrubs. She’s…
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Dennis Van Nostrand has two dreams: To be a cross-country tractor-trailer truck driver and to be an actor. On the first one he’s close to his destination. Dennis currently has a class B commercial driver’s license and works for Thomas Dairy in Rutland. He loves his job, but he’s been spending his…
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Debbie McBride and her son both graduated from college on the same day. She skipped her ceremony to attend his, a small sacrifice but one of many she made to pursue her degree. That graduation meant she met her goal of earning the diploma by the time she turned 50. It also represents a new career…
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Jeremy MacKenzie’s higher education journey is the stuff movies are made of. It starts when Jeremy is incarcerated and ends, at least for now, with a George Lucas scholarship to get his graduate degree in film studies. And, without the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, this tale may never have…
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