“If you had asked me five years ago, I would have said, ‘no way would I be going to college,’” says Autumn Morse. In fact, she once doubted that she would even finish high school. And she wasn’t the only one; plenty of others assumed she would follow in the footsteps of her parents, who both fell…
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Blog Archive: Adult Student
Almost exactly four years ago, VSAC first reported on Will Eberle, who overcame homelessness and addiction and went from high-school dropout to master’s-degree student, through equal parts personal determination and community support. But Eberle is quick to say that his success is no Horatio Alger…
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Devon Kimball has been hard at work this winter and spring, flipping a house in Rutland with his cousin. He recently took a break from painting and hanging siding to talk about his experience with VSAC, which he says has been instrumental not just for him, but for his entire family. Devon, who…
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Two weeks before the first day of her senior year in high school, when most of her classmates were enjoying their final afternoons at the pool or going back-to-school shopping, Calleen Ferris was moving cows. She had grown up on a dairy farm in Randolph, which both the cows and the family had…
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Thinking about taking out a loan to pay for your studies? You’re not alone: Nearly seven out of 10 Vermont students will take some loans to finance their education expenses. Knowing how to compare loans and costs is essential to making college more affordable. Get some loan smarts with VSAC’s “ My…
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Nicole was a straight-A student throughout her high school years at Ygnacio Valley High School; but when she went on to community college right after graduation, she left after one semester.
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When Uganda-born Geofrey Ssebugwawo decided to seek asylum in the United States, all he wanted was safety. “I grew up knowing that America respects and protects human rights,” he said. “That’s why I wanted to come here.” While his journey to America, and to Vermont, was a long and arduous one — and…
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If you haven’t had the chance to hear one or both of Jay Natola’s NEK-based bands, Subject to Change and The Beardos, play a deep jam session, think Phish, Dave Matthews, or the Grateful Dead. “Subject to Change used to play a festival every year in Glover, and we put on a show. We could play a song…
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Karen McGovern, a counselor with VSAC’s Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), has worked with many adult Vermonters who want to go back to school to earn a needed credential or college degree. One student, in particular, Joanne Saunders of Fairfax, stands out. “When I first met Joanne about 12 years…
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Dalib Bulle’s life history may be what we all envision as the ideal immigrant story. He came to America from a war-torn country, got a job right away, and has been able to help hundreds of families from his native Somalia gain their own foothold in Vermont. Now, with the help of VSAC’s Educational…
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