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Blog Archive: About VSAC

Theo Avent
17 Oct

VSAC Student Success Story: Theo Avent connects people to inspire change

Written by
Sabina Haskell

Theo Avent is an engaging, articulate leader who brings people together to inspire change. He’s had a longstanding interest in politics. Add in the fact that he’s the son of a white mother and an African American father, and you’d be sure we were talking about President Barack Obama, not a 20-year…
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Gail Trede
04 Sep

Gail Trede uses life’s lessons to become a librarian

Written by
Sabina Haskell

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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Meghan Lewia
26 Jun

Meghan Lewia helps keep people healthy

Written by
Sabina Haskell

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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Lizzie Brown
21 Jun

How persistence paid off for Lizzie Brown

Written by
Sabina Haskell

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Brown just graduated from Craftsbury Academy last week. Lizzie joined the GEAR UP program later on in high school but has taken advantage of the program as a resource to help her finalize the details of her college plans and learn how to pay for college. She persisted through the…
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Dennis Van Nostrand
22 May

Dennis Van Nostrand knows the road he wants to travel

Written by
Sabina Haskell

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
07 May

A graduation for the generations

Written by
Sabina Haskell

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
13 Mar

Jeremy MacKenzie’s story is the stuff movies are made of

Written by
Sabina Haskell

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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Taylor Lane
19 Feb

Hard work pays off for Taylor Lane

Written by
Sabina Haskell

I am a senior at Lake Region Union High School, where I serve as our local Future Business Leader of America co-president and state treasurer for Vermont FBLA. As local co-president, I am responsible for chapter membership, as well as helping run our weekly meetings alongside our other co-president…
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Diane Willson
22 Jan

Diane Willson finds a path from farming to her reflexology practice

Written by
Sabina Haskell

The degree Diane Willson is now pursuing wasn’t available when she first looked at colleges as a senior in high school. She counts the options she had back then on one hand. “The choices in my generation were: to be a nurse, a teacher, a secretary, or go to college to find your guy, who will then…
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