VSAC will be closed Monday, May 25, 2026 in observance of Memorial Day.
Blog Archive: Vermont Spotlights
As a graduate student pursuing her master’s in social work, Hannah Heinchon thought she wanted to become a child counselor. But an internship in family counseling uncovered a far greater need, that turned into a passion and a calling. “I remember I was working with a family who was homeless and…
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Jake Cunningham has had a lot of claims to fame. He grew up in Wasilla, Alaska, in the same town as former Governor and Vice President candidate Sarah Palin. She famously said she could “see Russia from her house”; Jake saw her (and her paparazzi) every now and then at Wal-Mart. After moving to…
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When Passy Matendo signs on to a Zoom meeting, her name appears on the screen as “Maombi.” “It’s what I’m called at home,” she explains. In Swahili, the word literally means “prayers” or “supplications,” and as a name, it is often loosely translated as “gift from God.” Since coming to the U.S. from…
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When Kirsty Greeno was growing up, she moved around a lot, mostly through Vermont and a bit of Maine. Before completing high school, Kirsty, her sister and their single father relocated multiple times, moving from Rutland to Salisbury, then to Middlebury, followed by Whiting, and finally settling in…
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Earning your driver’s license is an American rite of passage. For American-born teens, it's a milestone, but for new arrivals driving is critical to adjusting to their new life. Aden Haji is helping new arrivals in Vermont adjust to their new home by empowering them behind the wheel of a car.…
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As a competitive runner, Amiya Sharp knows how to push herself to the finish line. Now a freshman pre-med student at UMass Boston, she’s majoring in biochemistry—a tough major, but one Amiya intentionally chose to make sure shes's prepared for medical school. Amiya hopes to become a pediatric…
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On February 12, 2018, when Mersadies Shantie was 12 years old, her mom suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. That night, still stunned from the loss, Mersadies left her home in Mooers Forks, New York, and moved to Sheldon, Vermont, to live with her dad, stepmom and three adopted sisters. “It was…
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I’ve always loved to learn, but I never thought I would go to college. As a teen, I was more interested in getting out into the working world, and once I’d established a successful career, I thought, why would I need to go to college now? But as I got deeper into my chosen field of birth and…
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Ian Taylor of Shaftsbury decided it was time for a career change in his mid-30s. But when he learned the cost of earning his Commercial Drivers License (CDL), he hesitated. Suddenly, the investment seemed more like a gamble. Then, he found out that VSAC could support his CDL career training. Working…
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VSAC Counselor Tia Stillman and Orwell student Olivia Scher bonded over their goals and drive to help people – as well as being people of color in a small Vermont town. As a kid, Olivia Scher was one of very few people of color in tiny Orwell, Vermont. One other person was her elementary school…
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