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1965: Happy Birthday, VSAC!
In 1965, Governor Phil Hoff created VSAC to “increase opportunities and the quality of education for the people of Vermont."
Celebrating 60 Years
VSAC was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to make grants and guarantee student loans. Through the decades we’ve grown to offer extensive outreach programs, with a focus on modest-income and first-generation students of all ages. In 2025, our work includes grants, scholarships, 802Opportunity, workforce funding, research, policy leadership, career and education outreach, loans, and Vermont's official 529 education savings plan, VT529.
As we celebrate VSAC's 60th birthday, we're working hand in hand with students, families, and our partners to navigate the path from school to career in the rapidly changing world of education and training. Here are some of our highlights from the past 60 years.
Would you like to share a VSAC memory, or nominate a person to talk about their VSAC experience? Maybe VSAC impacted your life, made a difference, or helped you get to where you are now. We'd love to talk with you!
1965: The Statute Establishing VSAC Took Effect
On July 1, 1965, VSAC was officially established by Vermont statute. The law was recorded in the Acts and Resolves of the General Assembly during the Forty-Eighth Biennial Session.
What else happened on July 1, 1965? New laws took effect “requiring school attendance for all school-aged children,” directing the Board of Education to develop a plan for “regional vocational education,” and enabling Vermont to “receive and manage funds from the U.S. Higher Education Act of 1965”—just to name a few.
1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson Signs the US Higher Education Act
The Higher Education Act of 1965 expanded access to higher education in the United States by providing financial assistance to students. Low-interest federal loans opened doors, making higher education more reachable than ever before. Just a year later, in 1966, VSAC guaranteed its very first federal student loan, kicking off a long tradition of helping Vermonters reach their college dreams.
Fast forward to today, and VSAC is a one-stop shop for all things college and career planning—offering school and job counseling, grants, scholarships, 802Opportunity, private loans for parents and students at competitive rates, workforce funding, and Vermont’s official college savings plan, VT529. VSAC is here for the journey with tools, tips, and guidance to make the process a whole lot easier (and a little less stressful).
1964 - 1968: TRIO Progams Created; In 2025 Vermont Legislature Issues Resolution Honoring Achievements
The Vermont House and Senate offered a resolution honoring the outstanding achievements of the TRIO program in Vermont, managed by VSAC with seven Vermont colleges to benefit “students who aspire to be their families’ first college graduate but lack the requisite funds” and stating that they “can avail themselves of these federal educational support programs.” The resolution noted the creation of Upward Bound in 1964, Talent Search in 1965, and Student Support Services in 1968. Together, these three services became known as the Federal TRIO Programs. Learn more about how TRIO supports students.
1990 Annual Report: VSAC Meets Changing Needs of Students
In a preview of what was to come, the VSAC 1990 Annual Report celebrates 25 years of “service to Vermont”–and calls out support for students of all ages pursuing diverse education pathways: “…the Corporation now offers grants to full and part-time as well as non-degree students. In addition, we provide… information programs targeted toward middle and high school students as well as non-traditional students.”
1991: The EOC is Born to Help Adult Learners
In 1991, VSAC created the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) to support adult students. That year, the number of adult Vermonters served by VSAC grew by 16%. The 1991 Annual Report attributes that growth to a recession, as well as “the general trend in Vermont toward lifelong learning.”
Thirty-three years ago, the EOC provided career planning and assistance with the financial aid process. VSAC’s EOC provides similar services today, and also helps students identify other options like certification. Most adults served by the EOC are the first in their families to go to college and have financial barriers to pursuing their education/training goals beyond high school.
1995: US Senators Jeffords and Stafford at the Forefront of Education Policy
VSAC hosted a series of public forums across Vermont to mark its 30th anniversary. U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords and former Senator Robert Stafford participated to champion access to higher education. The 1995 Annual Report thanked the Senators for “contributing to the spirited and important discussion” on key issues such as college affordability, financial aid, family financial pressures, education savings, student loans, and the role of higher education in securing better-paying jobs.
In this photo, Stafford and Jeffords appeared at a forum in Rutland with other stakeholders (L to R, at the table): Vermont Senator Betty Ferraro; Senator Jeffords; Senator Stafford; Betty McKloskey, CCV President; Jim Wolynec, Board Member and Rutland High School Guidance Director; Ted Franzeim, Director of VSAC Grant Program and Financial Aid Services. Standing behind Betty Ferraro is VSAC Board Chair Joan Goodrich.
Earlier, in 1988, in recognition of Senator Stafford’s dedication to education, Congress renamed the Federal Guaranteed Student Loan Program as the Stafford Loan Program. These loans were designed to support students from modest-income families to pursue postsecondary education.
1996: Mapping the Future
Back in 1996—when floppy disks were still a thing and the internet made noises when you connected—VSAC held a Poster Design Scholarship contest.
That year’s winner? Miranda from Green Mountain High School in Chester. She created a poster that looked like a treasure map, with a VSAC compass to guide students through places like Motivation Mountain and the Sea of Applications.
The poster invited students to visit VSAC online: “any time of the day or night, seven days a week, from anywhere in Vermont or the world on the World Wide Web.” (Yes, we really said “World Wide Web” back then.)
Miranda’s design didn’t just win a contest, it captured the spirit of what VSAC is all about: helping students find their way, even when the path feels like an uphill climb. And 30 years later, we’re still here with the same mission (just with faster internet and fewer floppy disks).
1997: Vermont Honor Scholarship Winners at the Vermont State House
Students who earned the Vermont Honor Scholarship gathered for an awards ceremony at the State House in 1997. Joining the students in the back row are (left to right): Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, former VSAC Board Member Frederica “Freddie” Mahlmann, unknown, and House Speaker Mike Obuchowski.
VSAC began awarding scholarships in 1965, when it was created by the Vermont legislature to administer need-based grants and merit-based Governor Phil Hoff Vermont Honor Scholarships (formerly, the Vermont Honor Scholarship). To this day, the Governor Phil Hoff Vermont Honor Scholarship provides funds for outstanding seniors nominated by Vermont high schools and technical centers.
Photo courtesy of Liz Studley.
1999: Vermont Leaders Launch VT529 to Help Families Save for Education
In 1999, Vermont took an important step toward supporting students and families by establishing the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan—also known as VT529—under Title 16 of the Vermont Statutes.
The plan, managed by VSAC, was designed to make it easier to save for education or training after high school. VT529 offers flexibility and tax advantages, with the broader goal of strengthening the state's future workforce.
Fast forward to today, and over 29,000 VT529 accounts have been opened. As of the end of FY24, more than 13,500 students have used their VT529 accounts to help pay for qualified education expenses. VT529 isn’t just an education savings account—it’s a tool for turning career and training goals into reality.
For 26 years, VT529 has helped students and families invest confidently in the future, whether saving for a loved one’s education or planning their own next steps. Investing in education is one of the smartest moves you can make to help your savings go further and work hard for your future.
2000: Building Bright Futures through Scholarships
VSAC works closely with donors to administer scholarships that open the doors to education. These scholarships reflect each donor’s personal values, philanthropic goals, and financial vision. Together, we’re making it possible for more Vermonters to go further, building a better future for themselves, their families, their communities, and our shared world.
The Vermont Scholarship Fund, established by VSAC in 2000, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps make higher education possible for Vermonters through scholarships funded by individual donors and philanthropic partners. Each year, VSAC awards nearly $5.8 million in scholarships to around 3,000 Vermonters.
In return, many students send notes of appreciation. Those thank-yous from first-generation, modest-income students—future nurses, engineers, teachers, and more—tell stories that start with someone who chose to give.
2003: FAFSA Filing, from Blurry Screen to Brighter Futures
Picture this—a grainy, slightly blurry screenshot of the Federal Student Aid website. Back then, financial aid forms looked very different. Websites were rocking that early-2000s design aesthetic: clunky buttons, pixelated logos, and more menus than you could shake a floppy disk at.
Even then, VSAC was right there with students and families offering guidance for college and career training, just like we do today. Whether it was navigating confusing forms or figuring out next steps, we’ve been helping Vermonters plan their education for decades.
Back in 2003, screens were indeed difficult to read (and dial-up internet didn’t help), but VSAC’s mission hasn’t changed: access, support, and opportunity for all students.
2005: VSAC Finds its Forever Home in Winooski
As VSAC entered the new millennium, big changes were underway. By 2000, part of our team had moved into a satellite office, and the search for a new, permanent headquarters had begun. Burlington, Essex, and Winooski were all in the running. When asked what location they would most prefer, employees overwhelmingly chose Winooski.
A bold vision for revitalization—and an invitation to be part of Winooski’s newly formed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District—made the decision even easier. The partnership promised not just a new address, but a role in something transformative. An early depiction of VSAC’s building is shown in the Winooski Downtown Development Master Plan.
The $175 million Winooski Downtown Redevelopment Project was ambitious. As stated by the Vermont Agency of Commerce, the outcome is a thriving, award-winning destination that earned national attention and a Smart Growth award in 2006. Fast forward to last year, when Governor Phil Scott joined Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott and other leaders to celebrate the city’s 20-year TIF milestone.
Today, we’re still proud to call Winooski home—and even prouder to have been part of its transformation.
2020: Honoring Unimaginable Sacrifices
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lives everywhere, and Vermont’s students and families were no exception. After years of dedication, hard work, and perseverance, students suddenly faced sacrifices no one could ever have imagined.
For the Class of 2020, everything changed in an instant: goodbyes cut short, milestone moments like graduation slipped away, and cherished traditions like awards nights, capstone presentations, senior prom—were lost.
To honor their strength and resilience, VSAC created a video tribute featuring some of Vermont’s most recognizable figures. Governor Phil Scott, Rusty DeWees, Dr. François Clemmons, Senators Leahy and Sanders, Congressman Welch, Anaïs Mitchell, Katharine Montstream, Ben & Jerry—and many more—came together to salute the Class of 2020.
2021: "We Got This '21"
For the Class of 2021 (much like the class of 2020) high school unfolded during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their senior year was nothing like they had imagined. Many students reflected that they weren’t just graduating from high school, they were emerging from one of the most challenging chapters of their lives.
They made it through with the support of family, teachers, counselors, and especially, friends. Some shared that the experience gave them a deeper sense of resilience; it prepared them for whatever may come next. They declared: We got this, ’21.
To commemorate graduation for the Class of 2021, VSAC captured students and their powerful voices in this video.
