Secure your future education: VSAC 2024-25 scholarships deadline ahead

Do you want money for college or career training for fall 2024? VSAC is your student aid source. For high school seniors and returning college students, time is running out to apply for any of the 150 VSAC-administered scholarships. If you don’t review the VSAC 2024-25 Scholarships booklet and miss the extended March 1, 2024 deadline, you may miss out on free money.

Scholarships—like grants—are financial aid that you don’t need to pay back. Scholarships are offered by many different groups, organizations, and even individuals. They’re offered for all kinds of achievements—and to diverse student populations. They’re also usually competitive, with eligible applicants competing for a limited number of awards. 

But in Vermont’s “small pond,” you most likely have a higher chance of winning a scholarship than if you were competing nationwide. The VSAC scholarships booklet contains information about funding opportunities that are available only to Vermont residents whether they continue their education in-state or out-of-state and to students who will work in Vermont after graduation.

VSAC 2024-25 scholarship offers

Our 2024-25 scholarship booklet includes information on 150 scholarships, including interest-free forgivable loans administered by VSAC, plus an additional 41 scholarships run by outside organizations. Here’s a peek at what’s inside.

Scholarships for niches and financial circumstances

There are scholarship opportunities for a wide range of academic interests. Some of the more common fields include:

• business
• technical industries
• public safety
• agriculture
• health care
• education

There may even be specific scholarships for your town or county, high school, or members of traditionally disadvantaged groups.

Students who are single parents may want to check out the Bernice Murray Scholarship, which covers up to $4,000 in child-care expenses for single parents who continue their education.

Scholarship awards from $500 to $6,500 and more + forgivable loans

Some scholarships offer one-time awards, while others are renewable, meaning the student can receive additional financial awards for each subsequent year of study. The annual award amounts generally range from $500 to $6,500, though there are some exceptions. Through VSAC's workforce development funding, forgivable loan programs are also available for students in the following fields:

• teaching
• nursing
• nurse faculty
• mental health
• and dentistry (with more on the way)

These interest-free and forgivable loan programs generally cover the student’s full tuition, and they are similar to scholarships because the money awarded doesn't need to be paid back as long as you meet specific employment commitments. There are also generous tuition benefits for college students and students seeking training in non-degree programs, certificates, or continuing education who join the Vermont National Guard.

New scholarships for academic year 2024-2025

If you've used VSAC's scholarship booklet in prior years, you may want to take note of many VSAC-administered scholarships and loan programs that are brand-new for the 2024-2025 academic year. They are all marked with “New!” in the booklet.

Here are a few of the new scholarships that benefit students in particular communities:

• The Jim Spadaccini Technical Scholarship, sponsored by the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary Club, offers up to $2,000 annually to a Charlotte, Shelburne or Hinesburg resident pursuing a degree or certificate in a skilled trade or technical field.
• The Krishnan Venkataraman Memorial Scholarship offers one scholarship of up to $2,000 to a student who identifies as one or more of the following: BIPOC, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Indigenous, Black and/or Hispanic.
• The Newbury Alumni Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the Newbury Alumni Association in honor of all Newbury High School alumni, offers one $1,000 scholarship to a Newbury, VT resident who will graduate or has graduated from Oxbow High School and is pursuing college.

Here are a few of the new scholarships that are targeted to students pursuing particular fields of study:

• The Vermont Police Association: John J. King Scholarship offers one $1,000 scholarship to a student who seeks an undergraduate degree in public safety.
• The Jedidiah Zabrosky Scholarship, sponsored by the Zabrosky family, offers one scholarship of up to $2,000 to a graduating high school senior who seeks an undergraduate degree in special education.
• The Green Mountain Veterinary Scholarship, sponsored by the Harold Mitchell Family, offers up to $5,000 annually to students enrolling in their first year of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, or their first year of a Veterinary Technician program.
• The Mary K. Hale and J. Stewart Garven Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the Newbury Alumni Association, offers one $1,000 scholarship to a Newbury, VT resident who will graduate or has graduated from Oxbow High School seeking a certificate or undergraduate degree in the field of education.

VSAC scholarship deadlines and requirements: Apply now!

The application deadline for all VSAC-assisted scholarships is extended to March 1, 2024. Most scholarships and forgivable loans require a completed FAFSA and Unified Scholarship Application (USA), plus a general essay. VSAC’s scholarships booklet covers any additional application requirements, such as recommendation letters or transcripts, for each individual scholarship. Deadlines and requirements for the non-VSAC scholarships vary. Start now so you can beat the deadline and finish early!

Download or order a free print copy of VSAC's 2024-2025 scholarships booklet. Anyone with questions is encouraged to talk with the VSAC outreach counselor at their school, visit VSAC Scholarships, or call 888-253-4819.

Unlocking opportunities with the Ppwer of scholarships: Free Money!