VSAC College & Career Pathways Events in March & April Help Students and Families Plan Their Next Steps

WINOOSKI, VT, March 4, 2024 - High school students who are pondering their next steps for college, training, or career—and their parents and family members who are wondering how best to support them—are invited to attend VSAC’s free 2024 College and Career Pathways events, taking place over the next six weeks at various locations around the state.

The events include four weekday field trip programs during March and April for students in grades 9 through 11 held at various college locations across the state, and a fifth event on Saturday, March 23, for students and their families.

The weekday events are coordinated with students’ high schools and will take place at Landmark College in Brattleboro, Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VTSU-Lyndon in Lyndonville, and VTSU-Castleton in Castleton. Nearly 2,000 students from 38 high schools across Vermont are already registered to attend.

The Saturday, March 23 event at the University of Vermont (UVM) in Burlington is designed for students and their parents/guardians, offering a program that provides support and answers critical questions about future planning. Attendees will be able to choose from 12 workshops, covering how to choose, apply to, and pay for education after high school; test prep tips from a professional tutor; short-term training opportunities for in-demand jobs; postsecondary options for students who learn differently; and more.  

“Engaging students in the great variety of opportunities available to them helps them find their own path, and grow into fulfilling careers,” noted Scott Giles, VSAC President and CEO. “Nearly every high-wage, high-demand job in Vermont requires education or training beyond high school. VSAC’s College & Career Pathways events provide tools, resources, and inspiration so teens can begin to envision their career and lifetime goals, and families and guardians can learn more about supporting them in their choices.”

Kathi Terami, who is presenting a workshop called “Supporting Your Teen’s Career Search,” based her presentation on dozens of interviews with professionals, parents, and recent high school graduates about what career advice was helpful, and what they wish they had been told. “First, we encourage families to come to terms with the fact that their students may want to pursue different goals than the ones they may have envisioned for them. We also encourage parents and guardians to support the ‘it takes a village’ concept when it comes to career advice,” says Terami.

Renee Soutiere, who has been a key logistical partner for the College & Career Pathways event for several years, plans to attend the event at UVM this year with her son, who is a high school sophomore. As the Senior Conference Coordinator for the University of Vermont, Soutiere has observed the conference from the sidelines for the past two years and hopes that this year it can help her son jump-start his thoughts about his future. “The conference offers so many great workshop topics, both at a high level and into the specifics of writing the essay and applying for financial aid. We may do it this year and next year,” she says.

Families can participate in-person at UVM or virtually via Zoom, and are also invited to join UVM the morning of the event for an admissions information session, student panel, and student-led tour. Families must register separately for UVM info sessions and tours at https://www.uvm.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visit-options. For more information or to register for College & Career Pathways at UVM: https://www.vsac.org/plan/college-career-pathways.

###

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation is a public, nonprofit agency established by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 to help Vermonters achieve their education and training goals after high school. VSAC serves students and their families in grades 7-12, as well as adults returning to school, by providing education and career planning services, need-based grants, scholarships, and education loans. VSAC awards millions of dollars in grants and scholarships for Vermont students and administers Vermont’s VT529 savings plan. Find us at www.vsac.org or check out Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.