Vermont Students Awarded a total of $55,000 in Scholarships for STEM


Vermont EPSCoR awarded $55,000 in scholarships to eleven meritorious First Generation and Native American students in 2017. All students are Vermont residents, attending Vermont institutions and pursuing studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

The awards were conveyed in a ceremony at the Vermont State House hosted by Ted Brady, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Community Development. Deputy Secretary Brady emphasized the many career opportunities in the STEM fields that Vermont offers. He encouraged the students to consider Vermont as they begin their careers and improve and strengthen our STEM workforce.

The scholarships are offered annually by the CWDD which works to cultivate and prepare a diverse science, technology, engineering and math workforce in Vermont by inspiring students to enter STEM careers.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic standing, letters of recommendation, and an essay detailing career goals. Applications are now being accepted for 2018. The deadline is April 1, 2018. For more information, or to apply for a scholarship CLICK HERE.

2017 Native American Scholarship Recipients:

Kohle Feeley of Swanton is a graduate of Missisquoi Valley Union High School and will be attending Champlain College in the fall to study computer networking and cybersecurity. Kohle is passionate about learning and is driven to pursue a career in computer and digital forensics. He participated in the Governor’s Institute of Vermont on Informational Technology and Digital Media. His long-term goal is to become a senior security director of a company’s computer networking infrastructure. He is the son of Heather Bellrose and Michael Feeley.

Erikka Sherman of Highgate is a rising senior at St. Michael’s College where she studies math and elementary education. Her eagerness to learn and her intellectual curiosity have made her a role model to her peers at St. Michael’s. She anticipates graduating in the spring of 2018 after which she plans to stay in Vermont to teach at an elementary school. She is the daughter of Holly and Anson Sherman.

First Generation Scholarship Recipients:

Umesh Acharya of Shelburne is a rising senior at the University of Vermont where he studies neuroscience with a minor in chemistry. He anticipates graduating in the spring of 2018. Umesh originally came to Vermont from a refugee camp in Nepal. Since arriving in the United States, he has become a national activist for refugees and those who are not able to represent themselves. He wants to attend medical school and work with economically disadvantaged populations and make the care they need affordable. He is the son of Uma Acharya.

Urmila Chhetri of Burlington is a graduate of Burlington High School and will be attending the University of Vermont in the fall to study biology. Urmila has wanted to be a doctor since she was very young. Since arriving in the United States from a refugee camp in Nepal she has embraced every opportunity available to her so she can strive for her goal of improving health care for the refugee community, including participation in the Burlington High School “Medical and Sports Sciences” program. She is the daughter of Laxman and Indra Chhetri.

Emily Dunn of Lyndonville is a graduate of Lyndon Institute and will be attending the University of Vermont to study microbiology. Emily says she discovered that science truly excited her while taking a biology class at a local college in her senior year. She demonstrates a fierce commitment to her academics and a natural inclination to help others. Emily has completed multiple programs and internships to further her science education including Medquest, Governor’s Institute of Vermont, and an internship at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. She dreams of working for the Center for Disease Control. She is the daughter of Kelley and Daniel Dunn.

Fardowsa Ibrahim of Burlington is a student at the University of Vermont where she majors in Medical Laboratory Sciences in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Fardowsa first came to the United States from a refugee camp in Kenya where the acute lack of medical care inspired her to pursue a career in health services. She became a mother two weeks before her first semester of college and yet she has managed to do excellent academically each and every semester. She anticipates graduating in the spring of 2018, and entering a physician’s assistant program. Fardowsa is married to Murjanamir and they have a son Hanza Kassim.

Alexander LaSante of Chittenden is a graduate of Rutland High School and will be attending Vermont Technical College to study mechanical engineering. He has been an integral part of the Rutland Area Robotics Team and a role model for younger teammates. He was the lead fabricator for the 2016 team that qualified for the FIRST World Championships, an annual four day robotics competition. He hopes to continue designing and building machinery. He is the son of Richard and Lisa LaSante.

Noorto Mohamed of Burlington is a graduate of Burlington High School and will be attending the University of Vermont in the fall to study biology. She came to the United States from a refugee camp in Kenya. She wants to become an OB GYN doctor. Noorto has been part of the Sports and Medical Sciences Program at Burlington Technical Center, and has participated in MedQuest, Med Mentors, Skills USA, Upward Bound, the Dream Program, and the Brain Bee Competition. She is the daughter of Fatuma and Hussein Haydar Mohamed.

Megan Roberts of Windsor is a graduate of Windsor High School where she was the valedictorian. She will be attending Johnson State College to study secondary education and mathematics. She has received the United States Air Force Certificate of Achievement, the Wesley Book Award, the American Psychological Association Award, a gold medal at the Vermont State Science Fair, and the University of Vermont Green and Gold Scholars Award. Megan says she, “knew by the age of six that I belonged in front of the classroom, writing math problems on a whiteboard” and she plans to become a math teacher. She is the daughter of Robin and Matthew Roberts.

Duane (DJ) Snide Jr. of Cambridgeport is a graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School and will be attending the University of Vermont to study mathematics. In addition to exceling academically, DJ has been a three-sport athlete and an active member of student government. He looks forward to applying mathematics to either business, economics, or engineering after college. He is the son of Duane Snide Sr. and Tammy Pratt.

Tricia Wright of Enosburgh Falls enrolled in the Early College program at Johnson State College where she completed her senior year of high school and her freshman year of college at the same time. She will attend the University of Vermont to study exercise and movement sciences. She anticipates graduating in the spring of 2020. She wants to become a physical therapist and help children that have been injured or born with disabilities. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Aaron Wright.