Left to right: Dr. Veronica Sosa-Gonzalez, Coordinator, VT CWDD; Michael Schirling, Secretary of Commerce & Community Development of Vermont; Awardees Jared Paul Lehouillier, Shay Pouliot, Lajla Badnjevic, Sydney Whipple, Gideon Toussaint; Dr. Arne Bomblies, VT State EPSCoR Director
On Wednesday August 1, 2018, Vermont EPSCoR awarded Native American and First Generation Scholarships to undergraduate students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) during a ceremony held in the Senate Chambers at the Vermont State House in Montpelier, VT. Five awards were made to meritorious students from Burlington, Newport, Addison and Bellows Falls. The students are seeking degrees in Engineering , Integrated Biological Sciences and Medical Laboratory Sciences from Norwich University, Vermont Technical College and the University of Vermont.
Michael Schirling, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development joined Dr. Arne Bomblies, VT EPSCoR State Director and Dr. Veronica Sosa-Gonzalez, VT EPSCoR Center for Workforce Development and Diversity Coordinator in conveying the awards. While speaking to the students about the importance of pursuing a career in STEM fields, Secretary Schirling encouraged the students to consider a career in Vermont and reminded the students that “jobs in STEM fields are being generated faster than students are graduating from those fields.”
Dr. Bomblies, VT State EPSCoR Director, expressed that “creating a diverse workforce begins with STEM students, such as yourself, to help strengthen our future.”
With this year’s awardees, VT EPSCoR has awarded 46 scholarships to meritorious undergraduates in Vermont since 2012. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic standing, letters of recommendation and an essay detailing career goals. Applications open in December and close on April. For more information about the scholarships visit: https://epscor.w3.uvm.edu/2/node/134