Eight Students Awarded VT EPSCoR Native American and First-Generation College Student Scholarships
From top left to bottom right: Daniel Cliche, Kyle Dash, Secretary Patricia Moulton, Joshua Dam, Steven Gilbeau, Emily Cass, Ena Ibrisimovic, Erikka Sherman, Bridget Kimsey.
September 19, 2016
Students Receive a Total of $40,000 in Scholarships for STEM Scholarships
Eight Vermont college students received a total of $40,000 in VT EPSCoR Native American and First-Generation College Student Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at the Vermont State House.
Patricia Moulton, then Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, presented the students with their awards and encouraged them to consider a career in Vermont. The location in front of Vermont's capital city of Montpelier served as a reminder to students of the many career opportunities available to them in the state. Initiatives such as this scholarship program serve to help improve the quality of the STEM workforce in Vermont.
The VT EPSCoR Center for Workforce Development and Diversity (CWDD) at Saint Michael's College offers these scholarships on an annual basis as a way of encouraging a diverse range of students to pursue STEM careers. The competitive scholarships help to defray college expenses and enable young Vermonters to pursue degrees and careers focused on STEM fields.
Each of the students selected for a scholarship has shown an interest in pursuing a STEM career and is either of Native American ancestry or the first in their family to attend a four-year college. Individual recipients received a $5,000 award that ensures that these Vermont students will attend a Vermont college or university in the coming academic year, either as new attendees or returning undergraduates.
The scholarships are awarded based on academic standing, an essay written by the students, and letters of recommendation. For more information about this scholarship opportunity or to apply, CLICK HERE.
2016 Scholarship Awardees:
Emily Cass is the recipient of a First-Generation Scholarship. A recent graduate of Randolph Union High School, she is currently pursuing a degree in mathematics at the University of Vermont.
Daniel Cliche was chosen to receive a First-Generation Scholarship. He is a graduate of Lyndon Institute and is pursuing a major in environmental engineering at the University of Vermont.
Joshua Dam received a First-Generation Scholarship. A graduate of Vergennes Union High School, he is currently attending the University of Vermont in pursuit of a degree in civil engineering.
Kyle Dash is the recipient of a First-Generation Scholarship and is a graduate of Harwood Union High School. He is currently attending Castleton College and plans to major in environmental science.
Steven Gilbeau was chosen for a First-Generation Scholarship. He is currently continuing his education at the Community College of Vermont and plans to pusure an associate's degree in STEM studies.
Ena Ibrisimovic is a recipient of a First-Generation Scholarship and is currently enrolled at the University of Vermont. A graduate of Burlington High School, she is currently seeking a chemistry major.
Bridget Kimsey received a Native American Scholarship. Having completed a Bachelor's in Fine Arts at New York University in 1997, she is now enrolled at the Community College of Vermont, which she plans to use as a springboard into conducting research in pathology.
Erikka Sherman is the recipient of a Native American Scholarship. She graduated from Missisquoi Valley Union High School and is a junior at Saint Michael's College, where she plans to major in mathematics and elementary education.
Applications for 2017 scholarship will open in November 2016. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2017. For more information, please contact:
The Vermont EPSCoR Center for Workforce Development and Diversity (CWDD)
One Winooski Park, Box 137
Saint Michael's College
Colchester, Vermont 05439
802-654-3270
cwdd@smcvt.edu