The Curtis Fund, a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation, is increasing its annual scholarship grants for students beginning in the 2022-23 academic year.
On an annual basis, The Curtis Fund provides scholarships to more than 500 Vermonters seeking a postsecondary degree. The scholarships are automatically renewed for the duration of the students’ postsecondary education.
“We recognize that many Vermonters are struggling to pay for their education—not to mention cover rising costs for housing, food, and transportation,” said Joe Boutin, board chair for The Curtis Fund. “We are pleased to help students meet these challenges by increasing annual scholarship amounts ten percent—from $3,100 to $3,400.”
Vermont is proud to have a 91.4 percent high school graduation rate. But fewer than 53 percent of Vermont high school graduates go right from high school to college, well below the national average of 69 percent. Even more worrisome, only 40 percent of Vermont’s high school students from families in the low-income bracket pursue college and technical education after graduation, a direct result of high costs for postsecondary education in Vermont. Attending in-state public college in Vermont is expensive with tuition at both the Community College of Vermont and at the University of Vermont more than double the national average.
“As a first-generation student and an immigrant to this country, I really appreciate the generosity of The Curtis Fund,” said Mohamud Diini, a rising junior at Champlain College who is majoring in accounting. “This scholarship is helping me achieve my goals and dreams.”
Shana Trombley, executive director of The Curtis Fund, adds, “Students from every economic background deserve the opportunity to pursue their education—as a state with the second oldest population nationwide, we can’t afford to leave any talent behind.”
To learn more about scholarships, please call VSAC at 877-961-4369 or contact Shana Trombley at [email protected].
The Curtis Fund joined the Vermont Community Foundation family in 2018, after existing for more than 108 years as a private foundation. The fund was founded by Emma Eliza Curtis, who believed that education could change the course of a person’s life. Today, The Curtis Fund grants scholarships to students from every county in Vermont and to date has helped more than 11,600 students, particularly low-income students and/or students who will be first in their family to pursue a post-high school degree or certificate. Visit thecurtisfund.org for more information.
The Vermont Community Foundation inspires giving and brings people and resources together to make a difference in Vermont. A family of hundreds of funds and foundations, we provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise that make it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love.
The heart of the Community Foundation’s work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. We are aligning our time, energy, and discretionary resources on efforts that provide access to early care and learning, pathways to college and career training, support for youth and families, and community and economic vitality. We envision Vermont at its best—where everyone has the opportunity to build a bright, secure future. Visit vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information.