Give to the UVM Scholarship Fund

When Hannah was 17, she learned that she was pregnant. She was forced to drop out of high school, and during her pregnancy, she experienced homelessness—something that would continue for the next five years. But Hannah’s perseverance and tenacity to achieve a better life for herself and her family led her to continue her studies and eventually earn her GED.

She soon discovered a passion for special education and served the Burlington School District as a paraeducator for the next ten years.

During those years, she was able to rekindle her relationship with her estranged father. But too soon, he passed away. The loss provoked a sense of urgency to do something more with her life. According to Hannah, “His motto for life was, ‘You don’t get anywhere without taking risks.’ So, I decided to take the biggest risk and gamble on myself.”

Hannah enrolled as an undergraduate student in the College of Education & Social Services’ Special Education program. She received a scholarship that helped her get her foot in the door—giving her an opportunity she never thought was possible.

Adjusting to the life of an undergraduate student while being a single mother of two was a challenge at first. Reflecting on those first few semesters, Hannah says, “Most of the people I was around were teenagers, and I felt rusty. I didn’t feel like I belonged.” 

But she quickly found an advocate in her advisor, Jennifer Hurley. Jen believed in Hannah and provided guidance and vital accommodations to help the first-generation college student find her footing.

With that support, Hannah started to flourish. She found a community of friends in her Early Special Education and Early Education cohorts. She saw that her perspective and experiences added important context to discussions, and her insight was appreciated by her peers. Though there were bumps along the way, Hannah was on track to graduate in the spring of 2024.

But still, Hannah felt like she could do more. She was excited to apply for the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program in the College of Nursing & Health Sciences but knew that it was a competitive program. 

Again, she took a leap of faith—and it paid off. After graduation, she learned that she had been accepted. Hannah’s first thought upon hearing the news was, “I made it.”

Today, Hannah is finishing her first year as a graduate student. Looking ahead to her future, she hopes to become a Speech-Language Pathologist and work in local school districts. “My goal is to take care of my kids on a single income, to own a home, and to give back to my community.”

She attributes so much of her success to the donors who gave her that first chance. “I would never have been able to do this without the scholarship I received. Higher education wouldn't have been accessible; graduation wouldn't have been possible. And that would have been a disadvantage for my children. They deserve to have a better life than I had.”

She has seen the way her college experience has affected her children. Professors allowed her kids to come to class with her when childcare didn’t line up with her school schedule. Being exposed to the world of higher education has shown them that they can dream big too—just like their mom. They are already thinking about their own futures, without the same limitations Hannah felt growing up.

Hannah knows that access to education can dramatically change people’s lives. No matter their circumstances, people who want a better life deserve the chance. “I wanted to come here to advocate for more people like me.”

Anka is a busy first-generation college student at the Grossman School of Business. She studies Business Administration with concentrations in Business Analytics and Marketing, and a minor in Applied Design.

In her first year, she's already thriving in and outside of the classroom. But the journey to get there was anything but easy.

A few years ago, Anka and her mother relocated to a small town in Northeast Tennessee for her mother’s work as a registered nurse.

“We started completely from scratch,” Anka recalls. “Just the two of us, four suitcases, and a lot of uncertainty.”

Anka watched her mother work long hours while adjusting to an unfamiliar place. After graduating high school, she chose to delay college for two years to support her mother and to find her own footing. She worked to help the family's finances - but she never stopped trying to figure out how she was going to build her future.

It wasn't too long until she was ready to pursue higher education. As she had been an excellent student in high school, cost was the greatest obstacle.

But thanks to scholarship support, Anka was able to step towards making her dream a reality by coming to UVM.

Now, Anka is on campus and embracing every opportunity to grow. She’s not only gaining an education that will prepare her for a future career, but she’s also building community everywhere she can. She’s involved with the Women and Gender Equity (WAGE) Center, is involved with the Grossman School's Catamount Innovation Fund, and is a member of the Grossman Student Advisory Committee.

This past spring, she and her team won the Grossman Dean's Cup. When reflecting on the experience, Anka said, "It reinforced my passion for problem solving and collaboration in the business world."

She’s been able to do all of this because she's an extraordinary and motivated person. But it is scholarship donors who brought this extraordinary person here.

When reflecting on the impact scholarships have made on her time here so far, she says, “I’ve been able to focus fully on my studies without the constant weight of financial strain.”

She is deeply grateful for all the people who supported her along the way—the mentors who believed in her, the donors whose generosity made her education possible, and showing heart and her spirit, she acknowledges her mother who loved her and brought her along the way.

“My mom is my biggest supporter. I wouldn’t be standing here without her.” 

Coming to UVM was a bold choice for Ginger; growing up in Texas, UVM wasn’t always on her radar. That all changed when a friend a year above her took the leap and made the move to Burlington. She stayed in contact with Ginger, relaying her amazing experiences during her own first year. That connection—combined with a desire to explore nature, escape the Texas heat, and get a taste of life on the East Coast—sparked something. 

Ginger visited campus for the first time on a dreary spring day. But despite the pouring rain, campus was vibrant. She remembers thinking: “If this place can feel this alive in weather like this, it must be something special.” 

UVM quickly became a top choice for her, and as college acceptances came rolling in, she learned that she had been admitted. 

Still, choosing UVM wasn’t easy. Her family faced financial hurdles. She had been offered scholarship support, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. Then came a moment she’ll never forget: the UVM Financial Aid Office called her one day during class. 

“It showed up on my phone: UVM Financial Aid. I ran out of the room. They told me I had been awarded more scholarships than I originally expected. That moment changed everything.” She had received enough support to make her dream of attending UVM possible.

Even before Ginger began her first year, she was already taking advantage of everything UVM had to offer. She joined the UVM GO program and traveled to Iceland, where she met other incoming freshmen, studied sustainable development, hiked volcanic landscapes, and soaked in geothermal springs—an experience she was able to take part in thanks to scholarship support. 

When she arrived on campus, she quickly found her way academically because of standout professors like Bryan Ballif, who teaches biology and genetics. The little things Bryan did made a big impact and helped Ginger feel comfortable as she adjusted to university life. “He laminated our CATCard photos just to remember our names. He asked us about our weekends. He really cared.” 

Outside of class, she’s committed herself to service by joining Alpha Delta Pi, which volunteers at the local Ronald McDonald House, and is involved with UVM Feel Good, a student-run, nonprofit deli that donates their proceeds to support environmentalism, gender equality, and more—and they make a solid grilled cheese. 

By participating in clubs, Ginger found her way back to dance, something that was a huge part of her life growing up. She now dances with UVM’s Dance Force, fitting creativity and movement into her busy schedule. She’s in the Pre-Med Student Association and the Pre-Physician Associate (PA) Club, and those experiences are helping her build a solid foundation for her future.

Of course, her first year wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. For example, she learned the hard way that Chuck Taylors weren’t acceptable snow boots. She's learned to adapt to life in winter—and in countless other ways since arriving last August.  

When reflecting on her first year, Ginger said, “Before I came to UVM, meeting new people was intimidating. But now, every class I sit down in, there’s someone new next to me to meet. That’s what college is all about.”

As she looks ahead to the future, she’s considering a one-year advanced master’s program. Her ultimate goal is to attend medical or PA school, ideally focusing on pediatrics or oncology. But for now, she’s savoring the experience of being a student—exploring Burlington with friends, discovering what she’s capable of, and embracing the challenge she set for herself when she chose to come to UVM.

One spring in the near future, she’ll be the one graduating. Her message to her future self on graduation day? “I hope that I’m proud of myself in the future. I hope that I lived in the moment here at UVM.”

Without the scholarship support Ginger received, she wouldn’t have been able to attend UVM or take advantage of the many opportunities here that have helped her grow so much in such a short time. 

And she’s not alone—other incredible students like her wouldn’t be here without the generosity of donors like you. 

That’s why Ginger is sharing her story: to represent all the students whose journeys have been made possible through your support.

“There are more people I know with scholarships than without here at UVM,” she told me. “Giving to scholarships impacts so many people’s lives. For me personally, it was the reason I could choose UVM. Your generosity is something I think of and am thankful for every day. I wake up feeling lucky to be here.”