APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2025 - Completed applications must be received by Vermont-NEA by 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2025. Details regarding application submission can be found on the application. Please follow all guidelines carefully. Click here for application.
The children of Vermont-NEA members -- students in their last year of high school, undergraduates, and graduate students -- are eligible to apply for Vermont-NEA/Maida F. Townsend scholarships. The $1000 scholarships, established in 1991, are awarded annually at the Vermont-NEA Representative Assembly.
The scholarship awards are based on merit, not financial need. Students majoring in any discipline are eligible to apply, but preference may be given to those majoring in education or having that intention. Awards are made directly to the students. Students may reapply for the award but may receive an award only once.
How to Apply
Click here for the application.
The scholarship application cover letter should include answers to these questions:
- What makes you unique?
- What are your educational goals?
- What are your plans for continuing education?
The scholarship application requires the submission of transcripts and two letters of recommendation. Current high school students must have one recommendation from a guidance counselor or administrator, and one from a teacher. College students must have one recommendation from a professor in his/her field of concentration and one from another professor.
Applicants also must submit a list of co-curricular and community activities and a transcript from the institution the applicant is currently attending. For students attending schools with unusual grading practices, an explanation of the grading system should accompany the transcript.
Each applicant must submit an essay under 400 words. Applications with essays that exceed the 400 word limit will be disqualified. The theme is decided by the scholarship committee on an annual basis and announced in the fall. this year’s essay question is: “Reflect on a meaningful experience where you positively impacted someone's life or wellbeing—through volunteering, mentoring, or taking initiative to address a need in their life. Explain the context, your actions, and the outcome, and highlight how the experience shaped your understanding of community or personal responsibility.”
For more information, contact Kristie Ferguson at [email protected].
The Judges
The scholarship fund is governed by a board of trustees, which is the same as the entire Vermont-NEA Board of Directors. The Vermont-NEA president appoints two board members and an at-large-member to the committee annually.
Deadline
Applications must be received by Vermont-NEA no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2025.
Past Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to these fine students who have been winners of Vermont-NEA / Maida F. Townsend Scholarship Awards:
2024
Jordy Allembert, Bentley University
Lily Farnsworth, Springfield High School
Mackenzie Flint, Vergennes Union High School/CCV
Montana Welch Frehsee, Brattleboro Union High School
Nico Hochanadel, University of Vermont
Kaidyn Jarvis, Brattleboro Union High School/CCV
Rei Kimura, Belmont University
Charlee Olio, Essex High School
Clara Shortle, Woodstock Union High School
Sadie Stefanak, Burr and Burton Academy
2023
Sydney Adreon, Rice Memorial School
Kelsey Altemose, Middlebury High School
April Ambrose, Saint Michael's College
Jacob Antonovich, Bellow's Free Academy - Fairfax
John Cassell, Hartford High School
Annabelle Coburn, Lake Region High School
Kimberly Cummings, Worchester Polytechnic Institute
Gabriela Jensen, Essex High School
Katie Kelley, Lake Region High School
Declan McCullough, Woodstock High School
Alexis Patterson, University of Vermont
Ella Pecor, Colchester High School
Emily Peduto, Otter Valley High School
Evan Pidgeon, South Bulington High School
2022
Addison Baranyay, Champlain Valley Union High School
Elena Blackburn, Montpelier High School
Jackson Heller, Brattelboro Union High School
Wally Hunt, St. Johnsbury Academy
Carlota Jensen, Essex High School
Riley Maher, University of Vermont
Macey Smith, Thetford Academy
Ava Thurston, Harwood Union High School
Finn Verdonk, Vermont Commons School
Matthew Vigneau, South Burlington High School
2021
Jacob Bean, Franklin Pierce University
Ella Bohmann, Champlain Valley Union High School
Caroline Cassell, Bates College
Grace Coolidge, Otter Valley Union High School
Noah Diedrich, Arlington Memorial High School
Owen Kupferer, Essex High School
Tony White, Peoples Academy
Lily Wolf, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Grace Woodruff, Wellesley College
Julianne Young, Rochester Institute of Technology
2020
Daniel Bishop, Texas A&M University
William Coburn, Lake Region Union HS
Audrey Eggum-Wright, Woodstock Union HS
Amelia Glickman, Brattleboro Union HS
Lauren Houchens, South Burlington HS
Olivia Howe, Brown University
Lily Mitchell, Burlington HS
Rachel O'Hearn, Rivendell Academy
Quinn Pidgeon, South Burlington HS
Lyssa Tan, South Burlington HS
2019
Tyler Allembert, Brattleboro UHS
Hannah Bohmann, Champlain Valley UHS
Logan Chaput, School of Music at Ithaca
Isaac Emery, Woodstock UHS
Alyssa Harrington, Arlington Memorial HS
Liam Kennedy, Brattleboro UHS
Avery Kupferer, Essex High School
Josephine Sinopoli, Keene State College
Timothy Yandow, Essex High School
Barbara Kate MacMaster, Woodstock UHS
2018
Lucia Ellerson, Hartford HS
Molly Fuller, Colchester HS
Stella Gardner, U-32 HS
Emma Husk, Vergennes Union HS
Ella MacMaster, Woodstock Union HS
Robert Maher, BFA St. Albans
Julia Ormerod, BFA Fairfax
Eliza Rounds, Green Mountain Union HS
Rachael Zmich, People’s Academy
Brennen Zolnoski, Brattleboro Union HS
2017
Alexander Bickart, Peoples Academy
Avery Ellis, North Country Union HS
Lucia Gagliardone, Bowdoin College
Brady Illingworth, Bellows Falls Union HS
Connor Joyce, Hartford HS
Eva Kamman, Vergennes Union HS
Dana Marsh, North Country Union HS
Eleanor Martin, Vergennes Union HS
Quinn Trybus, Burlington HS
Grace Willean, Lamoille Union HS
2016
Hannah Funk, Mount Abraham Union High School
Jared Lehouillier, Lake Region Union High School
Gordon MacMaster, Woodstock Union High School
Erin O' Farrell, Lyndon Institute
Heather Robinson, Castleton University
Elizabeth Skerrett, Bellows Free Academy - Fairfax
Abigail Snow, Milton High School
Zachary Trepanier, West Rutland High School
Haley Usilton, Woodstock Union High School
Laura Valastro, South Burlington High School
2015
Kathleen Ambrose, Vergennes UHS
Jordan Godfrey, Rutland High School
Ethan Illingworth, Bellows Falls UHS
Nina Lam, Mount Mansfield UHS
Phoebe Martell-Crawford, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans
Katharine Mayo, Twinfield UHS
John O’Sullivan-Griffith, Burlington High School
Madison Wood, St. Johnsbury Academy
Merrill Woodruff, Harwood UHS
Brendan Wright, Rutland High School
2014
Katherine Fish, People's Academy
Bradley Myers, Mt. Anthony UHS
Annie Nelson, Windsor HS
Moira Taylor, Essex HS
Molly Zmich, People's Academy
2011
Matthew Dobart Proctor Jr/Sr High School
Allison Gillette Emerson College
Joanna Kamhi Essex HS
Katie McCormack Rutland HS
Margaret Musty Blue Mountain UHS
2010
Jeremy Belknap Oxbow HS
Hannah Cerasoli Hartford HS
Elizabeth Flory Hanover HS
Kyle Weinreich Twinfield UHS
Alexandra Zakrzewski Arlington Memorial HS
2009
Hillary Estes Mt. Anthony Union HS
Julia Gulka Cabot HS
Emily Kimler Global College of Long Island University
Margaret Sweeney Brattleboro Union HS
Shannon Ward Brattelboro Union HS
2008
Erin Conway of Vergennes UHS
Kyle Marlow of BFA St. Albans
Megan Reymore of Randolph UHS
Joseph Rodolfy of Rutland HS
Katie Stickney of Fair Haven UHS
2007
Ailis Cournane of Concordia University, Montreal
Shaun Farrell of North Country UHS
Katrina Hardt of Sterling College
Evan Masseau of Champlain Valley UHS
Kylie McLane of South Burlington HS
2006
Jennifer Goyne of Richford High School
Leah Nero of Brattleboro and Yale
Benjamin Rome of Essex High School
Janet Soltau of South Burlington High School
Genevieve St.Hilaire of Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax
2005
Alyssa Bennett of Skidmore College
Emily Chamberlain of Otter Valley Uhion High School
Elsa Sargent of Dartmouth College
Rebecca VanHorn of Proctor High School
Clement Wright of Burr and Burton Academy
2004
Michael Harger of Proctor Jr./Sr. High School
Charlotte Hirschberger of Otter Valley Union High School
Aaron Lackowski of Mt. Mansfield Union High School
Caitlyn Long of Middlebury College
Schuyler Sturm of Lyndon Institute
2003
Kelsey Ballard of Woodstock Union High School
Maria Benoit of Vergennes Union High School
Carlin Hebert of Mt. Anthony Union High School
Andrea Jette of Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Kristin Weibust of Skidmore College
2002
Kit Basom of Lake Region Union High School
Abby M. Gelinas of Winooski High School
Daniel Kahn of Union-32 Junior/Senior High School
Heather Martel of Richford Junior/Senior High School
Kaitlyn O'Donnell of Randolph Union High School
Richard Waite of Hamilton College
2001
Taryn McLaughlin of Rutland High School
Nicholas Miller of South Burlington High School
Eben Sargent of North Country Union High School
Samantha Treu of Green Mountain Union High School
2000
Reeve Basom of Lake Region Union High School
Amy Cluff of Middlebury College
Marian Miller of Hamilton College
Katherine M. Symancyk of Hartford High School
Nicholas Weiss of Union-32 Jr-Sr High School
1999
Katie Burnell of the College of St. Joseph
Heather Hawkes of Woodstock Union High School
Andrew Kish of the University of Pennsylvania
Michael Stahler of Lyndon Institute
1998
Sarah Bennett of Boston University
Abigail Chaloux of Mt. Anthony Union High School
Michael Logan Florucci of Vergennes Union High School
Jesse Kimler of Middlebury Union High School
Thomas Collier Smith of Rutland High School
Courtney Ann Stewart of Randolph Union High School
1997
Cara Thomson Costello of Rutland High School
Jackson T. Evans of Northfield High School
Kristine Joppe-Mercure of South Burlington High School
Tedin Nelida Lange of Hanover High School
Emily Eileen Shanks of Williams College.
1996
Jill Allen of Essex Junction High School
Jessica Cook of Randolph Union High School
Celina Croteau of Lyndon Institute
James B. Pfadenhauer of Bellows Falls Union High School
Jodie Rudisill of College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
Rebecca S. Walton of South Burlington High School
1995
Molly Kate Baum of Twinfield Union School
Alison Rebecca Florucci of Vergennes Union High School
Jenny V. Olson of Bryn Mawr College
Dara Wax of Wilmington Middle-High School
Lynnette Whitney of Montpelier High School
1994
Seth Armitage of North Country Union High School
Meg Jennette of Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans
Jessica Jette of Missisquoi Valley Union Hgh School
Peter Tessier of Lyndon Institute
Zachary Rowles of Bates College
Jennifer Ward of Greenwich Central School, Greenwich, New York
Heather Woodfield of Tisch School of the Arts, New York University
1993
Sara Buchdahl
Carmelle Cote
Justin Courcelle
Julia Anne Ely
Robert Plunkett of Mount Anthony Union High School
Robert Rhoad
Jessica Walton
1992
Amy Lynn Dorta of Mt. Mansfield Union High School
Greg Crowther of Williams College
Wendy Brewster of Castleton State College
Erik Fitzpatrick of Vermont Law School
Christopher Roy of the University of Vermont
Sam Hooker
Becky Irwin
1991
Christine Maloney
Caryn Voland
Chrisa Greaney
Tina Edson
Wendy Giguere of Montpelier High School
