USA Scholarships
Mimi Reardon Scholarship 2027 - Vermont AHEC
The AHEC Mimi Reardon Scholarship for Northern Vermont supports current college students from Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, or Washington counties who are training for health or allied health careers and hope to serve Vermont communities. Northern Vermont Area Health Education Center established the fund to honor Dr. Mildred Reardon''s decades of primary care leadership; VSAC processes applications through the Unified Scholarship Application (USA) in MyVSAC. Expect one or more awards up to $1,000 each, selected on essay quality, your recommendation letter, and financial need. You must enroll at least half time, file FAFSA, and submit essay #1 plus recommendation letter #1 by February 11, 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year.
What is the AHEC Mimi Reardon Scholarship?
Dr. Mildred Reardon spent more than forty years pushing primary care and health workforce training across Vermont, and the scholarship that carries her name keeps that mission alive for the next generation. Northern Vermont Area Health Education Center funds the award; VSAC handles every application so students use the same Unified Scholarship Application they already know from state grants.
The scholarship is deliberately local. It targets college students who live in northeast Vermont counties and who are studying to become nurses, dentists, therapists, public health specialists, social workers, or other clinicians Vermont rural hospitals still struggle to hire. You do not need a perfect GPA headline on a billboard, but you do need a honest essay about where you plan to practice and a FAFSA that shows why even $1,000 matters for your budget.
VSAC typically makes one or more awards up to $1,000, choosing files based on the general essay, a non-relative recommendation, and financial need. Half-time enrollment is enough, which helps nontraditional students who work while they finish a nursing or social work degree. Canadian or U.S. programs qualify as long as you meet federal citizenship rules.
If you are comparing funds, read the whole VSAC booklet each October because one USA submission can put you in the pool for dozens of Vermont scholarships at once. The Reardon award is small, but it signals to employers and graduate programs that you committed early to serving Vermont communities, which is exactly what Mimi Reardon modeled throughout her career.
Eligibility
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✓Residency in northeast Vermont countiesYou must reside in Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, or Washington County when you apply. VSAC uses your county of residence on the Unified Scholarship Application.
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✓Current college studentThe scholarship is for students already enrolled in college. High school seniors planning first enrollment should look at other VSAC awards unless they will be enrolled when the application closes.
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✓Health or allied health career pathYour program should prepare you for health care, dental health, mental and behavioral health, public health, or social work. VSAC lists these fields explicitly in the scholarship description.
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✓Half-time enrollment minimumEnroll at least half time at an accredited college, university, or training program in the United States or Canada that accepts U.S. students.
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✓Intent to practice in VermontSelection committees favor applicants who explain how they will return to Vermont communities, including rural areas, after completing their training.
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✓Financial need and FAFSADemonstrate financial need through FAFSA data linked to your MyVSAC account. VSAC-assisted scholarships require a complete FAFSA for the aid year you are requesting.
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✓U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizenYou must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen under federal student aid rules, matching standard VSAC scholarship requirements unless the description states otherwise.
Benefits
- Award amount Up to $1,000 per scholarship
- Number of awards One or more per cycle (VSAC estimates ~6)
- Renewal Reapply annually through USA
- Selection factors Essay, recommendation, financial need
- Full tuition coverage Not offered
- Loan forgiveness Separate VSAC programmes
Document checklist
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✓Unified Scholarship Application (USA)Complete the USA in MyVSAC at secureacctaccess.vsac.org. One application covers every VSAC-assisted scholarship you qualify for, including the Reardon fund.
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✓FAFSA for the aid yearFile the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and allow VSAC to import your Student Aid Index. The USA opens October 1 each year for the following fall enrollment.
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✓Recommendation letter #1Submit one non-relative recommendation through MyVSAC. Choose someone who can speak to your character, health career goals, and community ties.
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✓Essay #1 (general essay)Use VSAC essay #1 to explain your health career plans, connection to Vermont, and how the scholarship supports your path. Follow the word limit in the current Scholarships and Forgivable Loans booklet.
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✓MyVSAC account registrationCreate or update your MyVSAC profile with accurate contact information, school enrollment, and county of residence before you attach documents.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the AHEC Mimi Reardon Scholarship?
It is a privately funded scholarship administered by VSAC for northeast Vermont college students pursuing health or allied health careers. Northern Vermont AHEC established it to honor Dr. Mildred Reardon, who founded Vermont's AHEC network.
Which Vermont counties qualify for the Mimi Reardon Scholarship?
Applicants must reside in Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, or Washington County. Franklin and Grand Isle appear in VSAC's current booklet even though some older summaries list six counties only.
How much is the Mimi Reardon Scholarship?
VSAC lists one or more scholarships up to $1,000 each. Endowment rules mean VSAC cannot guarantee a specific number or amount every year.
When is the Mimi Reardon Scholarship deadline?
For 2027-2028 financial aid, submit the Unified Scholarship Application and all required documents by February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. The USA opens October 1, 2026.
Do I apply on nvtahec.org or VSAC?
Northern Vermont AHEC describes the scholarship on nvtahec.org, but VSAC processes every document through MyVSAC. Follow VSAC's Unified Scholarship Application instructions.
Can high school seniors apply for the Mimi Reardon Scholarship?
VSAC specifies current college students. Graduating seniors should explore VSAC high school scholarships unless they will already be enrolled in college when they apply.
What majors qualify for the Mimi Reardon Scholarship?
Programs in health care, dental health, mental and behavioral health, public health, and social work fit the description. Explain your clinical or community health goals clearly in essay #1.
Is the Mimi Reardon Scholarship renewable?
You may reapply each year through the USA if you still meet residency, enrollment, and financial need requirements. Awards are not automatic renewals.
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