USA Scholarships
Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship 2027 - $1,000
The Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship supports Vermont residents who are already in college and studying to become elementary or secondary teachers. VSAC administers the endowed fund through the Unified Scholarship Application. You must be a sophomore, junior, or senior, enroll full time, hold at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and describe volunteer work, jobs, or leadership outside class in essay #1. Expect one or more awards up to $1,000 when endowment earnings allow; selection weighs your essay, a non-relative recommendation (preferably from a current professor), and academic record. File transcript and USA materials by February 11, 2027 for 2027-2028 funding.
What is the Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship?
Mrs. Alicia Shanks spent her career caring about classrooms, and the memorial fund VSAC manages tries to spot future teachers who share that energy before they ever lead their own room. The scholarship is narrow on purpose: Vermont residents only, already past freshman year, studying elementary or secondary education, and holding at least a 3.0 GPA. You can attend college in Burlington, Boston, or Montreal as long as the school accepts U.S. aid and your major matches the booklet.
Dollar amounts stay humble. VSAC typically makes one or more $1,000 awards, and the endowment language warns that yield caps can shrink the pool in a bad market year. Treat the scholarship as recognition and textbook money, not a full ride. Selection emphasizes essay #1, a professor recommendation, and grades rather than FAFSA need, which differentiates Shanks from need-heavy Northeast Kingdom funds like Coapland.
What wins files is evidence that you live teaching outside lecture halls. VSAC explicitly asks you to discuss jobs, volunteer stints, clubs, and leadership in essay #1. Student teaching placements, camp counseling, Special Olympics volunteering, or paid childcare all count if you connect them to the kind of educator you plan to become.
Apply through the same Unified Scholarship Application every Vermont student should file in senior year of high school and every year after. Mark February 11, 2027 on your calendar, upload your transcript early, and give your favorite professor weeks to submit recommendation letter #1. Even if you miss this fund, the USA still enters you into more than a hundred other VSAC possibilities with one submission.
Eligibility
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✓Vermont residencyVSAC-assisted scholarships require Vermont residency unless the description states otherwise. You must meet VSAC residency rules and list Vermont as your home on the Unified Scholarship Application.
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✓College sophomore, junior, or seniorThe scholarship is for students already enrolled in at least their second year of college. High school seniors should explore other VSAC funds unless they will meet grade-level requirements when the application closes.
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✓Elementary or secondary education majorSeek a bachelor's degree in elementary or secondary education at an accredited school approved for federal Title IV funding in the United States or Canada.
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✓Full-time enrollmentEnroll full time (generally twelve or more credits per term) for the academic year you are requesting.
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✓Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPAMaintain at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. VSAC uses your official transcript to verify academic achievement.
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✓Activities outside the classroomDemonstrate volunteer work, paid employment, leadership, or clubs beyond college coursework, and explain them in essay #1.
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✓U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizenMeet standard federal student aid citizenship requirements unless a specific VSAC fund states a different rule.
Benefits
- Award amount Up to $1,000 per scholarship
- Number of awards One or more when endowment yield allows (~3 in recent estimates)
- Renewal Not renewable
- Selection factors Essay, recommendation, academic achievement
- College location Any Title IV U.S. or Canada school
- Full tuition coverage Not offered
Document checklist
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✓Unified Scholarship Application (USA)Complete the USA in MyVSAC and enter the Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship ID from the VSAC booklet.
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✓Official transcriptProvide college transcripts showing your major, credit level, and cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
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✓Recommendation letter #1Submit one non-relative recommendation through MyVSAC. VSAC prefers a current professor who can speak to your teaching potential.
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✓Essay #1 (general essay)Use essay #1 to describe activities outside the college classroom and your passion for teaching Vermont students.
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✓MyVSAC accountRegister or update secureacctaccess.vsac.org with accurate enrollment status and Vermont residency dates.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
Who is eligible for the Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship?
Vermont residents who are college sophomores, juniors, or seniors, major in elementary or secondary education, enroll full time, hold a 3.0 GPA, and show involvement outside the classroom may apply through VSAC.
How much is the Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship?
VSAC lists one or more scholarships up to $1,000 each. Endowment earnings determine whether awards are made and at what size each year.
Is the Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship renewable?
No. VSAC describes the award as non-renewable, so you receive funding for the aid year selected but do not automatically get future years.
When is the Alicia Shanks Memorial Scholarship deadline?
Submit the Unified Scholarship Application and required documents by February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern for 2027-2028 financial aid.
Do I need to attend college in Vermont?
You must be a Vermont resident, but you may attend any accredited Title IV eligible college in the United States or Canada that accepts U.S. students.
What GPA do I need for the Alicia Shanks scholarship?
VSAC requires a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, verified with an official transcript.
Does the Alicia Shanks scholarship require FAFSA?
The VSAC booklet does not list FAFSA among required documents for this fund, unlike need-based Coapland awards. Focus on the USA, transcript, essay, and recommendation unless VSAC updates the description.
What should I write about in essay #1 for Alicia Shanks?
Describe volunteer work, paid jobs, leadership roles, and clubs outside your college classes. Connect those experiences to why you will be a passionate teacher.
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