USA Scholarships
Dale A. Boutin Scholarship 2027 - $1,500
The Dale A. Boutin Scholarship celebrates lifelong learning by helping undergraduates from selected Vermont communities afford college. VSAC administers two $1,500 awards for students who are first in their families to attend college, or who are independent students, or dependents from single-parent households. You must reside in Burlington, Barton, Glover, West Glover, Orleans, Irasburg, or Newport, enroll full time at a Title IV eligible accredited school, and show financial need through the FAFSA. Selection weighs need, essay #1, and recommendation letter #1. File the Unified Scholarship Application in MyVSAC with FAFSA results and supporting documents by February 11, 2027.
What is the Dale A. Boutin Scholarship?
Dale Boutin treats education as a lifelong craft, from biochemistry to painting and music, and this VSAC fund pushes that mindset toward undergraduates who need a financial lift in specific Vermont towns. The scholarship is narrow by design: Burlington plus a cluster of Northeast Kingdom communities, first-generation students or students from single-parent households, and a FAFSA that proves real need.
Two $1,500 awards may sound small next to flagship university grants, yet VSAC estimates roughly fifty applicants chase them each cycle, so the money still matters for books, travel, or reducing loan reliance. Selection blends need with essay #1 and a non-relative recommendation, which means your voice and your mentor both carry weight.
Geography trips people up. Burlington shares the list with rural towns like Barton and Orleans, so read the booklet carefully before you spend hours on the Unified Scholarship Application. Once you confirm residency, the process matches other VSAC-assisted scholarships: FAFSA, USA, essay, recommendation, all due February 11 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
You can study anywhere in the United States at a Title IV school. The fund cares where you live, not whether you stay in Vermont for college. File early, double-check that MyVSAC shows every uploaded document, and remember one USA submission also enters you into more than a hundred other VSAC possibilities.
Eligibility
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✓Residency in listed Vermont communitiesYou must reside in Burlington, Barton, Glover, West Glover, Orleans, Irasburg, or Newport. VSAC uses your Unified Scholarship Application address history to confirm eligibility.
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✓First-generation or single-parent household ruleBe among the first generation in your family to attend college or university, or be an independent student, or be a dependent student from a single-parent household pursuing an undergraduate degree.
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✓Full-time undergraduate enrollmentEnroll full time in an associate or bachelor degree program at an accredited school approved for federal Title IV funding.
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✓Demonstrated financial needComplete the FAFSA so VSAC can evaluate need. Financial need is a primary selection factor alongside your essay and recommendation.
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✓College location flexibilityYou may attend college inside or outside Vermont as long as the school participates in Title IV programs such as Pell Grants or Direct Loans.
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✓Standard federal aid citizenship rulesMeet U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen requirements for federal student aid unless VSAC publishes a different rule for this fund.
Benefits
- Amount $1,500 per scholarship
- Number of awards Two scholarships when funded
- Selection factors Financial need, essay, recommendation
- School choice Title IV eligible U.S. colleges
- Renewal Reapply annually through USA if eligible
- Full tuition Not offered
Document checklist
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✓Unified Scholarship Application (USA)Complete the USA in MyVSAC and select the Dale A. Boutin Scholarship using the booklet ID BOUTIND.
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✓FAFSA for the aid yearFile the Free Application for Federal Student Aid so VSAC can verify financial need for 2027-2028.
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✓Essay #1 (general essay)Use the general essay prompt to explain your background, goals, and why postsecondary education matters to you.
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✓Recommendation letter #1Submit one non-relative recommendation through MyVSAC. Choose someone who knows your character and persistence.
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✓MyVSAC accountRegister or update secureacctaccess.vsac.org with accurate residency and enrollment data.
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✓College transcript or enrollment proofProvide records showing full-time undergraduate status if VSAC requests verification during review.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
Who is eligible for the Dale A. Boutin Scholarship?
Full-time undergraduate students who live in Burlington, Barton, Glover, West Glover, Orleans, Irasburg, or Newport, meet first-generation or single-parent household rules, and demonstrate financial need may apply through VSAC.
How much is the Dale A. Boutin Scholarship?
VSAC awards two scholarships of $1,500 each when endowment earnings allow.
Does the Boutin scholarship require FAFSA?
Yes. FAFSA results are required documents because financial need is a primary selection factor.
When is the Dale A. Boutin Scholarship deadline?
Submit the Unified Scholarship Application and required materials by February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern for 2027-2028 funding.
Can I use the Boutin award at an out-of-state college?
Yes, if the school is an accredited Title IV eligible institution. Residency rules apply to your Vermont home, not where you attend class.
What towns qualify for the Boutin scholarship?
Eligible communities are Burlington, Barton, Glover, West Glover, Orleans, Irasburg, and Newport.
What essay does VSAC require for Boutin?
You submit essay #1, the general essay in the Unified Scholarship Application, plus one non-relative recommendation letter #1.
Where do I apply for the Dale A. Boutin Scholarship?
Apply through MyVSAC at secureacctaccess.vsac.org as part of the Unified Scholarship Application. Program details appear in the VSAC Scholarships Booklet.
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