USA Scholarships
Mark Blucher Planning Scholarship 2027 - $1,000
The Mark Blucher Planning Scholarship honors 39 years of service by Mark Blucher at the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and his commitment to education. VSAC administers one award up to $1,000 for Vermont residents pursuing study connected to land use planning or related majors such as legal studies, environmental studies, forestry, civil engineering, or architecture. Rutland County residents receive preference, and applicants seeking land use planning receive extra weight. You need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, FAFSA-documented financial need, community or school involvement, and essay #1 plus two recommendation letters on the Unified Scholarship Application. Enter BLUCHER in MyVSAC before February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern for 2027-2028 aid.
What is the Mark Blucher Planning Scholarship?
Mark Blucher spent nearly four decades at the Rutland Regional Planning Commission helping Vermont towns think about zoning, growth, and farmland before retirement. The commission seeded this VSAC fund so students who care about those same questions could afford college without guessing whether planning counts as a "real" major.
VSAC treats Blucher like other booklet scholarships: one unified deadline, one ID code, and a pile of documents that must all arrive together. BLUCHER is the code you type into MyVSAC. Rutland County ties help at the margin, but the baseline rule is Vermont residency plus a 3.0 GPA and FAFSA need.
Land use planning sits at the center of the eligible major list, yet civil engineering, environmental studies, and even geography can fit when your essay explains the connection honestly. Disbursement rules later ask your school to confirm you are in a planning-related program, so do not stretch a unrelated major just to check a box.
February 11 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern is the hard stop shared with dozens of other Vermont funds. File FAFSA early, give your community service recommender real notice, and upload the transcript before you assume the portal saved your work.
Eligibility
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✓Vermont residencyYou must reside in Vermont under VSAC assisted-scholarship rules. Rutland County residents receive preference during committee review.
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✓Planning or related field of studySeek a degree in land use planning, legal studies, political studies, emergency services, agriculture, environmental studies, forestry, wildlife management, geography, architecture, economics, civil engineering, or a related field. Land use planning receives preference.
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✓Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPADemonstrate academic achievement with at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale on your official transcript.
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✓Financial need through FAFSAFile FAFSA for 2027-2028 and link results in MyVSAC because need is a published selection factor.
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✓School or community involvementDocument activities in essay #1 and recommendation letter #2, which must address community service.
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✓Education and work ethicShow persistence in school and employment through your essay and recommenders.
Benefits
- Maximum amount Up to $1,000 when endowment yield allows
- Number of awards One scholarship (~161 applicants estimated)
- Program flexibility Any enrollment level per VSAC booklet
- Selection factors Essay, recommendations, GPA, need
- Rutland County preference Listed in eligibility
- Full tuition Not offered
Document checklist
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✓Unified Scholarship Application (USA)Complete the USA in MyVSAC and enter scholarship ID BLUCHER for the Blucher committee.
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✓FAFSA for 2027-2028Submit FAFSA and connect it to VSAC before the February deadline.
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✓Official transcriptUpload a transcript showing at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and current enrollment.
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✓Recommendation letter #1Provide one non-relative recommendation addressing academic readiness and character.
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✓Recommendation letter #2 (community service)Submit a separate community service recommendation as required in the VSAC booklet.
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✓Essay #1 (general essay)Explain your planning or related career goals, financial situation, and community activities using VSAC prompts.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
Who is eligible for the Mark Blucher Planning Scholarship?
Vermont residents who meet VSAC residency rules, pursue planning or related fields, hold at least a 3.0 GPA, show financial need, and document school or community involvement may apply. Rutland County residents receive preference.
How much is the Mark Blucher Planning Scholarship?
VSAC lists one scholarship up to $1,000 when endowment earnings allow. Endowment yield can affect whether the full amount is available in a given year.
What VSAC ID do I use for the Blucher scholarship?
Enter BLUCHER on the Unified Scholarship Application.
Does the Blucher scholarship require community service?
Yes. You must demonstrate school or community involvement, including recommendation letter #2 focused on community service.
What majors qualify for the Mark Blucher scholarship?
Land use planning is preferred, but VSAC also lists legal studies, political studies, environmental studies, forestry, civil engineering, architecture, economics, and several other related fields.
When is the Mark Blucher Planning Scholarship deadline?
Submit the Unified Scholarship Application and required documents by February 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern for 2027-2028 funding.
Can Rutland County students get preference?
Yes. The VSAC booklet states preference for Rutland County residents alongside the statewide Vermont residency requirement.
What happens after I win the Blucher award?
VSAC requires recipients to enroll in a land use planning related program for disbursement. Notify VSAC if your major changes after selection.
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