PAYING FOR COLLEGE

Vermont scholarships for the armed services

To complete the Unified Scholarship Application: 1) At www.vsac.org, click on the orange myVSAC/Account Access button in the top right. 2) Log into your existing myVSAC account. If you don’t have a myVSAC account, click on “Register Now” in the box labeled “First Time User?” and follow the directions. 4) Once logged in, click on the Apply for Scholarships link on the left (in the Scholarships box). 5) Click on the Unified Scholarship Application (USA) link (under “Submit Scholarship Application” on the right) and follow the directions. 6) Answer yes to the question about being a member of the National Guard. 7) You do not need to select any VSAC IDs. 8) Once you’ve completed the application and reviewed your summary page, click the Submit Application button to submit your application.

Armed Services Scholarship This program was created by the Vermont Legislature to provide free tuition for a maxi- mum of four academic years (or for such shorter period as may be necessary to complete requirements for graduation) for the son/daughter of a member of the Vermont Guard who since 1955 has been killed while on active or inactive duty in accordance with specifi- cations stated in Vermont Statute, Title 16, Chapter 79, Sections 2537-2539.

On May 24, 2004, Governor Douglas signed Act No. 127 (H.258), amending the Vermont statute that governs this scholarship program. Act No. 127 (H. 258) changed the name of the scholarship to Armed Services Scholarship and expanded eligibility to include a child or spouse of a member of the or of the active reserve forces of the United States AND a child or spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States. TOLL FREE 888-253-4819 Eligibility: • Be a child/stepchild/spouse of a member in good standing of the Vermont BURLINGTON AREA National Guard (VTNG) who since 1955 has been killed or who since January 1, 654-3798 2001, has died while on active or inactive duty in accordance with specifications stated in Vermont statute, Title 16, Chapter 79, Sections 2537-2541); OR ONLINE www.vsac.org • Be a child/stepchild/spouse of a member in good standing of the active reserve forces of the United States who since January 1, 2001, has died while on active or EMAIL inactive duty and who was a Vermont resident at the time of death; OR [email protected] • Be a child/stepchild/spouse of a member of the active armed forces of the United include “scholarships” States who since January 1, 2001, has died while on active duty and who, at the in subject line time of death, was either a Vermont resident, a nonresident member of the Vermont National Guard who was mobilized to active duty, or a nonresident active reserve force member of a Vermont-based reserve unit who was mobilized to active duty; AND

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation 10 East Allen Street PO Box 2000 Winooski, VT 05404 • Be determined eligible by the Vermont National Guard or the armed forces of the United States; AND • Be enrolled in an approved program at a Vermont university, college, postsecondary institution, or technical institute leading to a certificate or degree (other than a postgraduate degree) Amount: The maximum Armed Services Scholarship will not exceed: • full-time (up to 18 credits per semester) tuition, less federal Pell Grant, at either a Vermont university, college, or technical institution supported in whole or in part by public funds appropriated from the state treasury (University of Vermont, Castleton University, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College, Vermont Technical College, Community College of Vermont); OR • full-time (up to 18 credits per semester) tuition up to an amount equal to the in- state tuition for that year at a Vermont state college (Castleton University, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College), less federal Pell Grant, at a Vermont postsecondary institution An Armed Services Scholarship is tenable for a maximum of 130 academic credits or less as may be necessary to complete requirements for graduation. Selection: Applicants are reviewed by VSAC, and selection is based on whether the stu- dent met the eligibility requirements listed and whether funds are available. Required documents: Submission of the following on or before the deadline noted below will constitute a complete application: • Unified Scholarship Application (USA); submit at www.vsac.org. • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); submit at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The following documents may also be required: • birth certificate • marriage certificate • letter from Adjutant General Deadline: Completed applications considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

National Guard Educational Assistance Program

(sponsored by the State of Vermont) The National Guard Educational Assistance Program was established as an interest-free and forgivable loan program in 1998 by the Vermont General Assembly to recruit and retain high- TOLL FREE quality Guard members. During the 1998–1999 academic year, the program was adminis- 888-253-4819 tered by the Vermont State Colleges; there was no service requirement, and Guard members needed to attend a Vermont public college in order to receive an award. Beginning with the BURLINGTON AREA 1999–2000 academic year, VSAC assumed responsibility for administration of this program; a 654-3798 service requirement was incorporated, and members of the Guard may attend any Vermont college, university, or regional technical center (public or private). Act No. 39 (2003–2004 leg- ONLINE islative session) was signed by the Governor on May 26, 2003, amending the Vermont statute www.vsac.org governing this program. This act increased the amount of the maximum award up to the in- state tuition rate for the Vermont State Colleges and removed the requirement that the EMAIL recipient be a Vermont resident. [email protected] include “scholarships” Eligibility: in subject line • Attend a Vermont university, college, or regional technical center; • Seek a degree or diploma, or be studying relevant continuing education;

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation 10 East Allen Street PO Box 2000 Winooski, VT 05404 • Be an active member in good standing of a federally recognized unit of the Vermont Army or ; AND • Have successfully completed basic training or commissioning. Amount: • The amount of the award varies from year to year. • The total annual allotment for this program is divided equally among eligible applicants up to the in-state tuition rate at the Vermont State Colleges for the current academic year. • The National Guard Educational Assistance Program (Interest-Free and Forgivable Loan) (NGEAP) award is a loan that covers tuition and fees only. If you receive other grant or scholarship aid that covers a portion or all of tuition and fees, the NGEAP loan amount will be reduced or eliminated, and the school will be required to return funds to VSAC (thereby lowering the amount of your NGEAP loan). • The award amount is for the entire academic year and is based on full-time study (12 or more credits per term). If enrolled less than full-time, the disbursement amount will be prorated. Selection: Based on whether applicant meets all eligibility requirements and whether funding is available. Loan cancellation: To be eligible for partial/complete forgiveness of this interest-free loan, the applicant must: • Successfully complete/pass the course(s) for which funds were disbursed; • Complete two years of service in the Vermont National Guard for each full academic year award disbursed. VSAC annually determines the amount of the interest-free loan to be forgiven for each completed year of service. By law, the amount forgiven for each year of service shall not exceed 50% of the interest-free loan. Required documents: Submission of the following documents will constitute a complete application): • Unified Scholarship Application (USA); submit at www.vsac.org. • Certification-NGEAP to be completed by an official from the VTARNG or VTANG and uploaded to VSAC online at www.vsac.org. Deadline: Completed applications considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

To upload the NGEAP certification: TOLL FREE 1) Scan and save the completed Certification—NGEAP form to your computer. 888-253-4819 2) Log into your myVSAC account; BURLINGTON AREA 3) Click on the Apply for Scholarships link on the left (in the Scholarships box). 654-3798 4) Click on “Submit Required Documents” on the right (under “Upload Scholarship Documents”). ONLINE www.vsac.org 5) Select Certification—NGEAP from the drop-down list. 6) Browse your computer to select the file containing the certification form, EMAIL [email protected] then click the Submit button. include “scholarships” in subject line

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation 10 East Allen Street PO Box 2000 Winooski, VT 05404 UPLOAD COMPLETED FORM AT: APPLICANT’S www.vsac.org NAME ______OR MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: (last name, first name, middle initial) VSAC Scholarships Program 10 East Allen Street • PO Box 2000 Winooski, VT 05404 APPLICANT’S Toll-free: 888-253-4819 • Burlington area: 654-3798 SOCIAL SECURITY # E-mail: [email protected] • Fax: 802-654-3765 ______

2016–2017 Certification—NGEAP

This form is a required document for the National Guard Educational Assistance Program (Interest-Free and Forgivable Loan) (NGEAP) ONLY. It must be completed and signed by your company/squadron commander AND signed by one of the VTNG officials listed below. Please note that this form is valid for the 2016–2017 academic year (September 1, 2016, through August 31, 2017) ONLY.

SECTION I: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Has applicant successfully completed basic training or Is applicant an active member in good standing of a federally commissioning? (please check one): recognized unit of the Vermont or the c yes c no Vermont Air National Guard? (please check one): c yes c no

Is applicant enrolled in a program that leads to a postsecondary degree or diploma, or is applicant studying for relevant continu- ing education purposes? (please check one): c yes c no

Has applicant applied for ALL other available financial aid? What is the applicant’s expiration term of service (ETS)? If (please check one): applicant is an officer, write “Officer, N/A.” Do not leave blank. c yes c no ______year month day

SECTION II: CERTIFICATION OF COMPANY/SQUADRON COMMANDER

Note to company/squadron commander: Your signature in this section certifies that the information submitted on this attachment is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.

Printed name of company/squadron commander: Unit/squadron: Phone number:

Signature of company/squadron commander: Date certified:

SECTION II1: VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD OFFICIAL

Note to VTNG officials: Your signature in this section certifies for the Adjutant General that the applicant has met all eligibility criteria for the National Guard Educational Assistance Program.

Vermont Army National Guard Certification: Vermont Air National Guard Certification (please circle name): 2LT Jessica Jaggars, 802-338-3378 SMSgt Louis Mossey, 802-660-5228 or MSGT Neil Allison, 802/660-5320 Education Services Officer Force Development Office Vermont National Guard Vermont Air National Guard 789 Vermont National Guard Road 105 NCO Drive Colchester, VT 05446-3099 South Burlington, VT 05403-5873

Signature of Vermont Army National Guard official: Signature of Vermont Air National Guard official:

Date: Date: