RVTC cinematography winners hold fund-raiser toward next competition; Norwich U., VSAC team to offer STEM scholarships

The River Valley Technical Center announces that Elliot Thompson and Rebekah Ferreira of the Audio Video Production Program won a first place in Digital Cinematography at SkillsUSA, Vermont.

These students have qualified to represent Vermont at the SkillsUSA National Conference/Competition in Louisville, Ky. Their gold medal winning film was produced within 24 hours and earned them scholarships and prizes at the Vermont competition held in Burlington in April.  Thompson and Ferreira  are hoping to raise $4,000 with $2,500 due by May 15 to attend SkillsUSA Nationals.

Any size donation would be greatly appreciated. Money raised will go toward travel, lodging and equipment expenses involved with their trip to Kentucky.

A quail dinner fundraiser sponsored by Cavendish Game Birds, owned by Thompson’s family, will be held on Friday, May 20 in the RVTC Café and will be prepared by the culinary arts program. The cost of the dinner is $15 per person. Space is limited.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. and will include a screening of projects produced by Thompson and Ferreira. Tickets can be purchased in advance at RVTC or by mailing a check made payable to RVTC AVP  and mailed to Zachary McNaughton, 307 South St., Springfield, VT 05156.

Norwich U., VSAC team up to offer STEM scholarships

Norwich University is partnering with the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. to offer science, technology, engineering and mathematicsscholarships for qualified Vermont students beginning this fall.

Students identified by school representatives, including VSAC GEAR UP and Talent Search representatives within each high school, will be eligible to apply for this premier scholarship, which ranges from $25,000-$30,000 a year for each of four years.

Norwich University will award up to 30 STEM scholarships annually to qualified students. Students will also have access to need-based financial aid that can supplement scholarship awards.

To qualify, students must apply and be accepted to Norwich University in one of the following majors: Engineering (Civil, Construction Management, Electrical and Computer or Mechanical); Architecture (with a Master’s option that leads to licensure); Computer Security and Information Assurance; Computer Science; Biological Sciences (Biology, Exercise Science, Biochemistry); Chemistry; Physics or Mathematics.

Ninety-six percent of recent graduates from these majors have gone onto graduate school, employment or military service within eight months of graduation.

In addition to being admitted to Norwich University, students will need to:

• Complete the Norwich/VSAC scholarship application.
• Visit Norwich University as part of a VSAC organized visit or by arrangement with the Norwich University Admission office.
• Interview with a Norwich STEM scholarship representative.

GPA requirements for these scholarships begin at 3.3 on a 4.0 point scale, but exceptions may be made for students who are on an upward trend and are recommended by their guidance counselors, VSAC counselors, Gear Up counselors or Talent Search counselors.

“We are especially interested in students who like to learn while doing because of Norwich University’s highly interactive and experiential learning environment,” said Greg Matthews, vice president for enrollment management at Norwich.

For more information contact Matthews at 802-485-2741 or gmatthe2@norwich.edu or Martin Daniels, director of student financial planning at mdaniel2@norwich.edu.