Twin Valley Windham Work Ready and Curtis Fund Scholarship Winners

BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program collaborates with Twin Valley High School each semester to bring their Flexible Pathways course to life, covering topics from punctuality, handshakes, and tie tying, to understanding the importance of flexibility, resilience, and maintaining a good reputation. Every student finishes a series of challenges like resume and cover letter writing, mock and informational interviews, and a host of other assignments.

This seminar style, experiential course allows students to spend time understanding their strengths and challenges, exploring things they like and don’t like to do, identifying their personal values, and connecting that self awareness with career and educational pathways where they can thrive. The goal of the course is to ensure that every senior has a solid postsecondary plan in place on the day they cross the graduation stage to accept their diplomas.

Hannah Woodson, who will attend Simmons University in Boston to study nursing received the BDCC Windham Work Ready Scholarship this year. This scholarship is awarded to a student who exemplifies the accountability, initiative, professionalism, positivity, and resilience necessary to excel in the professional world.

“Hannah is a standout,” said Dave Doucette, TV Entrepreneurship Instructor. “I have no doubt she’ll do amazing things in her career.”

P3 also closely collaborated with representatives from The Curtis Fund and Vermont Student Assistance Corporation to identify outstanding students to receive the Elizabeth Reach Scholarship at The Curtis Fund. This scholarship was established by the Landmann Family Fund to provide financial assistance to motivated students in the Deerfield Valley.  The Curtis Fund, a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation, was established more than 110 years ago with the mission of providing, “educational scholarships to Vermont students pursuing a postsecondary education, aiming to level the playing field so that every Vermont has a chance to obtain the education he or she needs, regardless of family background, income level, or birthplace.”

This year’s Elizabeth’s Reach Scholarship at The Curtis Fund Scholarship recipients are Catherine Thomas and Bailey Boyce. Both students plan to attend The University of Vermont this fall. Catherine will likely double major in English and Psychology and hopes to pursue a career in social work, technical writing, or journalism. Bailey will major in Studio Art and plans to pursue a career as an artist or in an arts-related profession.

“Both Catherine and Bailey are unique, motivated and creative individuals,” said P3 Program Manager Christy Betit. “I look forward to hearing about their college and career accomplishments as they navigate adult life. I believe that P3 will impact their postsecondary readiness.”

“This class gives you a good head start on what you want to do so you don’t have to figure it out later. The value is you can get a feel for what you want to do before spending thousands of dollars on a degree,” said Catherine.

Special thanks to Shana Trombley of The Curtis Fund for her unwavering commitment to connect Windham County students with opportunity and ensuring that all Vermont students have the chance to build fulfilling and successful lives after high school. Thanks to Holly Hammond Educational Counselor at VSAC and Denise Piffard, Guidance Counselor at TVHS, for helping students navigate the application process, and for their steadfast support and collaboration.

The Elizabeth Reach scholarship was established by the Landmann Family Fund, in memory of  Elizabeth, who died at four.

About Pipelines & Pathways

BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides employment oriented career-planning for the region’s high school students. It brings training in 21st Century skills, work-based learning, and personal learning plan (PLP) engagement opportunities to all four public high schools in Windham County. The program assists in developing workforce-oriented curricula, expanding classroom relationships, and growing work-based learning through opportunities with local employers. It also supports teachers working face to face with students to implement personal learning plans and seize the myriad opportunities presented by Vermont’s Flexible Pathways Initiative under Act 77. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the workforce. For more information please visit https://brattleborodevelopment.com/workforce/ 

Funding for P3 is provided by the McClure Foundation, Vermont Training Program, Vermont Community Foundation, the Windham County Economic Development Program, The Thomas Thompson Trust, the George W. Mergens Foundation, People’s United Bank, Tom Smith – Omega Optical, and Chroma Technology in Bellows Falls.