CCV President Joyce Judy (fifth from right) and CCV staff receive a $10,000 check from NSB CEO & President Joe Bator (fourth from right). Credit: Brandon Poulin
Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) has received a $10,000 gift from Northfield Savings Bank to fund its Life Gap Grant program. Life Gap Grants are small, just-in-time scholarships that help students get through unexpected and challenging situations and stay in school.
Funded solely by philanthropic donations, Life Gap provides direct financial support to students with emergent needs, including food insecurity, transportation, healthcare and child care.
“We are grateful to Northfield Savings Bank for their partnership in providing this critical resource,” said CCV President Joyce Judy. “Our students often face acute financial barriers, and Life Gap Grants have a real impact on their ability to overcome those barriers and pursue their educational and career goals.”
CCV data show that Life Gap significantly improves student success. Grant recipients consistently outperform their non-recipient peers with higher rates of term completion, greater credit momentum, and stronger persistence. Grant recipients also graduate at a higher rate. This impact is especially pronounced for students receiving multiple Life Gap Grants, who graduate at a rate 27% higher than students who receive just one grant.
In the 2026-2027 academic year, CCV will celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the Life Gap initiative. Today, the program has expanded into a multi-faceted student support system, integrating direct financial assistance with robust resource coordination, a growing peer-to-peer outreach network, and community partnerships.
CCV is Vermont’s second-largest college, serving nearly 10,000 students each year. With statewide locations and extensive online learning options, our students don’t have to travel far from their communities to access our degree and certificate programs, workforce, secondary and continuing education opportunities, and academic and veterans support services.
6.30.2026. MONTPELIER, Vt. — Community College of Vermont
To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
Vermont Business Magazine