Monica Sargent, an educational outreach counselor with the Vermont Student Assistance Corp., was honored this month for her lifetime of leadership in advocating for low-income and first-generation college students.
Sargent received a standing ovation as she received the Marian Belgrave-Howard Award from the New England Educational Opportunity Association, or NEOA, at its annual conference in Connecticut.
Belgrave-Howard was the founding president of the organization and presented the award to Sargent.
For more than 30 years at VSAC, Sargent has advocated for TRIO students and programs. Her work also includes stints in Student Support Services at the University of Vermont and Upward Bound at Lyndon State College. She is a past president of NEOA and founding member of the Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs, a professional organization actively interested in ensuring equal educational opportunity for Vermont’s college-bound students from low- to moderate-income families, or who are individuals with disabilities. She is a Burlington resident. “From high school students and parents to adult students trying re-enter or finish school, Monica works tirelessly to help them get where they want to go with support, encouragement and the best financial aid information available,” said Scott Giles, VSAC president and CEO. “She believes deeply in the value of the work she is doing. She inspires all of us every day.”
The mission of NEOA is to advocate for access to and success in postsecondary education for low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities and to develop the skills and knowledge of educational opportunity professionals working with this population. The New England Educational Opportunity Association, or NEOA, is an organization of professionals who are actively interested in insuring equal educational opportunities in higher education.
The federal TRIO programs are outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.
Caption: Monica Sargent, left, VSAC educational outreach counselor, with Marian Belgrave-Howard.