The Vermont Retail & Grocers Association (VRGA) has announced its scholarship winners for the 2015-2016 academic year. For over 25 years, the association’s Scholarship Program has provided financial assistance for college to members’ employees and/or their children.
This year, 10 scholarships of $1,500 each, totaling $15,000 were awarded.
VRGA’s Scholarship Program was established to provide financial assistance to promising students to further their education. Funds are raised through a June golf tournament and several events at the organization’s annual convention. The scholarship funds are held at the Vermont Community Foundation in Middlebury.
According to VRGA President Jim Harrison, “We are extremely pleased that we are able to offer scholarships in these times of increasing higher education costs. This is just one example of the many ways in which directly benefit current and new members.”
The 2015 Scholarship Recipients and their affiliated stores/companies:
Donna Hogan Award
Conner Gilbert
Georgia, VT
Hannafords, Milton
HS: Bellows Free Academy
Attending: Middlebury College
Ernest Hurst Memorial Award
Katherine Neal
Glover, VT
Currier’s Quality Market, Glover
HS: Lake Region Union High School
Attending: Saint Michael’s College
Steve Clayton Memorial Award
Jacob Thompson
Hinesburg, VT
Lantman’s Market, Hinesburg
HS: Champlain Valley Union High School
Attending: Saint Michael’s College
Marcel Marquis Memorial Award
Matthew Bouffard
Colchester, VT
Georgia Market, Georgia
HS: Rice Memorial High School
Attending: University of Vermont
Doug Tschorn Memorial Award
Kyle Diezel
Pittsford, VT
Koffe Kup Bakery, Burlington
HS: Mount Saint Joseph Academy
Attending: Colby Sawyer College
Lucas Paquin
Waltham, VT
Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington
HS: Vergennes Union High School
Attending: University of Vermont
Katherine Farber
Wolcott, VT
The Elmore Store, Lake Elmore
HS: Stowe High School
Attending: Saint Anselm College
Jenna Heald
Georgia VT
Hannaford, Milton
HS: Bellows Free Academy
Attending: University of Vermont
Eliana Ruben
Pittsfield, VT
The Swiss Farm Market, Pittsfield
HS: Sharon Academy
Attending: Simmons College
Alyssa Furber
Montpelier, VT
Hunger Mountain Co-op, Montpelier
HS: Montpelier High School
Attending: Tufts University
The association is open to a wide variety of retailers who do business in Vermont. Current members include clothing stores, pharmacies, sports stores, supermarkets, food co-ops, beverage stores, convenience stores, general and country stores, as well as many other merchant stores. Today, VRGA represents approximately 800 Vermont retail stores and 250 suppliers to the retail industry, including members of the Vermont Specialty Food Association.
VRGA provides members with a wide variety of programs and benefits including legislative representation, an annual convention, webinars, special events, insurance, payroll processing, bad check recovery, and much more.