SCHOOL ZONE 4-28-16

Over the past 30 years the Vermilion School District has been blessed with many residents and groups who have established scholarship funds to benefit Vermilion High School Seniors.  Currently there are 50 grants or awards available to our graduates.  In some cases, families have opted to donate funds to the district that are specifically for scholarship awards.  These funds are held in special trust or private purpose trust accounts and are managed through the Treasurer’s office.  Over the past 5 years we have been privileged to award close to $200,000 in scholarships from these funds. 

We are frequently asked about the procedure for selecting and distributing scholarship funds.  It is important to note that many of the scholarship awards are sponsored and managed by local families or non-profit organizations.  The scholarship sponsor is responsible for determining the eligibility criteria for their award and for selecting the student recipient each year.  Some organizations award scholarships to students with special talents, such as athletes or musicians.  Others are interested in students who will continue their education in a specific area of study, such as engineering or nursing.  A full list of the scholarships available, with eligibility criteria, is available to students and parents on our district website. 

In early March all potential graduates are encouraged to complete a generic application form.  Students may choose to apply for one or multiple scholarships.  Each applicant is expected to complete the application in full, and provide all of the documentation requested by the application deadline.   

After the applications are complete, each scholarship sponsor receives a package of materials including information about all of the applicants and any supporting documentation.  We make every attempt to provide this information to sponsors at least 30 days in advance so that they have plenty of time to review the materials and make their selections.  The Vermilion Board of Education is responsible for selecting award winners for specific trust fund accounts.   Board members also receive packets of information and make their selections in executive session.  Information about award winners is confidential and cannot be shared with any sponsor or Board member until the award ceremony held in May.  We strive to maintain confidentiality to avoid any conflict of interest among decision makers. 

The Senior Awards ceremony is always a wonderful occasion that celebrates the success of our students throughout their career at Vermilion High School.  It is also a celebration of the generosity of those community members who have made it a priority to assist students who are continuing their education.  Vermilion is truly a very caring and supportive community.