Barre Town native Abbie Violette envisioned a career in nursing from a young age. Family role models, including aunts and cousins working in healthcare, provided a positive example of the fulfilling career path. But it was Abbie’s personal experience with a major medical surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital that shaped her vision of her future.
“I spent a little bit of time in the hospital and got to see everything that the nurses did. It really inspired me,” Abbie remembered.
Today Abbie holds an associate degree at only twenty years old and is on her way to earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Vermont State University (VTSU) in Randolph. She completed her associate degree in health science at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) and will receive her LPN certificate by the end of this school year. Abbie transferred to VTSU debt-free thanks to her enrollment in the state’s Early College Program and the Free Degree Promise.
Experiential Learning Creates Opportunity
By the time Abbie completed middle school, she was set on becoming a nurse and knew it required a great deal of education. Despite finding high school classes challenging, and at points discouraging, Abbie remained focused.
As a junior at Spaulding High School, she enrolled in the Medical Professionals Program through the Central Vermont Career Center. In addition to completing medical assistant training, she was able to take two CCV classes through dual enrollment, receive academic and career advising, and tour state colleges.
“The students take college courses, learn and practice skills, and build soft skills (time management, testing, etc.). It is an amazing opportunity that prepares them for both work and college,” explained Jeneve Joslin, an instructor in the Career Center program. “The state needs more healthcare providers, so we train people who have the passion, intelligence, and heart to do the job and meet this demand.”
Through combining hands-on learning and her CCV classes, Abbie discovered an approach to education in which she thrived. So when her school counselor and advisors at the Medical Professionals Program encouraged her to consider Early College at CCV, through which high school seniors can enroll full-time in college courses at no cost, she felt confident it would be the right fit.
“It was amazing. I struggled in the traditional high school setting and I didn’t get the best grades; but, when I started doing Early College, I got really good grades,” she shared. “I was on the Dean’s List every semester that I was at CCV.”
Joslin says Early College is a natural next step for many of the Medical Professionals Program students. “I love Early College. Most careers in healthcare require higher education, and Early College creates a pathway toward a degree.”
When paired with the Free Degree Promise, many students are able to secure their associate degree in health sciences just one year after graduating from high school.
A Debt-Free Start to the 2+2 Program
After the Early College year, Abbie took advantage of the Free Degree Promise and completed her associate degree at CCV. Launched in 2022, the Free Degree Promise builds on the state’s Early College program to offer Vermont’s young people an accelerated path to a debt-free degree. In addition to covering fees, tuition, and a living stipend, the Promise connects students to career and education advisors.
Abbie credits her advisor and the CCV faculty for guiding her towards pursuing her bachelor’s degree. “Everybody’s just really kind and supportive,” she recalled. With an associate degree, supportive advisors, and zero debt from her first two years at CCV, Abbie felt empowered to continue her education.
“When you remove the financial barrier, students view their future with clarity, hope, and excitement. They can focus on setting goals and planning a pathway to a degree,” said Sarah Kresser, the Early College Degree Program Manager at CCV. “This gives them more agency and motivation.”
The Free Degree Promise is funded by the McClure Foundation, an organization committed to accessible and affordable postsecondary career and training pathways as a part of its vision of a more equitable and resilient Vermont.
“The Free Degree Promise is reaching young people who are furthest from opportunity,” says Carolyn Weir, Executive Director of the McClure Foundation. “Vermont continues to have
extremely low postsecondary continuation rates, and the Free Degree Promise is taking aim at reversing that trend.”
Once students complete their associate degree, they can enter the workforce with higher earning potential or continue their education through a 2+2 program.
Abbie is on track to receive her A.D.N. next spring and her B.S.N. the following year. This 2+2 education model allows a student to earn a bachelor’s degree by completing two years of community college and two years at a four-year college or university. Students like Abbie are able to transfer all of their associate degree credits to a bachelor’s degree program at participating institutions.
Abbie, who loves spending time outdoors and traveling, is well on her way to establishing a career in one of Vermont’s most promising fields. She looks forward to working in a hospital setting, perhaps with kids. “I definitely see myself staying in Vermont,” she proclaimed.
When reflecting on her experience with Early College and the Free Degree Promise, Abbie encourages any young Vermonter to consider it. “It’s definitely for people who are motivated, including those who struggle in the traditional high school setting. Trying something new can be really great. Doing Early College and getting my associate degree from CCV was probably the best choice I made.”
The McClure Foundation, an affiliate of the Vermont Community Foundation, hopes the early impacts of the Free Degree Promise will inspire the state of Vermont to continue the initiative beyond the Foundation’s five-year commitment, so that younger Vermonters can also count on accelerated associate degrees. Visit mcclurevt.org/free to join the campaign in making the Free Degree Promise permanent.
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