This letter is to advise you of an opportunity for graduating seniors to apply for a Winona Smith Scholarship, which will be awarded early this summer. Our response deadline is April 30, 2026 at midnight. Scholarship recipients will be selected by June 1, 2026, and they and their schools will be notified so recipients can be announced at their School Honors Day or Recognition Event. In addition we will ask the student to allow us to publish a picture and excerpts from their essays if they receive the scholarship.
Three scholarships, in the amount of $3,000 each this year, were established to honor Winona Smith, a long-time leader of the League of Women Voters of Vermont, who devoted her energies to ensuring that Vermont students receive the best possible education. The awards are presented to a Vermont resident in his or her senior year of high school who has demonstrated an interest in civic participation and community service, who has a stated need for financial aid and who is highly recommended by a teacher or mentor. The student must be matriculating this calendar year.
The application must be completed online at www.lwvofvt.org/winona-smith-
The student will need to post TWO essays online, one on a U.S. voting rights issue, and the other on a local, state, national, or international issue of importance to them. Both essays are necessary for completion of the application. Recommendations by teachers, guidance counselors and other significant mentors can be completed at https://lwvofvt.org/recommend-
Applications should be submitted online no later than April 30, 2026 at midnight. Only applications including both essays and a recommendation letter will be considered for the scholarship. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have a completed application. If there are questions, please email league@lwvofvt.
Thank you. We appreciate your help and look forward to receiving your application.
Best,
Audrey Grant
League of Women Voters - VT Education Fund
Scholarship Coordinator