NEWS FROM STERLING COLLEGE

APRIL 2025

Sterling College Delegation Advocates for Federal Work Study Support on Capitol Hill

Last month, a delegation of four Sterling College students, accompanied by two staff members, attended the Work College Consortium Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. In light of recent federal funding cuts, the trip proved both timely and essential, offering a critical opportunity to advocate for the future of Work Colleges and the Federal Work Study program. 

Left to right (front row) Rory Bosanko, Isabel Kapitulik, Josephine Kahn, (back row) Jack Morin, President Scott Thomas, Senator Peter Welch, Director Hannah Rushing, Dean John Helms

The conference offered valuable opportunities to connect with students and staff from the seven other work colleges, as well as time to explore museums and memorials throughout the capital. However, the most impactful aspect of the trip was the students’ direct engagement with Vermont’s congressional delegation and their staff.

Sterling students made the most of their time on Capitol Hill, meeting with lawmakers including Representative Becca Balint, Senator Peter Welch, and Education Policy Advisors from Bernie Sanders' office to share powerful personal stories about how the work college model has shaped their education and their future. They voiced concerns about the future of Federal Work Study programs and advocated passionately for continued support. Their efforts contributed to a broader push to secure funding, and we are pleased to share that Federal Work Study funding, including support for the Work Colleges program, has officially been allocated for the 2025–2026 academic year.

At Sterling College, the work college model is more than just a structure— it's a commitment to our students' futures. By integrating meaningful, hands-on work with a rigorous education, we empower students to graduate with workplace-relevant skills and significantly less debt. This model not only prepares students for life after college but ensures that their education is grounded in purpose, responsibility, and opportunity.

QUOTE FROM CURRENT SENIOR YEAR STUDENT, RORY BOSANKO

Academic Concentration: Natural Resource Management

Hometown: Salida, Colorado

"During my trip to Washington D.C., I developed a greater appreciation for the democratic process and the nuances of political diplomacy. One of the highlights was our meeting with Senator Peter Welch, where we had the opportunity to discuss the significance of Sterling's work program and get his insight into the inner workings of D.C.'s political machinery."

Your support of Sterling College has never been more crucial to our mission and to our future. 

Sterling College has never been more relevant. At a time when the environmental crisis is growing and faith in traditional modes of higher education is eroding, Sterling stands apart. The emphasis on small-scale, hands-on learning and intentional community life positions Sterling as a model of place-based environmental education. Nothing could be more practical. Little could be more important. It is a transformative experience for our students. 

In the face of an increasingly hostile political climate toward higher education, and a growing assault on our environment, Sterling remains steadfast in its mission.

Now, more than ever, that mission demands action. We are compelled to take a bold and proactive stand – and you play a vital role in that effort. Today, I am writing to ask for your participation as Sterling embarks on an ambitious campaign to accomplish the following:

• Remain a leading destination for students seeking an affordable, intimate learning experience that fosters their interest in – and commitment to – our environment.
• Further promote environmental and social equity by providing immersive, hands-on education in the working landscapes – the farms, fields, woodlots, streams, trails, and communities – that serve as our classrooms.
• Reposition Sterling for long-term sustainability and self-reliance by diversifying our learner base, expanding into new markets to offer quality environmental learning opportunities for students across the lifespan. 

Your donation to Sterling College today will make our initiatives possible.

I’m deeply grateful for, and humbled by, the outpouring of support that has kept our powerful little college thriving. Thank you for whatever you can give today, and please remember that the future of our planet depends on those we educate today.

Yours sincerely,

Scott Thomas, President

Tracy Zschau To Deliver Sterling College's 26th Commencement Address

We are excited to announce that Tracy Zschau will deliver Sterling College's 26th Commencement Address on May 17, 2025. Tracy is a Sterling College alumna with an Associate of Arts in Resource Management. She has served over twenty-five years as a conservation leader at the Vermont Land Trust, becoming the first female President & CEO in 2023. Tracy has committed her career to addressing the urgent issues of climate change, housing and land access, and the impacts of development. Tracy serves on the St. Johnsbury Selectboard and on the Board of Passumpsic Savings Bank. In addition to being a graduate of the Vermont Leadership Institute and the Snelling Center for Government, she holds a Bachelors of Arts from Colby College and a Master’s Degree in Forestry from the University of Maine, Orono.

In our conversations with Tracy she shared the following, 'I am honored to return to Sterling to help celebrate and inspire the Class of 2025. I value the dedication to environmental stewardship and commitment to community-based action that Sterling instills in its graduates. In this time of dynamic and dramatic change, that is exactly what the world needs right now.'

Students Explore Environmental Law: From The Classroom to the Vermont Statehouse

Sterling students in the Environmental Law course have been diving deep into the world of environmental and agricultural policies, exploring the complex laws that shape Vermont, the U.S., and even international landscapes. Their studies go beyond the classroom—students are getting in-person experience by attending Legislative Sessions at the Vermont Statehouse, immersing themselves in real-time policy action and engaging with key stakeholders who influence crucial environmental issues. Guided by the expertise of faculty member, Farley Anne Brown and Teaching Assistant, Isabel (Izzy) Kapitulik, these passionate students have crafted summaries and updates on several proposed bills, offering an insightful, on-the-ground perspective on the latest developments on Vermont Law.

John Fabke graduated from Sterling College in 1987 with a focus on Rural Resource Management in Agriculture. He is currently the Processing Archivist at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN, where he works with manuscript collections to organize, preserve, describe, and then make them accessible for researchers.

While his role as an Archivist may not directly relate to forestry or agriculture, John views it as an extension of the sustainability principles central to his education and the values promoted at Sterling College.

Updates From The Farm

Our garden is in full swing! Students and faculty have been busy preparing beds, spreading compost, and mulching. We're already harvesting sprouting broccoli, spinach, arugula, and flowers for our May commencement ceremony.

The greenhouse is thriving with tomatoes, peppers, scallions, broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes. In the coming weeks, we’ll plant onions, leeks, carrots, beets, lettuce, chard, kale, broccoli, napa cabbage, cauliflower, and bok choy.

We are thrilled to welcome new life to the farm this Spring!

Here's what's new:

Goats:

Two sets of triplets have arrived—six adorable kids in total!

Cattle:

One healthy male calf has been born, and our Jersey-Angus heifer is due at the end of June. She's been bred to a Milking Shorthorn.

Sheep:

14 ewes have given birth to 23 lambs—what a season!

Poultry:

40 turkeys will be arriving in early May. 400 meat chickens are expected between now and early June. Australorp, Americana, and Chantecler layer chicks will be hatching in the coming days.

Sterling's 58th Winter Expedition

For over 50 years, Sterling students and faculty have put their skills to work at the annual Winter Expedition, a multi-day, self-guided trip into the snowy, backcountry of Northeast Vermont. 2025 marks year number 58 for this expedition. Leading up to the trip, students learn how to build winter shelters, assess snow pack, start fires, and dress for below freezing temps.

Adrian Owens, Sterling Faculty in Environmental Studies and Outdoor Education and Director of Athletics led the expedition with support from Courtney Gomola, Director of Community Partnerships, Anna Weber-Loomis '24, and a cohort of 8 students. Thanks to all for participating in this historic Sterling College rite of passage!

Sterling's Inclusion in the AAC&U Letter on Higher Education Autonomy

The letter expresses collective concern about recent federal actions under the current presidential administration that seek to exert undue political influence over American higher education institutions, particularly regarding research funding and institutional autonomy. The focus of the letter is on the importance of upholding academic freedom, dialogue, and the autonomy of colleges and universities in a democratic society.

Sterling College has and will continue to "share a commitment to serve as a center of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation."

Now Accepting Applications For Our

Pre-College Program in

Environmental Field Studies

This summer, trade the classroom for the forest, fields, and farm. Our Pre-College Program in Environmental Studies is launching this July, offering students the chance to dive into the world of ecological science and sustainable agriculture. The program is available to learners between the ages of 16 and 19 who are interested in science, agriculture, working landscapes, or outdoor recreation. Students may earn college credit through the program.

Vermont students are eligible for scholarships up to $2,000, while out-of-state students may receive scholarships up to $1,000. Scholarships are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis —secure your spot, apply today!

Sterling Farm CSA Now Open!

Sign-ups are open for our limited 2025 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares—available to local families, and friends of Sterling from mid-June through mid-October. Be sure to sign up by June 15!

Our CSA provides fresh, healthy food while giving students hands-on experience with production and marketing. Each year, we aim to support both Sterling College and the greater Craftsbury community with evolving share options.

We have small (individual) and large (family size) vegetable shares, and a cut flower share. There are a range of share dates to help meet your scheduling needs, and share types can be combined as well. We offer two, 7-week share sessions. Sign up for one that works for you, or both!

July 9th - August 20th, 2025

August 27th - October 8th, 2025

Weekly pick-up is on Wednesday 2:30 - 6:30 PM at Sterling College. Shares can be packed for late pick-up as needed.*

*Please let us know if the share dates or pick up times don't work for you! Our small scale allows us some flexibility to account for busy summer schedules!*

Join Us for Open House on May 3rd

Curious to learn more about Sterling College? Join us for Open House on Saturday, May 3rd from 10:30am - 2:00pm. Open House includes a campus tour visiting residence halls, classrooms, and the Sterling College Farm. Visitors will participate in curriculum-based workshops with members of our student body highlighting our A.A. and B.A. degree programs in Environmental Studies. 

These student-led workshops will delve into some of our concentrations in Ecology, Environmental Humanities, Outdoor Education, and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems.