09/10/2026
Way to go Nettie!
Oxbow High School Student is National “GEAR UP Student Leader of the Year”
Bradford senior Nettie Morse is honored in Washington, DC for her work in VSAC’s GEAR UP Program
WINOOSKI - Aneta “Nettie” Morse, a senior at Oxbow High School in Bradford, Vermont, knows what it means to show up. Nettie was recently named the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) GEAR UP Student Leader of the Year at the organization's annual "Lighting the Way" conference in Washington, DC, an honor selected from among hundreds of students nationwide.
NCCEP represents organizations like VSAC who work with Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) funding. GEAR UP programs nationwide help students access and succeed in postsecondary education and careers. In Vermont, VSAC’s GEAR UP provides services to 2,200 students in grades 7-12, through 11 VSAC counselors working in 37 Vermont middle and high schools in rural and underserved communities. VSAC has been serving Vermont students under a GEAR UP grant since GEAR UP’s inception in 1999.
The GEAR UP Student Leader of the Year recognizes a student who goes above and beyond for their GEAR UP Program, encourages other students to get involved in college and career readiness, and embodies the change they want to see in the world. The award includes a $2500 scholarship.
"We are so excited for Nettie, and so proud of her accomplishments!" noted Ken Cadow, Oxbow High School Principal. "Nettie is a three-sport athlete, a tireless volunteer, a leader in VSAC's GEAR UP, a principal's honor roll student, a Quest Bridge College Prep Scholar, and she was the top Quest Bridge Junior in Vermont. To top it all off, as an intern in our IT Department, Nettie has been our in-house go-to when anything goes wrong with technology, from printer issues to hard drives. She shows up as scholar, leader, volunteer, athlete, and most of all, an extraordinary person whose time at Oxbow High School will continue to shape our community for years to come. Nettie is an inspiration to all."
GEAR UP has a strong impact in Vermont: 93% of GEAR UP seniors graduate high school, and 56% enroll in college—compared to 45% of Vermont students overall and just 30% of economically challenged students. In addition, students who participate in GEAR UP are more likely to persist in college and earn degrees. Scott Giles, VSAC President and CEO, noted that Nettie is a shining star in Vermont’s GEAR UP program. "Nettie has excelled at what this program is designed to do—help students see a future for themselves and then build it. Her leadership, both in her own achievements and in lifting up other students, reminds us of what determination and resilience can help achieve.”
Nettie is also one of the founding members of VSAC GEAR UP Leads, the first-ever student-led leadership club in VSAC’s GEAR UP Program, and she recently accepted a spot on the brand new VSAC Vermont GEAR UP Student Advisory Committee, working to give voice to GEAR UP across Vermont.
Upon accepting the award, Nettie said, “I’m truly humbled to be recognized for this honor because I know how amazing all my fellow GEAR UP students are. I fell in love with what GEAR UP stands for and for the first time, I started to imagine what my future could look like, and I knew I wanted other students to have the same realization. Growing up in Vermont, it can feel like you’re living in a bubble. But VSAC’s GEAR UP showed me what is possible when someone believes in your potential before you believe in yourself. Whether you’re from a small town or big city, you don’t have to change the world—you just have to be willing to say ‘yes.’”
Nettie thanked her VSAC counselors, Sara Vargo and Kassidy Moore, for encouraging her to “step into rooms that are somewhat challenging and a little scary because that’s what they knew I needed to thrive.” Watch the full video of Nettie’s acceptance speech at the award celebration.
Photo: Nettie Morse accepts the GEAR UP Student Leader of the Year award from Betty Paugh Ortiz, NCCEP Vice President of Programs.
youtube.com/watch?v=X924PSncdWM&authuser=0
