We were joined at our meeting by Elizabeth Frascoia, Executive Director and Tamira Martel, Development Director for the Governor’s Institute of Vermont (GIV).  The majority of the presentation was done by Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Frascoia
Elizabeth asked the following opening questions.  She asked, “What did you care about at the age of 16?” Our members responded with the following thoughts: sex, money, sports, driving a car, coming to America. Elizabeth then went on to share how GIV is trying to expand what our high school students are thinking about.
The Governor’s Institute of Vermont is a nonprofit helping teenagers to become:
  • big-picture thinkers
  • problem solvers and innovators
  • skilled to meet the challenges of the modern world
GIV partners with various Vermont colleges/universities to offer their programs.
 From the GIV website, https://giv.org/:
The Governor’s Institutes helps Vermont create productive, empowered, and engaged young adults by reaching out to diverse learners with high-impact, world-class learning opportunities that stimulate their personal growth and expand their aspirations, perspectives, and career horizons.
Mission and Philosophy
GIV’s mission is to help Vermont create productive, empowered, and engaged young adults by reaching out to diverse learners with high-impact, world-class learning opportunities that stimulate their personal growth and expand their aspirations, perspectives, and career horizons. Learn more about the team here.
Our Vision is a World In Which…
  • Young people who have academic enthusiasm and aspirations feel safe, supported, and encouraged to pursue intellectual and creative questions, as well as school and career goals, that fulfill their highest potential.
  • Motivated artists’ and students’ access to and participation in accelerated learning is determined by talent and interest and not limited by demographics, economic means, or geography.
  • Young people engage deeply, creatively and joyfully in advanced learning they care about and emerge with a passion for learning, new skills in their field, and tools for building community.
  • Vermont’s high-potential students have an effective and powerful advocate for their education and achievement.
GIV is committed to making world-class, accelerated enrichment programs financially and geographically accessible to every young person throughout Vermont, GIV encourages participation without regard to economic status, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical ability.
High school is a vital part of young peoples lives, and GIV has a decades-long track record of helping students engage more critically in their high school academics as well as raising the bar on their future horizons.
Students and young artists come from all walks of life, from the economically disadvantaged and rurally isolated to those who have many advantages but whose needs are underserved by their schools.
Institutes are hosted on Vermont college campuses to give students the opportunity to rehearse their futures. They’ll sample college life and get a feel for campus, learn to live with a roommate, and delve into intensive study. Each year, a startling number of GIV graduates call their Institute experiences “life-changing.”
Following an Institute experience, GIV encourages students and young artists to engage in their communities and become involved citizens. Faculty and staff are available to alums as they consider future school and career choices.
GIV hold residential programs (one week or two weeks) that help students explore academic and artistic interests.  Some of the residencies can lead to college credit.
In 2024, they served 544 students.  The covered the topics of the arts, engineering, entrepreneurship, environmental science, technology, global issues, health and medicine, mathematical science and design.
They surveyed alumni and learned:
  • 98% achieved positive long-lasting outcomes
  • 88% described the program as the their most important high school experience; and 99% went on to college
  • 93% of alumni reported that GIV was influential as they made decisions about the course of their future
  • 79% of alumni reported greater awareness of career or educational opportunities after attending GIV.
Over the lifetime of GIV, they have touched 13,500 students. The budget for 2024 was over $875, 000. 55% of students come from low-income households.  Tuition is based on a sliding scale. This year 250 students had to be turned away due to lack of funding.
Although they serve primarily children in Vermont, they will accept students who are a part of cross-border school districts like Hanover.
Elizabeth shared her own story as an alumnus for the program.
As a student, Elizabeth focused on developing her ability to play a trombone.  She was exposed to new genres of music.  This experience helped her grow into a professional musician and led to many professional opportunities as a musician.
Tamira closed with the request she asked that we:
  • Keep in touch!
  • Sign up for the email list, and follow GIV on Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn @governorsinstitutesvt
  • Encourage a 9th, 10th, 11th grader to apply
  • Volunteer (mostly remote opportunities)
  • Introduce us to someone who can help financially (businesses, foundations, individuals)