An environmental studies degree will unlock Soren’s goal of becoming a game warden

VTDigger · Sponsor Spotlight · September 9, 2026

Soren Stelma-Leonard aspires to a career as a game warden. For him, it’s about spending as much time as possible outside in the woods, an experience he’s always found peaceful and grounding.

Law enforcement has long been an interest, but after he did a ride-along job shadow with both a sheriff and a game warden, he realized there were aspects of the game warden job he was much more invested in.

“Preventing, stopping, and investigating poaching is really interesting to me,” Soren said. “I grew up walking with my dad when he hunted and started hunting myself a few years ago. The ethics of hunting are really important to me and being in a position to help keep the woods open, safe and available, that really calls to me.”

He spent a week at a junior game warden camp in Quechee two years ago, which showed him additional aspects of the job (like learning to work with dogs as K9 units) that solidified his interest in pursuing the career.

A 2026 graduate at Craftsbury Academy in Craftsbury, Soren ran cross country and was a track and field athlete. He takes every opportunity to get outside, helping with his neighbor’s sugaring operation, logging and fixing lines. He also worked at Jay Peak as a climbing wall guide.

Applying Early Decision to University of Vermont

To meet the requirements of the game warden job, Soren will need, at the minimum, an associate degree in environmental studies, or a bachelor’s degree in a related field. He started working with his VSAC GEAR UP counselor, Amanda Frattaroli, in his junior year at Craftsbury Academy. Soren applied to a few colleges in Vermont and in neighboring states and ultimately landed on the University of Vermont (UVM).

“Financial aid was a huge factor in my decision,” he noted. “Speaking with Amanda about the costs and how the financial pieces worked really helped me understand the pros and cons of each of my options.”

Amanda worked with Soren on his FAFSA financial aid forms, and she helped him stay organized with the application and deadlines. He decided to pursue early decision at UVM and was excited to receive his acceptance letter last December.

“I had my decision when others were stressing about applying,” he noted. “That gave me time to focus on additional scholarships and the rest of what I needed to do to finish out my senior year at Craftsbury and prepare for my first year at UVM.”

Much of Soren’s strategy with Amanda focused on working backwards from each deadline. They worked through the student checklist together and created outlines of everything that needed to happen for him to be fully prepared at each juncture. “I felt like I really understood the timeline and what needed to be done at every step,” Soren said.

UVM Promise and VSAC scholarships are closing Soren’s financial aid gap

Soren was especially excited to learn about the UVM Promise, which covers in-state tuition after scholarships and grants for income-eligible students. Soren’s dad works in sales for a local seed company, and his mom coordinates events; his brother is also attending UVM and Soren knew he’d have to make a smart financial decision on his education. He says that a VSAC GEAR UP scholarship is helping as well.

Soren is confident that he’s made a solid choice. As he starts his first year at UVM, he’s looking forward to the experience, and for the opportunity to stay connected to so many of his passions: spending time in the woods, hunting, sugaring, and his home community.

The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan, loan refinance, and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn .

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