Celebrating Opportunity: Dan Smith Honored at CCV Commencement
The VCF was honored to join the Community College of Vermont’s 2026 commencement ceremony and celebrate this year’s graduates.
During the ceremony, VCF President & CEO Dan Smith received CCV’s Community Service Award, a recognition that reflects a longstanding partnership focused on expanding educational and economic opportunities for Vermonters.
Together, CCV, the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation, and VCF have supported initiatives serving veterans and military-connected students, multilingual learners, incarcerated Vermonters, and young people all across Vermont in their exploration of college and career pathways.
“It’s a true honor to be recognized by the Community College of Vermont, one of Vermont’s most important and effective engines of opportunity,” said Dan Smith. “We’re grateful to partner in work that helps more Vermonters advance their education, build meaningful careers, and strengthen the place they call home.”
Since 2016, Dan has led the VCF through some of Vermont’s most challenging and defining moments, helping guide statewide responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the floods of 2023, 2024, and 2025 while advancing initiatives focused on thriving rural communities and expanding opportunity across the state
The McClure Foundation is a 30-year affiliate of the Vermont Community Foundation that works to close the opportunity gap and strengthen rural communities by expanding access to postsecondary education and training opportunities, particularly for young Vermonters. Its work is guided by curiosity about what fosters hope among young people that they can imagine—and build—bright futures in Vermont.
CCV is Vermont’s second-largest college, serving more than 10,000 students each year. With 12 locations and extensive online learning options, students don’t have to travel far from their communities to access degree and certificate programs, workforce, secondary and continuing education opportunities, and academic and veterans support services.
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