Vicki Soto Memorial Fund, Inc.

Vicki Soto Memorial Fund, Inc. We are a Nonprofit started after my daughter Vicki Soto was killed in the Sandy Hook School Shooting. Vicki was the glue that held this family together.

In her memory we started the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund, Inc. Vicki was first and foremost the loving first child of Donna and Carlos Soto of Stratford, CT. She was born on November 4, 1985, and was a joy to all who knew her from the moment she was born. She was a fun-loving sister to Jillian, Carlee and Carlos Mathew. Most important to her were the “SOFACRO” gang, as the cousins call themselves. Sh

e was the one organizing all family events, including her favorite holiday, Christmas. She was the only one who could pick out that perfect tree! Secret Santa was a family tradition, as were outings with her cousins as often as they could all get together. She was a ball of energy and was always up for anything! Vicki had many friends and saw them often, but no one could ever replace her Rachel. They were like sisters since meeting in their early days of college. She also loved her black lab Roxie, who she would dress up – yes, dress up – and call her “Rita,” “Rita Ann,” “Rooney” and “Angela,” for no apparent reason. Not only was she beautiful on the outside, with those gorgeous blue eyes, but she was smart. Some may even say “perfect” and funny with a laugh that was contagious. Although she was taken from us far too soon, Vicki lived life every day and knew beyond her years how precious life truly is. Her mantra was: Live, Laugh, Love. Every single day Vicki did just that. She lived life passionately, laughed often and loved unconditionally.

- See more at: http://vickisotomemorial.com/about/ .q7nhV5bc.dpuf

🚨TODAY is the LAST DAY to submit applications for the 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial  Scholarship! Deadline is April 1, 2026🚨💌...
03/31/2026

🚨TODAY is the LAST DAY to submit applications for the 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship! Deadline is April 1, 2026🚨

💌New this year you may EMAIL your application or renewal.

🦩For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

Applicant must complete and submit the following by 4/1/26:

• An official copy of a high school transcript, including grades through the last reporting period.
• A letter of recommendation from one of your current teachers.
• Answers to our committee’s essay question.

🚨2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2026!🚨💌New this year you may EMAIL your application or renewa...
03/30/2026

🚨2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2026!🚨

💌New this year you may EMAIL your application or renewal.
🦩For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

Applicant must complete and submit the following by 4/1/26:

• An official copy of a high school transcript, including grades through the last reporting period.
• A letter of recommendation from one of your current teachers.
• Answers to our committee’s essay question.

🦩For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

Deadline 4/1/26You can email applications but do it quickly💚🩷💚🩷
03/29/2026

Deadline 4/1/26
You can email applications but do it quickly💚🩷💚🩷

🚨2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship deadline is approaching! 🚨

All applications are due by April 1, 2026! And new this year you can EMAIL your application.

The Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship, based in Stratford, offers a four-year *renewable* award totaling $12,000. We offer scholarships to our local high schools, Stratford High School and Bunnell High School, as well as a Connecticut statewide scholarship and a nationwide scholarship.

The eligible applicant must:
• Be a full-time senior student at an accredited 4-year high school, graduating in the spring of 2026.
• Intend to pursue a career in education at an accredited college.
• Embody Vicki and who she was as an educator.

Applicant must complete and submit the following by 4/1/26:
• An official copy of a high school transcript, including grades through the last reporting period.
• A letter of recommendation from one of your current teachers.
• Answers to our committee’s essay question.

🦩For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

🚨2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship deadline is approaching! 🚨Start gathering your documents! All applications are due...
03/21/2026

🚨2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship deadline is approaching! 🚨
Start gathering your documents! All applications are due by April 1, 2026!

💌New this year you may EMAIL your application or renewal. Regular mail also accepted.

The eligible applicant must:
• Be a full-time senior student at an accredited 4-year high school, graduating in the spring of 2026.
• Intend to pursue a career in education at an accredited college.
• Embody Vicki and who she was as an educator.

Applicant must complete and submit the following by 4/1/26:
• An official copy of a high school transcript, including grades through the last reporting period.
• A letter of recommendation from one of your current teachers.
• Answers to our committee’s essay question.

🦩For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

🚨2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship deadline is approaching! 🚨All applications are due by April 1, 2026! And new this ...
03/13/2026

🚨2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship deadline is approaching! 🚨

All applications are due by April 1, 2026! And new this year you can EMAIL your application.

The Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship, based in Stratford, offers a four-year *renewable* award totaling $12,000. We offer scholarships to our local high schools, Stratford High School and Bunnell High School, as well as a Connecticut statewide scholarship and a nationwide scholarship.

The eligible applicant must:
• Be a full-time senior student at an accredited 4-year high school, graduating in the spring of 2026.
• Intend to pursue a career in education at an accredited college.
• Embody Vicki and who she was as an educator.

Applicant must complete and submit the following by 4/1/26:
• An official copy of a high school transcript, including grades through the last reporting period.
• A letter of recommendation from one of your current teachers.
• Answers to our committee’s essay question.

🦩For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

Unlock Your Dream of Teaching! 🦩 Scholarship applications for the 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship are now open to s...
02/17/2026

Unlock Your Dream of Teaching!

🦩 Scholarship applications for the 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship are now open to students pursuing a degree in education. We have 4 scholarships to give away!

Visit teamvickisoto.com for more information and to download your application today!

New this year: we are accepting applications via email!!

This needs to stop Mark Zuckerberg and Meta.AI is now stealing real photos of Vicki, altering them, inventing scenes tha...
01/19/2026

This needs to stop Mark Zuckerberg and Meta.

AI is now stealing real photos of Vicki, altering them, inventing scenes that never happened, and then spreading those images with false information attached. This is not “honoring her story.” This is rewriting history.

We are reaching a critical point on Facebook where AI is actively replacing the real memory of Vicki with fabricated images and misinformation. Vicki was a real person. She lived, taught, loved, and died in a very real way. She does not need to be “reimagined,” enhanced, or rebranded by a machine chasing engagement.

Using AI-generated or altered images of a murdered teacher to farm likes, push narratives, or tell an inaccurate story is deeply disrespectful. It erases truth, it confuses younger generations, and it turns a human being into content.

If you want to share Vicki’s story, use real photos, verified facts, and accurate context. Anything else is exploitation, not remembrance.

Please stop sharing AI-generated images of Vicki. Report them when you see them. Protect her legacy.

December 14, 2012, Teacher Became a Real-Life Hero at Sandy Hook

Victoria Leigh Soto faced the unthinkable when a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School. Without hesitation, she hid her students, lied to protect them, and shielded them with her own body. In a terrifying act of courage, she took 11 bullets so her children could live. Her bravery saved lives and left an unforgettable mark on history.

At just 27 years old, Soto showed extraordinary selflessness, embodying the ultimate teacher’s devotion. Her actions remind us that true heroism can appear in ordinary people, in everyday places, when courage meets crisis. In the wake of tragedy, her story became a symbol of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of love over fear.

Victoria Soto’s legacy continues to inspire teachers, parents, and communities worldwide. Her sacrifice is remembered not just as a historical fact but as a reflection of humanity’s capacity for protection, courage, and moral courage. She reminds us that even in the darkest moments, one person can make a life-saving difference.

🦩Reminder: scholarship applications are open!!🦩Our 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship applications are now open for st...
01/18/2026

🦩Reminder: scholarship applications are open!!🦩

Our 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship applications are now open for students pursuing a degree in education!

For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

We have seen an increase in posts of this nature circulating on Facebook. We urge Meta and its leadership to take meanin...
01/09/2026

We have seen an increase in posts of this nature circulating on Facebook. We urge Meta and its leadership to take meaningful steps to address and limit the spread of misinformation on the platform.

The image being used in these posts is not of Vicki, it is an AI-generated image that misrepresents her identity. If individuals choose to express support, it is important that they do so using accurate and authentic information, including a correct photograph.

We do not endorse, condone, or approve of these posts or the misinformation they contain. Please report any and all posts of this nature. They are not from us.

On 12/14/2012, Victoria Leigh Soto went to work like any other day. She was 27 years old, a first-grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. By the end of the morning, she would be dead. Her students would be alive because of her.
When the sh**ter entered the school, Soto immediately understood what was happening. She did not freeze. She did not run. She acted.
She gathered her students and pushed them into a classroom closet and bathroom area, hiding them as quickly and quietly as possible. She placed herself between the children and the door.
When the gunman entered her classroom and demanded to know where the students were, Soto lied. She told him they were in the gym.
He did not believe her.
She was sh*t 11 times.
Despite her injuries, her actions bought enough time for her students to remain hidden. Every child in her classroom survived. Victoria Soto did not.
First responders later found her body near the doorway, positioned where she had tried to block entry. The children she protected were still alive, waiting silently where she had put them.
After her death, stories emerged of the kind of teacher she was. She saved up her own money to buy books for her students. She spoke often about wanting to be the teacher she had needed as a child. She believed deeply that children came first, no matter the cost.
Her family described her as gentle, joyful, and fiercely protective.
Victoria Soto did not have a weapon. She did not have training for violence. She had instinct, responsibility, and love.
She made a choice in seconds that cost her everything and saved others everything.
In 2013, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal. Schools, scholarships, and foundations now carry her name.
But the truest monument is invisible.
It is the ordinary lives being lived today by children who walked out of that classroom because one teacher stood in the way.
She did not survive.
They did.
That is what a heroic last stand looks like.

Our 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship applications are now open for students pursuing a degree in education! The Vick...
01/07/2026

Our 2026 Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship applications are now open for students pursuing a degree in education!

The Vicki Soto Memorial Scholarship, based in Stratford, offers a four-year *renewable* award totaling $12,000. We offer scholarships to our local high schools, Stratford High School and Bunnell High School, as well as a Connecticut statewide scholarship and a nationwide scholarship.

The eligible applicant must:
• Be a full-time senior student at an accredited 4-year high school, graduating in the spring of 2026.
• Intend to pursue a career in education at an accredited college.
• Embody Vicki and who she was as an educator.

Applicant must complete and submit the following by 4/1/26:
• An official copy of a high school transcript, including grades through the last reporting period.
• A letter of recommendation from one of your current teachers.
• Answers to our committee’s essay question.

🦩For more information and to download the application please visit teamvickisoto.com

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours. 💚🦩🎄
12/25/2025

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours. 💚🦩🎄

Address

2420 Main Street
Stratford, CT
06614

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