Announcements

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Local recognition

Don Phillips Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Vermont Rural Water Association

Don Phillips, of Williston, stands with his wife Cecile after he received the VRWA Tony Torchia Award from Vermont Rural Water Association during the annual conference held at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vt. earlier this month.
Photo contributed

The Vermont Rural Water Association (VRWA) recently honored Don Phillips, of Williston, with the Tony Torchia Award during its annual conference and trade show held at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vt.  Don and his wife Cecile were special guests of VRWA for the conference event.  The Tony Torchia Award is presented on an annual basis by VRWA to an individual for their outstanding service efforts over a career in the water industry.  As a professional engineer Phillips served over 40 years assisting many Vermont communities with planning, design, construction and upgrades to their water and wastewater infrastructure.  He recently retired from Aldrich + Elliot, based in Essex Junction, and is now enjoying some well-deserved travel time with his wife.

“I really didn’t think I did anything special over my career,” Phillips said. “What I did focus on was insuring I always acted in a manner that built trust and respect at a very personal level.  It was very rewarding for me to have built some very close relationships over the years with many different folks including, system personnel, regulators, other engineers, as well as many local and state officials.”

VRWA wishes Don all the best as he enjoys his retirement, and thanks him for providing such stellar service to the water industry over his entire career.

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EHS sophomore wins mathematics talent search

Other Essex High School students among the winners

Matthew Wu

Essex High School sophomore Matthew Wu was the top prizewinner of the 20th Annual Mathematics Talent Search sponsored by the Vermont State Mathematics Coalition.  Wu tied for first place last year and placed second in 2011. Jean Ohlson, Chair of the Coalition’s Talent Search, introduced the top winners at a Sunset Ballroom dinner on April 30. Secretary of Education, Armando Vilaseca praised the students in his remarks and encouraged their continuance of the study of mathematics.

Second place winner was Yuzhou (Oscar) Lin, a senior at Thetford Academy and third place winner was Zachary Farr, a sophomore at Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans.

Vignesh Rajendran

Others in the top nine, all receiving sophisticated graphing calculator software from

Texas Instruments representative Jim Donatelli, were Vignesh Rajendran, a sophomore at Essex High School, Aleksandra Zakrewska, a senior at South Burlington High School, Matthew Ellison, a freshman at  Mount Mansfield Union High School, Tristan Ohlson a  junior at South Burlington High School, Binyan (Mike) Ding, a junior at Lyndon Institute, and Andrey Chmykh, a sophomore at Essex High School.

Adnrey Chmykh

The winners are all invited to be a part of the team of 15 representing Vermont in the annual American Region Mathematics League competition at Penn State University on May 30 and many will be attending the Governor’s Institute in the Mathematical Sciences which the Vermont State Mathematics Coalition operates at the University of Vermont in June.

For further information contact Bob Chaffee, Executive Director, Vermont State Mathematics Coalition at (802) 878-4813.

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Jeffrey Kent makes Eagle Scout

Jeffrey Kent

Jeffrey Kent, a member of the Boy Scout Troop No. 624 and a resident of Essex Junction, has earned the honor of Eagle Scout, the highest rank that the Boy Scouts offers. Only 3 to 4 percent of Boy Scout members ever attain this prestigious honor.

Kent, 17, of Essex High School, achieved the 21 merit badges required to receive the Eagle Scout award. For his final project he built two handicap accessible picnic tables and two raised flowerbeds for Albert D. Lawton Intermediary School.

“I really appreciate everyone who helped me through this process.  It was an amazing experience and I’ll never forget it.”

A ceremony honoring Kent will take place at a later date.

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“Soaring Eagle” award

Photo contributed

Randall Raner, of Essex, was recently awarded the “Soaring Eagle” award by Kinder Brothers International (KBI) — a management and leadership firm for the insurance industry located in Dallas, Texas. Raner is a firm principal for KBI, and was one of 14 other field leaders recognized with this award.

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Hermance Music Scholarship

Ryan Wolbach

Ryan C. Wolbach a senior at Essex High School was recently awarded the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association’s (VYOA) 2013 Hermance Music Scholarship at the Flynn Theater this past Sunday, May 5.  Wolbach performed the 1811 Carl Maria von Weber’s “Clarinet Concertino in E Flat (Op. 26).”  The scholarship is given to one of the five outstanding senior student soloists that performed with the VYOA organization this past year.  Wolbach will be attending The University of Vermont this coming fall majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Music Performance.

The Hermance Prize is awarded annually to a Vermont Youth Orchestra senior who has performed as a soloist with a VYOA orchestra during the concert season. Established in 1990 by the parents and grandfather of pianist Harry Hermance, this award is presented in honor of his commitment to musical excellence.