UNIVERSITY NEWS
Graduations
BURLINGTON — On Sunday, May 19, the University of Vermont Class of 2024 celebrated the university’s 223rd graduation, held on University Green in Burlington. In total, degrees were awarded to 3,412 graduates from 33 countries and 46 U.S. states. This included approximately 2,638 bachelor’s, 493 master’s, 133 doctoral, and 122 medical graduates. The college class of 2024 includes approximately 969 Vermonters and 464 students of color.
Four years ago, in the spring of 2020, as high school seniors made plans to come to UVM, a global pandemic suddenly shut down daily life. This class had to make do with high school graduations via Zoom, or drive-by recognitions in parking lots, or, in many cases, no ceremony at all.
A poignant moment was the awarding of a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree to class member Madie Christine Saltsburg, a UVM agroecology and landscape design student and Army ROTC member who died in a backcountry skiing accident in March.
Medical students from the Class of 2024 received their medical degrees at the Larner School of Medicine ceremony in UVM’s Ira Allen Chapel. The Class of 2024 was the first cohort to face the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic since they began their journey as medical students. Notable graduates include Elise Prehoda, student president and marshal of the class of 2024, who grew up on a small farm in rural Vermont; Mialovena Exume, first-generation college graduate from Haiti; and Alayna Westcom, Bakersfield native and Miss Vermont 2015.
BENNINGTON — On Saturday, June 1, 122 members of Bennington College’s Class of 2024 gathered at the south end of campus to receive their degrees. The institution awarded three master’s degrees, two in dance and one in public action, and 119 bachelor’s degrees. Undergraduate students studied Cultural Studies and Languages; Dance; Drama; Environmental studies; Literature; Music; Science and Mathematics; Society, Culture and Thought; and Visual Arts.
The graduates came from 28 states and eighteen countries, including Egypt, India, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam, and They were aged between 19 and 53 years. Both Friday’s commencement addresses and Saturday’s graduation ceremony are available on the university’s graduation website.
AROUND THE VILLAGE
V
ermont days
As part of Vermont Days, the State of Vermont is offering free admission to Vermont State Parks and Vermont State Historic Sites on Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9. To request accessible housing, email elle.ocasey@vermont.gov or call 802-760-9967. Various family events that take place include:
Vermont State Historic Sites: Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm Fly a kite. Visitors are encouraged to bring a kite and fly it at a state historic site, or they can purchase one at sites with gift shops.
MONTPELIER – Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vermont History Museum, 109 State St., with admission by donation for residents and non-residents, several exhibits tell the history of Vermont and the people who have lived here.
TOWNSHEND – Saturday, June 8, noon to 3 pm Lorie DeHimer Concert at Townshend State Park, 2755 State Forest Road. Acoustic music from a local performer.
NORTH HERO – Saturday, June 8, 3-5 pm Knights Point State Park, 44 Knights Point Road. Musical storytelling by Eli Elkus, free concert with park admission.
‘Seed trips’
GRANVILLE, NY – The Slate Valley Museum invites the public to its second session of the Seed Journeys series, “Welsh Soldiers Wearing Leeks and the Irish Potato from Feast to Famine to Sustainability,” on Saturday, June 8, from 10:00 p.m. 30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 17 Water St. in Granville. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available.
2024 Artist in Residence Serena Kovalosky to share Welsh and Irish stories; Visitors can co-create a community art installation. Also featured are slate splitting demonstrations by Jon Hill of Greenstone Slate Co. and pottery demonstrations by Victoria Whitney of North Granville Pottery Co.
All activities are included in the museum’s regular admission price: $5 per person (ages 12 and up), $3 for seniors, and free for children under 12, slate workers and their families, veterans and current military members.
Exhibition opening
RUTLAND – Chaffee Art Center invites the community to the opening reception on June 11 from 5 to 7 pm for The Equalizer, an exhibition about originality, diversity and individuality featuring “Beyond the Curve, American Abenaki COVID Experience.” This exhibition will be on display until July 19.
The June meeting of the Rutland Region Chamber and Economic Development will also be held. Offering live piano music from Marna Grove, refreshments, a guided tour of the Chaffee Mansion, a 50/50 raffle and prizes.
Attendance is free. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food donations for BROC Community Action. Some items for the evening have been donated by Ann Clark Ltd., Mountain Cider Co., Roger and Janet Block.
Flood protection
Governor Scott and Vermont Emergency Management announced that $90 million in federal funding is now available for Vermont municipalities to implement hazard mitigation measures that reduce the risk of future flooding. These funds are available to all Vermont cities without any local match requirement.
The Federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funds to municipalities to strengthen infrastructure against future flood losses and for the voluntary purchase of floodplain homes. The program traditionally requires cities to pay 25% of the total project cost; the state of Vermont will now pay the local match.
Cities and towns are strongly encouraged to identify problem areas and submit a pre-application by August 16. Pre-applications should only provide basic information about a proposed project; More technical information will be reviewed as the application progresses. Vermont Regional Planning and Emergency Management Commission staff will assist communities throughout the process.
For more information, visit www.vem.vermont.gov/funding/mitigation or email dps.hazardmitigation@vermont.gov.
AROUND VT
eye in the sky
St. JOHNSBURY – A new voice keeps an “eye on the sky,” meteorologist Megan Duncan will create and produce forecasts starting this month for the Fairbanks Museum and Vermont Public weather service. She is the museum’s first female meteorologist. Duncan joins Mark Breen and Lawrence Hayes, replacing Steve Maleski, who will retire this summer.
VTF&W
free fishing
The annual Statewide Summer Free Fishing Day in Vermont is this Saturday, June 8 and will be celebrated at the “Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival” held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ed Weed Fish Station Culture, 14 Bell Hill Road in Grand Isla. Vermont’s regular bass season also begins June 8.
Designed for families and young or novice anglers, this event offers basic fishing instruction and the opportunity for children to catch trout in a hatchery pond. No previous fishing experience is necessary. Vermont Fish & Wildlife will provide fishing rods, reels and bait for participants to use.
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