Lyme School social studies teacher Jane Officer was one of 160 teachers nationwide chosen to attend the George Washington Teacher Institute in Mount Vernon, Va., from Aug. 8 to 12.

Officer, New Hampshire’s history teacher of the year for 2016, lived on the first U.S. president’s estate while participating in discussions on the topic of “The Great Experiment: George Washington and the Founding of the U.S. Government.”

Officer teaches seventh-graders at the Lyme School.

By Degrees

Lebanon resident Christina Drake graduated from Nichols College during commencement ceremonies on May 6 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

Ithaca College in upstate New York awarded bachelor’s degrees in May to Woodstock resident Chase Smith, Norwich’s John Higgins, Newport’s James Estabrook and Randolph’s Marissa Achee.

Collegiate Recognition

Bethel resident Amanda Cassidy received the Mardy Trask Sorenson Greek Woman of the Year award from the University of Vermont’s fraternity and sorority life organization. She is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, and was recognized for exceptional effort in philanthropic causes and community service.

Rivendell Academy graduate Megan Perkins earned a place on the dean’s list at St. Lawrence University in Potsdam, N.Y., for maintaining a grade-point average of at least 3.6 out of a possible 4.0 during the spring 2017 semester. A resident of Vershire, she is beginning her senior year as an anthropology major.

Newport resident Christopher Lawrence achieved dean’s high honors at Nichols College for earning a grade-point average of at least 3.6 out of a possible 4.0 during the spring semester at the Dudley, Mass., school.

Four Upper Valley residents were named to the dean’s list at Merrimack College, for their academic performance during the spring 2017 semester at the North Andover, Mass., school.

Making the grade were Lebanon resident Miranda Judd, North Haverhill’s Samuel Fairfield, Piermont’s Noah Gaudette and Springfield, Vt.’s Matthew Reeves.

 Lebanon resident Audrey Swift, Plainfield’s Kelsie Atwater and Wilder’s Ana Peltzer earned the Dean’s Award with distinction at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., during the spring 2017 semester.

Students qualifying for the award with distinction maintained a grade-point average of at least 3.6 out of a possible 4.0.

Peltzer is a graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School, while Swift and Atwater both graduated from Lebanon High School.

Colgate also conferred a Dean’s Award on sophomore Brandon Gardner, a Fairlee resident who graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, for maintaining a GPA of between 3.3 and 3.59.

Springfield, Vt., resident James Mobus was named to the dean’s list at the University of Dallas, for earning a grade-point average of between 3.5 and 4.0 during the spring 2017 semester. He is majoring in mathematics.

Bradford, Vt., resident Jonathan Yelle and Randolph’s Claudia Gee were named to the dean’s list at Becker College, for their academic performance during the spring 2017 semester. They made the grade by maintaining grade-point averages of at least 3.5 out of a possible 4.0.

Ithaca College in upstate New York named seven Upper Valley residents to its dean’s list for the spring 2017 semester.

Making the grade were West Lebanon’s Rose Munsey-Kano, White River Junction’s Justin Pero, Plainfield’s Chase McGough, Grantham’s Otto Bonk, Sunapee’s James McAlister and Plymouth, Vt.’s Sahara Bebo.

Luis Ferrer-Labarca of White River Junction was named to the dean’s list at Georgia State University during the spring 2017 semester.

Husson University conferred honors on five Upper Valley residents for their academic achievements during the spring 2017 semester at the Bangor, Maine, school.

Claremont’s Zachary Napsey made the Husson dean’s list by maintaining an average of between 3.6 and 3.79 out of a possible 4.0.

Making the honors list for maintaining grade-point averages of between 3.4 and 3.59 were Meriden’s Jessica Dessert, who is majoring in criminal justice, and Springfield, Vt.’s Joshua Hoy.

Springfield, Vt., residents Lillianna Moore and Benjamin Tubbs earned places on the president’s list with GPAs between 3.8 and 4.0. Moore, a junior, is studying elementary education, while Tubbs, a sophomore, is majoring in physical education.

Community Service Opportunities

COVER Home Repair is inviting Upper Valley residents to serve a year with COVER’s work teams, as part of the Americorps program of community service. To learn more, visit coverhomerepair.org or call 802-296-7241 or email john@coverhomerepair.org.

David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com. Education-related news and announcements also can be sent to schoolnotes@vnews.com.