L
The council will co-host a forum for aspiring STEM students from 9 to 11 a.m. on Nov. 15 at the high school, as part of its 2018 TechWomen Ambassadors Week in the Granite State. In Lebanon and at several other high schools around the state, students will be matched with academics and professionals who will talk about what attracted them to their fields and how the students can pursue careers.
“Each year I have added the number of speakers and neighboring schools,” Joy Gobin, the high school’s coordinator of extended-learning opportunities, wrote in an exchange of emails last week. “I have just started reaching out to business and industry for this year’s event. We are blessed to live in an area with such rich resources and women willing to share their experiences.”
Lebanon is co-hosting the TechWomen forum for the fourth time. Gobin said that 15 mentors, from such businesses as Hypertherm, Fujifilm Dimatix, TomTom, Red River and Ansys Engineering Simulations, as well as from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, worked with about 130 freshman girls from Lebanon, Hanover and Stevens high schools and from Mascoma Valley and Kearsarge regional high schools at the 2017 forum. That gathering also featured LHS then-senior Sophia Miller, now a freshman at Dartmouth College, describing her research on the herbicide Roundup.
“Research tells us that only 20 percent of all tech jobs are held by women,” Gobin said. “The exposure of hearing and meeting successful women in the tech field is a chance for all girls to understand the importance of engaging in math, science, engineering and technology.”
To volunteer as a TechWoman Ambassador for Lebanon High School’s Nov. 15 forum, reach out to Joy Gobin at jgobin@sau88.net or call 603-448-2055, ext. 2017. To learn more about the TechWoman program, visit nhhtc.org or email Melissa Jurkoic at melissa.jurkoic@amadeus.com.
Parental Guidance
In the first of a series of monthly presentations for parents of children with major emotional disorders, experts from the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) tonight will outline the basic concepts behind the crafting of individual education plans (IEPs) for public schoolchildren.
The presentation, co-hosted by the nonprofit NH Parent Information Center, starts at 6 tonight at NAMI’s headquarters at 85 North State St. in Concord. Representatives of the center will be available for follow-up questions at 7. The alliance advises parents to RSVP to Rebecca Bennett at rbennett@naminh.org or at 603-496-0968.
All the Valley’s a Stage
The World Under Wonder theater company is inviting Upper Valley students in grades 3 to 8 to its 2018-2019 classes in art, movement and dance, voice and acting, at its new playhouse in Ascutney.
The classes are aimed at preparing participants to perform in World Under Wonder’s musical production in the spring of 2019. Classes cover art on Monday afternoons, movement and dance on Tuesdays, voice on Wednedays and acting on Thursdays. Options for payment are $10 a day, $30 a week and $100 a month.
To learn more, email worldunderwonder@gmail.com. The program also is looking for high school counselors-in-training to assist the class instructors.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
The New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers recently conferred its excellence-in-teaching award in STEM subjects to Etna resident Alison Gorman, for her years teaching middle-school math at Crossroads Academy in Lyme.
■In advance of her senior year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, West Lebanon resident Lindsey Merrill spent the summer helping members of the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Mass., start an after-school program that encourages kids to learn beyond the classroom about science, technology, engineering, art and math. Merrill, who is majoring in biology and biotechnology, did the work as a research project with fellow WPI students.
By Degrees
Plainfield resident Anna M. Hadlock graduated from Boston College on May 21, with a bachelor’s degree combining elementary education with applied psychology and human development. She is now pursuing master’s degree studies in social work and criminology at the University of Pennsylvania.
■The University of Connecticut awarded two bachelor’s degrees to Hartland resident Mitchell Simmons, during commencement ceremonies in May. Simmons, who also was named to UConn’s dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester, studied allied health sciences and sports management.
■South Royalton resident Shad Orechovesky recently graduated from Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, with a veterinary doctorate and a master’s in public health.
■Randolph resident Zach Laperle received a bachelor’s degree in international business, during commencement ceremonies on May 19 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
■ Ithaca College awarded bachelor’s degrees to West Lebanon’s Rose Munsey-Kano, Grantham’s Otto Bonk and New London’s Connor Shannon, during commencement ceremonies in May. Munsey-Kano graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English, Bonk earned summa cum laude recognition in political science and Shannon earned a degree in culture and communication.
■Newport resident Colby Little received a bachelor’s degree in health science from Western New England College, during the Springfield, Mass., school’s commencement ceremony on May 19.
■The Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology awarded bachelor’s degrees to White River Junction resident James Abrams (film and animation), Barnard’s Tessa Mellinger (biomedical engineering), Claremont’s Joshua Strobel (environmental science) and Sunapee’s Phillip Ridley (chemical engineering).
■Woodstock resident Caitlin Bernard graduated with a master’s degree in college student personnel administration from James Madison University on May 4.
■Union College awarded Charlestown resident Brendan Spilsbury a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.
■Lebanon resident Heather King (sports management), Claremont’s Samantha Graser (human services), Sunapee’s Erika Waterman (health science) and Jack Weinberger (movement and sports studies), and Springfield, Vt., resident Meghan Thomas (athletic training) received bachelor’s degrees recently from Springfield (Mass.) College.
Faith-Based Education
Upper Valley Classical Conversations is inviting Christian parents of home-schooled children to an open house and informational meeting about its Bible-based programs next week at the Valley Bible Church in White River Junction.
The open house next Wednesday, Sept. 19, begins at 9 a.m. The information meeting begins at 3 p.m. To learn more, visit classicalconversations.com or call Rachael Foley at 802-886-1165.
High School Honors
Lebanon High School’s faculty and administration has named senior Cameron Stevens as its student of the month for September. In nominating Stevens for the recognition, English teacher Deb Nelson pointed to his “quiet concern for others,” particularly in helping classmates while preparing himself for a rigorous exam in American literature during his junior year.
Community Service
Lebanon Cub Scout Pack 279 will be signing up new members at two elementary schools over the next two Thursday evenings. The pack is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through grade 5.
The first registration session is this Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 at Hanover Street School. The Sept. 20 session takes place at Mount Lebanon School in West Lebanon, from 6:30 to 7:30. To learn more, visit lebanonscouts.com.
Educator Excellence
The American School Counselor Association recently honored the counseling office at Thetford Academy as a model program for “delivering a comprehensive, data-driven” service and “an exemplary educational environment.” Thetford is one of two Vermont schools to receive this recognition.
Collegiate Achievement
Plymouth State University named several Upper Valley residents to its president’s and dean’s lists for the spring semester. President’s list recipients (grade point average of 3.7 to 4.0), by hometown:
Enfield — Nicholas Doughty, Heather Thompson, Kyle Kosiorek, Kialah Reeder, Abigail Michaels and Evelyn Arroyo.
Lebanon — Elana Midura and Juniorlee Henry.
Hanover — Alyssa Lenning and Camden MacLeay.
Plainfield — Samuel Clifton.
Orford — Cassandra Gray.
Strafford — Nicole Bates.
Grantham — Olivia Smith and Emily Krueger.
Claremont — Ryan Shattuck, Mariah Davis and Josienne Lafreniere.
Newport — Daniel Chasse and Allison Howe.
Sunapee — Kylie Hershey.
Randolph — Lindsey Robinson.
Dean’s list (3.5 to 3.69 GPA):
Enfield — Matthew Ferland and Sawyer Connolly.
Canaan — Pashents White and Ethan Neily.
Plainfield — Abigail Brann.
Cornish — Robert Jaarsma.
Woodstock — Grace McKeon.
Orford — Jenna Whitehill and Kayla Gould.
Grantham — Gavin Morgan.
Newport — Patrick Hennig, Rachel Stark and Scott Foisy.
Charlestown — Connor Spaulding.
David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com and at 603-727-3304.