River Valley Technical Center bestows awards, scholarships

The River Valley Technical Center held its annual awards ceremony honoring students for being program completers, earning industry-recognized credentials, college credit and gold medal winners.

River Valley Technical Center bestows awards, scholarships Jun 08, 2014 Photo by: Courtesy River Valley Technical Director Judy Pullinen speaks to students recently during the year-end awards ceremony. At right is Assistant Director Scott Farr and at left is Assistant Director of Adult Education Kelly Broker-Campbell. SPRINGFIELD — The River Valley Technical Center held its annual awards ceremony honoring students for being program completers, earning industry-recognized credentials, college credit and gold medal winners. Technical center scholarships were awarded to students who achieved the highest standards in technical education and who plan on pursuing a post-secondary education. The Horticulture and Natural Resources, William Drude Memorial Scholarship and the Vermont Land Trust Award were awarded to Brennan Douglas of Bellows Falls Union High School. The New England Culinary Institute scholarship was awarded to Elizabeth Manuel of Black River High School. The Tom Leever Health Careers scholarship was awarded to Morgan Little of Green Mountain Union High School. The Christine Lawler Scholarship was awarded to Makayla Smith of Springfield High School. The VSAC Vermont Honor Scholarship was also awarded to Makayla Smith. The Kurt Dechen Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Cameron Chiesa of Springfield High School. The Roger McNamara Spirit Scholarship was awarded to Seth Matlofsky of Green Mountain High School. The Assistant Director's Scholarship was awarded to Taylor Rocke of Fall Mountain Regional High School. The Director's Scholarship was awarded to Brennan Douglass of Bellows Falls Union High School. The Director's Award, which bears the name on a plaque at RVTC, was awarded to Cameron Chiesa. The Outstanding Student of the Year award was given to a student in each program who exemplifies the center-wide employability skills; dependability, organization, communication, problem-solving and collaboration. This year's Outstanding Students of the Year were awarded to: Benjaman Pennell in the audio-video production program, Cameron Chiesa in the business and financial services program, John Fish in the carpentry program, Lisa Tallman in the criminal justice program, Patience Bearse and Katherine Szuch in the culinary arts program, Meghan Thomas in the health careers program, Hunter Roys in the horticulture and natural resources program, Kylie Freitas, Lawrence Brooks in the industrial trades program, Thoreau Blanchard in the mechanical design and innovation program, and Brandon Cote in the hands on computers program. The Most Improved Student awards were handed out in each program. In audio-video productions, Jamee Jones of Springfield High School; in business and financial services, Michael Taylor of Fall Mountain Regional High School; in carpentry, Christopher Josselyn of Black River High School; in criminal justice, Kyle Fischer of Springfield High School; in culinary arts, Zia Stumpf and Ian O'Brien; in hands on computers, Zia Stumpf; in health careers, Brianna Pleisch; in horticulture and natural resources, Charles Berry of Black River High School; in human services, Desiree Lapine of Springfield High School; in industrial trades, Cody Kerr of Bellows Falls Union High School; in mechanical design and innovation, Matthew Shambo-Hitchcock of Springfield High School; for technology essentials, Joshua Rivers of Springfield High School; for pre-technical Studies, Xin (Gary) Shi of Springfield High School.