Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The 2018 Commencement speaker at Saint Michael’s College on May 13 at 10 a.m. in the Ross Sports Center will be New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, whose leadership in the removal of Confederate monuments last year led to his powerful and nationally acclaimed speech about the matter a year ago. Landrieu learned recently that he will be honored for those efforts with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award later in May.

Also receiving honorary degrees at Commencement in this 175th anniversary year of the Society of St. Edmund (Saint Michael’s College’s founding religious order), will be the Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, SSE, a former Saint Michael’s trustee and professor who also was Edmundite Superior General from 1986 to 1991; and Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University since 1989 and a dedicated champion for educating low-income black, Latino and immigrant Washington women.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) today released the statewide performance results from the 2017 assessments in reading and mathematics. While Vermont students continued to perform at or above the national average on the assessment, students showed a decline in average scale scores compared to the 2015 results.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that, following a "thorough review" of concerns raised recently by the public and media, he "will continue to strongly support" the planned F-35 basing at the Burlington International Airport. He will neither sign nor veto the resolution, which will take effect in any case April 16 and will have no impact on the arrival of the new fighter jets late next year. He said in a statement that he decided not to veto the resolution because that would only extend the debate surrounding the ballot question supported by voters in March. The ballot question requested the Air Force seek an alternative mission for the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG).

Vermont Business Magazine Ski Vermont reports that with yet another incredible winter under our belts, it is that time of year again when we must begin to announce closing dates. Thanks to Vermont’s world-class snowmaking and Mother Nature’s willingness to bestow numerous powder days upon us, many resorts are staying open well into April, May and even June. For those looking ahead to next season and wanting to secure a pass in the state with the longest season on the East Coast, now is the time to buy and save on 2018-19 season passes at Vermont resorts.

Vermont Business Magazine Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel brewed up over $4,300 for Special Olympics Vermont and New York during their Boots ‘n Beer fundraising events. Lenny’s offered free beer tastings by three local breweries at each event. In addition to the free tastings, customers could purchase limited edition event t-shirts and raffle tickets for a chance to win boots, shoes, clothing and accessories. 100% of the t-shirt and raffle ticket proceeds are being donated to Special Olympics Vermont and New York. Lenny’s gave away over a 50 raffle prizes including KEEN Utility work boots, Merrell shoes and three $100 Lenny’s Gift Cards.

Vermont Business Magazine United States Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth Coss MacDonough JD’98 will deliver the 43rd Commencement address at Vermont Law School on Saturday, May 12, President and Dean Thomas McHenry announced today. In addition to honoring MacDonough, a VLS graduate, the school will confer honorary degrees upon Mustafa Santiago Ali, senior vice president for the Hip Hop Caucus, and Christopher Dutton, former chair of the VLS Board of Trustees.

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton University and Landmark College, a private institution located in Putney, have formed a collaborative agreement creating a pathway for degree completion. The agreement makes the transition for graduates of Landmark College to Castleton seamless and affordable. The agreement guarantees admission to all Landmark College students who graduate with an associate’s degree and who have achieved a 3.0 grade point average. In addition to guaranteed admission, qualifying students will receive the Castleton Maple Award, which reduces out-of-state tuition to Vermont resident tuition pricing. This scholarship is designed to recognize the commitment that graduates have already made and make the pathway to a bachelor’s degree more accessible.

Vermont Business Magazine Premier digital marketing partner Dealer.com has joined a group of elite companies to earn the TAG Certified Against Fraud Seal from the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), becoming the first and only automotive-specific digital advertising company to carry this highly coveted designation.

Vermont Business Magazine Randolph Area Community Development Corporation, White River Investment Club, and Randolph Economic Development Council are partnering with Slow Money Vermont to host an evening of stories and dialogue focused on what it takes for early-stage entrepreneurs to capitalize their businesses on May 17th. A panel of entrepreneurs will share their stories, complemented by the perspective of capital providers and business assistance programs. Audience engagement will be encouraged and facilitated.

Vermont Business Magazine VSECU, a member-owned cooperative and not for profit credit union for everybody who lives or works in Vermont, is donating $23,000 to Vermont charities through its member-directed, charitable giving program, We Care 2. More than 4,600 VSECU members allocated the earmarked funds by casting votes for one of five charitable organizations that impact issues of food, shelter, heat, environment, or financial education for Vermonters.

“At VSECU, we believe in using our strength as a cooperative to leverage change on a number of levels: financial, environmental, and social. When we take care of our neighbors, it improves the quality of life for all Vermonters,” said Simeon Chapin, director of social and community development at VSECU. “The We Care 2 program empowers all of our members to make a positive impact on our communities by directly supporting the organizations they value, and helping them continue the work they do.”

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced today that his Office will be undertaking a statewide listening tour to engage older Vermonters about their most pressing concerns. Currently, over one-third of Vermonters are 55 and older. Many older Vermonters are thriving. Others suffer from financial insecurity, isolation, lack of access to needed care and services, and memory loss, among other challenges. Some suffer from neglect, exploitation, and abuse.

To better understand and respond to the most urgent concerns of older Vermonters, General Donovan has asked representatives from his Human Service, Public Protection, and Criminal Divisions to visit each of Vermont’s fourteen counties this April and May to explore the same two questions:

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College Online, a leader in career-focused adult higher education, today announced that it will reduce its online undergraduate tuition by 50 percent to $318 per credit, effective Fall 2018. The not-for-profit college's decision to reduce tuition was driven in part by data from a survey it commissioned in November 2017. The Champlain survey found that a significant majority-60 percent-of U.S. adults ages 23 to 55 without a bachelor's degree have considered returning to school, but costs and student debt remain their biggest deterrents.