The longest-serving president at the former Castleton University, David Wolk, and two of the school's alumni, Izzy Gogarty and Darren Perron, have been named recipients of 2025 Castleton Alumni Association Awards. Castleton University is now part of Vermont State University, which presented the awards.

Eric Patterson, former plant manager at Marin French Cheese Co. in Petaluma, California, has been hired as cheese and catalog manager at Shelburne Farms, an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future.

Patterson has more than 20 years' experience in the cheesemaking industry. In his new position, he will help craft the organization's signature cheddar cheese, oversee the entire cheesemaking team and manage all cheese and mail-order operations.

Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has appointed Kelli Perkins as director of the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, effective Oct. 6. She succeeds Christian Berry, who has served as interim director since last December.