A 90-year-old Vermont native now has his long-delayed medals from his service as an aviator in World War II.

Bert Smith, accompanied by family members, met with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) last week in Leahy’s office in the U.S. Capitol for a quiet visit to receive the medals from Leahy, the Senate’s President Pro Tempore. He was accompanied by his daughter Maureen Barnes and her husband Gary, of South Burlington and Florida, and their son Tyler Barnes, of South Burlington.

A Springfield woman who led efforts to clean up the Black River was presented the GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award at a Statehouse ceremony today.

Kelly Stettner, who founded the Black River Action Team, which celebrates, cleans up and protects the Black River in southeastern Vermont, was selected from eight nominees for the annual award, named for famed osprey advocate Meeri Zetterstrom. The award comes with $2,500 to continue BRAT’s work.

The Federation of Pediatric Organizations (FOPO) has announced that Lewis R. First, M.D., M.S., F.A.A.P., professor and chair of pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and chief of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care, is the 2014 recipient of the Joseph W. St. Geme, Jr. Leadership Award – considered the highest honor in the field of pediatrics.

Gretchen Bailey, who heads the constituent casework team for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), was honored today with a prestigious award for exemplary public service. The award was presented during a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston.

“I’m honored and humbled,” Bailey said. “I work with an incredible team of people.”

Nurses celebrated National Nurses Week May 6-12 (May 12 is the birthdate of nurse icon, Florence Nightingale) all over the globe, as well as at North Country Hospital.

Last Wednesday evening, with attendance of nearly 70, guests at the East Side’s Dancing Sail celebration waited anxiously for the announcement of the Nursing Excellence Award winners. Historically, the hospital has awarded one nurse the annual accolade, but this year the committee implemented a new program to include four avenues of service, tying in to the hospital’s mission.

Sean Markey has been named the new senior web editor for Norwich University.

A former staff writer and editor for National Geographic News, Markey is most recently a U.S.-based freelance journalist and photographer whose work has appeared in “The Economist,” “Discover,” “National Geographic,” “National Geographic Traveler,” “High Country News,” the “Washington Post,” and the New York Times Special Features Syndicate, among other outlets.

S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc. (S.W.COLE) is proud to announce that Robert E. Chaput, Jr., PE, has been named the firm’s new President and CEO. A senior geotechnical engineer with the firm and manager of the Augusta, Maine office, Bob has worked for S.W.COLE for over 20 years and has been an integral part of the growth of the firm.

The DoubleTree Hotel Burlington by Hilton has announced Chef Aaron Matthews as Employee of the Year. He joined the hotel in 2012 and is responsible for food preparation in Trader Duke’s restaurant including lunch and room service for guests, staff meals, and implementing offsite catering orders and banquet functions. He is a graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy and serves as a member of the Flynn Avenue Housing Cooperative Maintenance Committee.