Last Saturday Patricia Menchini, Dean of Academic Affairs, presided over her last graduation as 120 Vermont Tech students graduate from the only practical nursing certificate program offered in Vermont. Menchini has served the college since 1988 and has announced her retirement for December 2012.

Central Vermont Medical Center President & CEO Judy Tartaglia recently announced that Dr. Kevin D. J. Kerin is joining Dr. Teresa Fama in Central Vermont Rheumatology, located on the CVMC campus in Berlin.

“There is a growing need for rheumatology services in central Vermont. Dr. Fama, as terrific as she is, just cannot keep up with the demand,” noted Tartaglia. Dr. Kerin is a Dartmouth trained rheumatologist, Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. We are pleased to have two high caliber physicians offering rheumatology services in our community.”

The Jan Eastman Excellence in Leadership Award was presented to Hal Cohen, executive director of the Central Vermont Community Action Council, at this year’s June graduation ceremony of the Vermont Leadership Institute (VLI) at Basin Harbor Resort in Vergennes, Vermont. The award is presented in honor of Jan Eastman, former president of the Snelling Center for Government, to a VLI alumnus/alumna who has made a significant contribution to Vermont and its community life, and has demonstrated skillful and innovative leadership and vision.

Alexandria resident, the Honorable Robert E. White, former Ambassador to Paraguay and to El Salvador, and a 1952 graduate of Saint Michael's College, was named recipient of the highest honor given to a Saint Michael’s graduate, the Col. Cook Award. The award was present at Saint Michael’s Reunion festivities held on the campus of the liberal arts residential Catholic college of Burlington, Vermont, June 8-10.

Engelberth Construction, Inc. with offices in Colchester, Vermont and Keene, New Hampshire is pleased to announce that five Foremen - Ron Ashley, Phil Bissonette, Corey Cook, Terry Lafland and Eric Palmer have recently been promoted to Project Superintendents/Supervisors.

The appointment of Rich Amato as Interim Principal and Lashawn Whitmore-Sells as Interim Assistant Principal at Hunt Middle School for next year has been announced. These appointments were confirmed by the Board Tuesday night.

Amato has been Assistant Principal at Hunt Middle for over a decade. His knowledge of the faculty and student needs, while in a restructuring phase to be compliant with No Child Left Behind, is anticipated to continue the forward movement of the school.

Healthy Living Market and Café is happy to announce the addition of two registered dietitians to its family of experts specializing in health and wellness. Kimberly Evans and Leslie Langevin from Whole Health Nutrition will be in-store every Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. beginning June 22 to offer customers 15 minute consultations at no charge.

Brian Mital and Geeda Searfoorce, both longtime employees of the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, will leave the Festival in August.

People’s United Bank announced that Zach Smith has been appointed as a Business Insurance Account Executive with People’s United Insurance Agency.

Smith most recently worked as a commercial insurance underwriter for a local domestic mutual insurer, where his responsibilities included the territories of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Prior to that, Smith worked as a claims adjuster.

Smith is a graduate of Elon University and attended Essex Junction High School. He resides in Essex with his wife and two children.