The Vermont Humanities Council has named Kendra Paupst of St. Johnsbury Academy its 2010 humanities educator of the year. Paupst, a French Language teacher at the academy, will be presented the eighth annual Victor R. Swenson Humanities Educator Award at VHC’s annual fall conference on November 13 at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe. The conference topic this year is “Comedy and Satire: It’s No Joke.”

VHC Board Chair Sylvia Robison will present the award at 8:30 a.m. in the Pinnacle Room, along with a $1,000 check to Paupst.

Gifford Medical Center has added to its staff of specially trained Emergency Department physicians with the hiring of Dr. Saul Nurok.

Until recent years, Gifford had contracted out its Emergency Department services, but now has grown its staff to include all employed physicians experienced in emergency medicine and committed to high-quality local care.

Dr. Nurok is no exception.

G. Kenneth Perine, President of National Bank of Middlebury, announced that Michelle Shambo, a 19 year veteran in the Mortgage industry, has recently joined NBM in a role as a Community Lender.

The RehabGYM is excited to announce the addition of Jerrod Rushton to the team at its Colchester location. Jerrod comes with 14 years of experience in business management, including his most recent position as general manager of the Vermont Sun Fitness Center in Middlebury, VT. Jerrod holds a bachelors degree in Recreation Management with a concentration in business from the University of Maine-Presque Isle and is the owner of Rushton Sports, an endurance event management company.

Welcomed by outgoing president William Cove, DO, a physician with Waterbury Medical Associates, CVMC’s Medical and Allied Health Staff held their 2010 Annual Meeting at the Capitol Plaza on October 6, 2010.

Southern Vermont College is pleased to announce the appointment of four, new, full-time faculty members: Bonnie Anderson, Peter Kantor, Sarah Knapp-Oliver and Jennifer Nelson.

John Carolin recently joined the Lund Family Center team as Network Administrator. After graduating from Vermont Technical College in 1994, Carolin provided technology services in the K-12 education system for the past 16 years. Carolin brings with him an incredible talent in bridging organizational needs with technical solutions. John commented on his move to Lund saying, “It's great to be part of such a community based organization and to help ensure that it is able to meet the technology needs of its clients and staff.”

Sandy McDowell, PhD, has been promoted to vice president for operations at Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. (VITL), a non-profit organization in Montpelier that assists health care providers with implementing health information technology.

Governor Douglas has announced recipients of Vermont’s Healthy Aging Awards at a ceremony in the Pavilion Auditorium in Montpelier. These awards have been developed by the Governor’s Commission on Healthy Aging and are part of a multi-tiered strategy to promote the well-being of aging Vermonters. Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie chairs the Commission on Healthy Aging on behalf of the Governor.