Mater Christi’s Pendergrass named VASE Teacher of Year

Mark Pendergrass, a middle school science teacher at Mater Christi School in Burlington, has been named Teacher of the Year by the Vermont Academy of Science and Engineering. He will be honored Oct. 29 at the organization's annual fall meeting at Middlebury College.

Pendergrass is a graduate of Appalachian State University in North Carolina and holds a Master of Education in special education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has taught at Mater Christi since 2011.

Curtis Fund welcomes Lauren Philie as executive director

Lauren Philie, former assistant vice president of institutional advancement and alumni relations at Vermont State University, has joined The Curtis Fund as executive director. A supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation, The Curtis Fund provides educational scholarships for Green Mountain State residents in need.

Philie brings to the organization more than 30 years of fundraising experience, 12 of those in higher education, as well as leadership skills in community engagement.