Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz presented the 2009 Democracy Awards to seven Vermont citizens and organizations at a ceremony at the Vermont Statehouse. The National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Awards were presented to Kristie Bush, teacher at Montpelier’s Union Elementary School; Don Collins, former Franklin County state senator and educator; and WPTZ Television Newschannel 5. Receiving the Vermont Secretary of State’s Enduring Democracy Award were Dennis Bonanza, a teacher at the Community High School of Vermont; Bill Hoar, Barnet Town Clerk and Treasurer; Toni Little, resident advisor at Johnson State College; and Ashley Wheeler, Miss Vermont 2008. The Vermont Secretary of State Enduring Democracy Award honors individuals and organizations that have shown an outstanding commitment to promoting democracy in the Vermont.