RTCC Salutes Its 2007 Graduates
By Sandy Cooch

The 140 students from area high schools completing one of 14 year-long programs at Randolph Technical Career Center were honored in an exuberant ceremony June 14, held under a big tent behind the school.

Comments from three student speakers were interspersed with the presentation of dozens of awards and scholarships.

Student Rachel MacMartin of Northfield spoke candidly about her experiences, including coping with a disability—autism, and with the bad news, last year, that she wouldn’t graduate from high school.

Happily, her year at RTCC, she said, turned her life around. MacMartin gave special thanks to Chef Gerry Sullivan of the culinary arts program, and program aide Sandy Russell, for her breakthrough year.

Senior Vanessa Paiva, also of Northfield, spoke from the perspective of a student completing a second year at the tech center. This year, Paiva completed her first semester at New England Culinary Institute, while enrolled in RTCC’s culinary arts program.

Final student speaker Elanor Marchione of Randolph said her year in RTCC’s business management program gave her opportunities to learn about who she was, and about the value of hard work.

That attitude of gratitude for the RTCC experience was also evidenced when the entire student body rose to give a standing ovation tribute to the staff.

Singled out for his work with students was head custodian Phil Hannah. Besides tending the building, Hannah has taken on additional duties, including supervising the Student Forum and overseeing fundraisers.

Also receiving a special accolade last Thursday night was adult student Henry Litchfield of Randolph, who completed the culinary arts program and received his high school diploma, despite his battle with cancer.

Outstanding Students

The awards portion of the program culminated with the naming of Joe Angell of Randolph, a member of the Environmental Science and Natural Resources program, as the outstanding student of the year.

This award, noted RTCC Director Bill Sugarman, goes to the student best exemplifying technical competency, leadership, community service, and employability. As the 2007 outstanding student, Angell was also awarded this year’s $500 Stan Blakeney Memorial Scholarship.

Another 13 students were cited as top students in their respective programs. In addition to Angell they are:

21st Century Business: Heidi Hatch, Chelsea High School (CHS); Automotive Technology: Chris Chambers, RUHS; Building Trades: Russell Messier, RUHS; and Business Management: Chris Putney, Williamstown High School (WmHS).

Also, Computer Technology: Amanda Brown, Rochester High School (RHS); Cooperative Education: Eddie Dewey, RUHS; Culinary Arts: Vanessa Paiva, Northfield High School (NHS); and Graphic Arts: Taylor Holt, RUHS.

Also, Health Careers: Louis Englehardt, RHS; Human Services: Melissa Wheelock, RUHS; Media & Communications: Travis Burns, RUHS; Recreation & Agricultural Mechanics: Anthony Conant, RUHS; and Truck & Diesel: Neil Jones, NHS.

Following the presentation of scholarships and awards (listed below), the Class of 2007 stepped forward, program by program, to receive individual certificates of completion.

Awards

Students receiving awards and scholarships are:

Richard Kelley Memorial Fund/RVFD Awards: Eddie Dewey, Trevor Tabor, Sherri Young, and Shauna Davis, all of RUHS.

Randolph Rotary Club awards to Derek Flint and Elanor Marchione, both from RUHS.

Robin Olmstead Memorial Award and Vermont Land Trust’s land steward award to Cody Montgomery, RUHS.

Tim Billings Award and Brotherly Farm Organic Milk Award to Joe Angell, RUHS.

Northfield Rotary Club scholarships to Vanessa Paiva and Charlotte Ledbetter, both NHS.

Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce Award to Jessica Corliss, RUHS.

Gifford Medical Center Auxiliary awards to Jessica Corliss and Shauna Davis, both of RUHS.

Student Forum Awards: Sherri Young, Sammy Jo Wood, Savanna Andress, and April Greenway.

Tara Stratton Nursing Scholarship, Chanel Allard, NHS.

Bob Bierley Memorial Scholarship to Nick Thresher, RUHS.

Paul Terry Memorial Scholarship, to Danielle Foley, RUHS.

Donald Dustin Memorial Scholarships to Erica Lesmeister and Randy Kilbourn, both of South Royalton High School, and Russell Messier, RUHS.

Bethel Rotary Club awards to Tim Silovich of WHS, and Louis Englehardt and Kayla Shepard, both of RHS.

New England Precision awards to Derek Flint, RUHS, and Brandon Royea, NHS.

Edmond Sinnott Automotive award and VSAC’s Vermont Honor Scholar award to Chris Chambers, RUHS.

Bethel Mills/Central Supplies award to James St. Lawrence, WmHS.

Randolph National Bank award, Chris Putney, WmHS.

Partstown, Fisher Auto Parts award, Megan Whitcomb, RUHS.

Mystic Star Phoenix Lodge scholarship, Sherri Young, RUHS.

Stan Gould Memorial Award, Josh Ferris, RUHS.

LW Greenwood & Sons award, Joe Angell, RUHS.

RTCC Gender Equity Awards to Kristen Gendron, RHS, and James Wright, RUHS.

Doug Stone Memorial Award, Nick Enright, SRHS.

Susan Cannon Memorial Award, Heidi Hatch, CHS.

Twenty-two students received Career Assistance Awards: juniors Caetlin Barnaby, Samantha Blakeney, Anthony Conant, Eric Lorette, Travis Burns, Nate Brien, Kasi Kill, Jordan Edson, Mark Poole, Josh Vilbrin, and Taylor Holt; and seniors Karen Keahey, Sammy Little, Melissa Wheelock, Elanor Marchione, Cody LaPlante, Kalan Ingalls, Eddie Dewey, Andrew Commo, Sammy Jo Wood, Rachel MacMartin, and Henry Litchfield.

Also, a certificate of proficiency was awarded to Melissa Wheelock, RUHS, from the Child Care Council.

The following awards came in the form of tools and equipment:

New England Stihl, Inc. award to Kyle Ketner, WHS; Bellavance Trucking award to David Larrabee; and two awards, from Dentist Chris Wilson and Cummins Engine of NE, to Neil Jones, NHS.

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