VAST Grads Earn Diplomas, Credits

The Vermont Academy of Science and Technology this week honored 34 graduating high school seniors from throughout Vermont with both diplomas and a year’s worth of college credits.

Also known as VAST, the academy is a program at Vermont Technical College that allows high school seniors to complete their final year of high school and first year of college—in most cases, tuition free—in the same year.

"I’ve really enjoyed working with these special and talented students," said VAST Program Director Diana Mellar, "and I’m very pleased with the results obtained by this year’s class. Twenty-three out of 34 students are graduating with honors, and 15 are graduating with high honors. Many will head out to colleges throughout the United States, including Colgate, Western Kentucky, Drexel, RPI, WPI, Wagner, and the University of San Francisco."

According to Mellar, 17 members of this year's graduating class will return to Vermont Tech for their sophomore year, while others will attend classes at UVM and St Michael’s.

Area Graduates

Members of this year’s graduating class from The Herald’s coverage area include: Asa Josiah Frederic Baer, Chelsea; Karen Christine Bascom, Royalton; Abigail Lynette Everett, Bethel; Laura A. Goodrich, Norwich; Beau J. Handy, Randolph Center; Kate Louise Komorowski, Brookfield; Jordan A. Lyford, Chelsea; Taylor Elizabeth Margison, Bethel; Colin David Miller, Brookfield; Gwen Lauren Reis, Randolph; Christopher Daniel Sparadeo, Randolph Center; Althea S. Spencer, Tunbridge; Jacob Bartlett Timian, South Royalton; Peter Earl Wakefield, Randolph; and Emily R. Wright, Bethel.

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