Vermont

Check out these Vermont students recognized for their creative talents

Published

1 week ago

February 9, 2026

Check out these Vermont students recognized for their creative talents

Beth McDermott
| Reporter assisted by AI

Nearly 170 students have been honored for their creative talents through the Vermont Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, according to a community announcement from the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center.

Their award-winning work will be showcased at the museum from Feb. 20 to March 6.

The exhibition will include work from categories such as ceramics, digital art, painting, photography, poetry and personal essays, according to the announcement.

The exhibition will culminate in a ceremony at noon March 7. Doors open at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, with cartoonist and illustrator Harry Bliss delivering the keynote address.

The awards are part a national recognition program for students in grades 7-12. This year, 280 students from 43 Vermont schools submitted 707 works, the highest participation level since the museum began administering the program in Vermont, according to the announcement. Of these, 167 students received a total of 279 awards: 59 Gold Keys, 60 Silver Keys and 160 Honorable Mentions.

Dashiell Moyse of Brattleboro Union High School, Lillian Allen of Craftsbury Academy and Marcus Burns of St. Johnsbury Academy won Gold Keys for their portfolios. These portfolios will be considered for the program’s highest honor, the Portfolio Gold Medal, which includes a $12,500 scholarship.

Rhys Grandy, a junior at the Mountain School of Milton Academy, received the highest number of awards in writing, with three Gold Keys, three Silver Keys and four Honorable Mentions for his poems and short stories. Chloe Rosner, a senior at the Putney School, garnered eight awards in art, including a Gold Key and an American Visions nomination for her painting, “Sitting, Thinking.” Myrrh Pitkin, a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School, received four Gold Keys, including one for her novel, “Black Heart of the False God,” and an American Voices nomination for her personal essay, “Picking Apart My Pomegranate Heart.”

The only middle school Gold Key awardee was Tess Wiesmore from the Grammar School in Putney for her poem, “Shades of Pink.”

The schools with the most award winners were Stratton Mountain School with 30, St. Johnsbury Academy with 27 and Burlington Technical Center with 23.

For more information, visit brattleboromuseum.org or call 802-257-0124.

This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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Vermont

Two charged in Vermont quarry assault that led to man’s death

Published

11 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

Two charged in Vermont quarry assault that led to man’s death

WEST PAWLET, Vt. (WRGB) — Vermont State Police have arrested two suspects in connection with an August 2025 assault in West Pawlet that led to the death of the victim, 54-year-old Mark Ray of West Pawlet, this past November.

On Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 18, Vermont State Police located Richard J. Mattison, 42, of Poultney at a home in the Rutland County town of Wells and took him into custody on charges of first-degree murder and assault and robbery. Mattison was brought to the state police barracks in Rutland for processing and was subsequently jailed without bail pending arraignment, which is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Rutland.

MORE: Pipe wrench killing ends with 11-year prison sentence

Mattison’s arrest followed the New York State Police’s arrest last week in Granville, NY, of Stephen J. Williams Jr., 38, of Granville. Williams’ arrest Friday, Feb. 13, was on charges related to burglaries in that community and on a Vermont warrant for a charge of assault and robbery arising from the attack on Ray. Williams was jailed in New York and is expected to be extradited to Vermont to face charges at a later date.

The Vermont arrest warrants were granted Thursday, Feb. 12, as the result of VSP’s investigation into the assault of Ray on Aug. 24 at the Newmont Slate Quarry, and his death Nov. 12 at Albany Medical Center from related injuries.

No further details are currently available from the Vermont State Police. The affidavit of probable cause will be filed with the court and made public following Mattison’s arraignment.

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Vermont

What to know for 2026 Vermont high school winter playoffs, championship dates

Published

23 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

What to know for 2026 Vermont high school winter playoffs, championship dates

The Vermont high school winter championships kick into high gear later this week.

Nordic skiing opens a loaded month of title events and tournament play throughout Vermont with the freestyle state meet at Rikert Outdoor Center on Thursday, Feb. 19. And Saturday, Feb. 21, cheer, dance and gymnastics crowns will be decided while the bowlers head to Rutland for the individual tournament.

Championship season wraps with a new format for hockey: All four hockey finals (Division I and II for boys and girls) will take place on the same day at University of Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse: Sunday, March 15.

“We think we can create a really great student-athlete experience,” VPA assistant executive director Lauren Young said. “It’s an opportunity to see four really good games of hockey.”

For more on the VPA championships, see below for dates, sites and times. To purchase tickets, visit gofan.co. For events that will be streamed, head to NFHS Network.

NORDIC SKIING (FREESTYLE)

Date: Thursday, Feb. 19

Site: Rikert Outdoor Center

Time: 10 a.m.

BOWLING (INDIVIDUAL)

Date: Saturday, Feb. 21

Site: Rutland Bowlerama

Time: 9 a.m.

CHEER

Date: Saturday, Feb. 21

Site: Vergennes Union High School

Time: Noon

DANCE

Date: Saturday, Feb. 21

Site: Vergennes Union High School

Time: 5 p.m.

Watch Vermont high school games on NFHS Network

GYMNASTICS

Date: Saturday, Feb. 21

Site: St. Johnsbury Academy

Time: 6 p.m.

NORDIC SKIING (CLASSIC)

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 24

Site: Craftsbury Outdoor Center

Time: 10 a.m.

BOWLING (TEAM)

Date: Saturday, Feb. 28

Site: Twin Valley Lanes in Barre

Time: 9 a.m.

WRESTLING FINALS

Date: Saturday, Feb. 28

Site: Champlain Valley Union High School

Time: 6 p.m. (approx.)

Note: Wrestling championships begin on Friday, Feb. 27.

ALPINE SKIING (GIANT SLALOM)

Date: Monday, March 2

Site: Burke Mountain

Time: 9:30 a.m.

ALPINE SKIING (SLALOM)

Date: Tuesday, March 3

Site: Burke Mountain

Time: 9:30 a.m.

SNOWBOARDING

Date: Wednesday, March 4

Site: Jay Peak

Time: 10 a.m./1:30 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

D-I SEMIFINALS

Date: Monday, March 2

Site: UVM’s Patrick Gym

Time: 6/7:30 p.m.

D-II SEMIFINALS

Date: Wednesday, March 4

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 5:30/7:30 p.m.

D-III SEMIFINALS

Date: Thursday, March 5

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 5:30/7:30 p.m.

D-IV SEMIFINALS

Date: Monday, March 2

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 5:30/7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

D-I FINAL

Date: Friday, March 6

Site: UVM’s Patrick Gym

Time: 7 p.m.

D-II FINAL

Date: Saturday, March 7

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 3:45 p.m.

D-III FINAL

Date: Saturday, March 7

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 7:30 p.m.

D-IV FINAL

Date: Saturday, March 7

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: Noon

BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

SEMIFINALS

D-I SEMIFINALS

Date: Sunday, March 8

Site: UVM’s Patrick Gym

Time: 5:30/7 p.m.

D-II SEMIFINALS

Date: Wednesday, March 11

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 5:30/7:30 p.m.

D-III SEMIFINALS

Date: Thursday, March 12

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 5:30/7:30 p.m.

D-IV SEMIFINALS

Date: Monday, March 9

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 5:30/7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIPS

D-I FINAL

Date: Thursday, March 12

Site: UVM’s Patrick Gym

Time: 7 p.m.

D-II FINAL

Date: Saturday, March 14

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 3:45 p.m.

D-III FINAL

Date: Saturday, March 14

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: 7:30 p.m.

D-IV FINAL

Date: Saturday, March 14

Site: Barre Auditorium

Time: Noon

HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

D-I GIRLS

Date: Sunday, March 15

Site: UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse

Time: 11 a.m.

D-I BOYS

Date: Sunday, March 15

Site: UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse

Time: 1 p.m.

D-II GIRLS

Date: Sunday, March 15

Site: UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse

Time: 5 p.m.

D-II BOYS

Date: Sunday, March 15

Site: UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse

Time: 7 p.m.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

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Vermont

Vermont Senate considers new school redistricting map

Published

1 day ago

February 17, 2026

Press Room

Vermont Senate considers new school redistricting map

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – The Vermont Senate is considering a new school district consolidation map that would significantly reduce the number of districts statewide.

The early version of the proposed map comes from Bennington County Sen. Seth Bongartz. It creates at least 11 school districts, but still includes unknowns, including what districts in the most populated part of Vermont would look like.

The idea is to cut the state’s roughly 110 school districts and 52 supervisory unions in half through voluntary mergers over the next two years. The State Board of Education could mandate mergers after that period.

“The goal is to give districts the chance to do it themselves, but to have it clear that we’re going to get there because this has all been timed for the beginning of the foundation formula, three years,” said Bongartz, D-Bennington County.

The proposal follows one from the House, which would create 26 school districts.

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