More like cat and gown.

A four-legged fixture on the campus of a New England knowledge factory has been awarded an honorary degree — for adorable service to the academic community.

Max, a friendly tabby living adjacent to Vermont State University’s main entrance in Castleton was named a “doctor of litter-ature” — after spending a string of semesters wandering the halls of the institution of higher learning, charming students and staff with his positive energy.

“Max the Cat has been an affectionate member of the Castleton family for years,” the school said in a Facebook post.

The curious kitty first wandered down the street in search of a social life roughly half a decade ago — and the rest was history 101.

“So he decided that he would go up on campus, and he just started hanging out with the college students, and they love him,” owner Ashley Dow told the Associated Press.

Everybody knows Max, who laps up the attention he’s given, allowing himself to be picked up and played with, and even posed for selfies.

The social creature also loves to join campus tours, designed to show prospective students the ropes, running across the street to the meeting point at the right time.

“I don’t even know how he knows to go, but he does,” Dow said. “And then he’ll follow them on their tour.”

Dow, known as “Max’s mom” around Castleton, said that she’s spoken to graduates who return to town and want to know how Max is doing.

The friendly feline won’t be seen walking on stage at the upcoming graduation ceremony, but the school has promised to deliver Max’s degree soon.

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – One week after adjourning, Vermont lawmakers are reflecting on the whirlwind session, and strategizing on how to counter Governor Phil Scott’s expected vetoes in the coming days.

The marathon legislative session that ended last week was defined by education spending, property taxes, and ongoing flood recovery efforts. “Lots of tough issues to tackle. Usually, we have two or three. This was five or six,” said House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington.

Lawmakers are sending a flurry of bills to the governor, including measures on flood safety and resiliency, Act 250 reform, and preventing the sale of Vermonters’ sensitive data online.

Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor County, says despite challenges facing a citizen’s legislature getting bigger and more expensive, it was a productive session. “We only have four-and-a-half months to do our work. We got a lot done in four-and-a-half months,” she said.

Lawmakers are also advancing the biggest issue of the session — a bill setting the statewide average property tax rate at 13.8 percent. “Our bill really strikes a balance in ensuring we can do everything we can to have the strongest education system for our kids while also protecting property taxpayers,” Krowinski said.

Governor Scott has pledged to veto it. “They can dig in and whip votes and as they’ve shown us in the past. They don’t need us, they can override vetoes pretty handily,” he said. But he says there could also be room for compromise over the next month.

Meanwhile, Scott has telegraphed possible vetoes for about half a dozen bills including the Renewable Energy Standard; Act 250 reforms; data privacy; and safe injection sites. Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse on June 17th for their veto session

The end of the session has been marked by the retirement of key lawmakers and political announcements preceding the campaign season. In a surprise announcement Friday, Senator Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia County, was the latest in a string of veteran lawmakers who announced she will be retiring.

Attention is also turning to the governor’s race. Former Gov. Howard Dean on Monday is expected to announce whether he will challenge Phil Scott.

Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.

The 2024 Vermont high school spring season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and field, tennis and Ultimate.

To report scores: Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @aabrami5

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

End of an era: Colchester girls soccer coach Jeff Paul steps away after 2023 title, 23 seasons

Track and field stars: Who shined, set meet records at the 51st Burlington Invitational meet?

FRIDAY’S H.S. GAMES

Girls lacrosse

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Mount Mansfield at South Burlington

Burlington at U-32

Harwood at Rice

Mount Abraham/Vergennes at Colchester

Middlebury at Champlain Valley

BFA-St. Albans at Essex, 7 p.m.

Boys lacrosse

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Rice at Stowe

Essex at BFA-St. Albans

South Burlington at Mount Mansfield

Champlain Valley at Middlebury

Softball

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Harwood at Lamoille

Enosburg at Rice

Harwood at Milton

Oxbow at Bellows Falls

U-32 at Spaulding

Baseball

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Hazen at BFA-Fairfax

Richford at Blue Mountain

Mount Mansfield at Burlington

Harwood at Milton

Girls tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

North Country at U-32

Stowe at Essex

South Burlington at Burlington

Stowe at Essex

Harwood at Middlebury

Rice at Mount Mansfield

Colchester at Champlain Valley, 4:30 p.m.

Boys tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

St. Johnsbury at U-32

South Burlington at Burlington

Mount Mansfield at Rice

Champlain Valley at Colchester

Boys Ultimate

Games at 4 p.m. unless noted

Rice at Milton

Essex at St. Johnsbury

Colchester at Burlington, 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY’S H.S. GAMES

Girls lacrosse

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

BFA-St. Albans at Middlebury

Milton at Spaulding

Lamoille at Stowe

Brattleboro at St. Johnsbury

Stratton Mountain at Green Mountain Valley

Boys lacrosse

Colchester at Mount Abraham/Vergennes, 10 a.m.

Montpelier at Burlington, 11 a.m.

Brattleboro at St. Johnsbury, 12:30 p.m.

Green Mountain Valley at Stratton Mountain, 2 p.m.

Spaulding at Milton, 6 p.m.

Softball

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

Mount Abraham at Vergennes, 10:30 a.m.

Richford at Twinfield/Danville/Cabot, 10:30 a.m.

Paine Mountain at Burlington/Winooski

Randolph at Lake Region

Missisquoi at St. Johnsbury

Middlebury at Milton

South Burlington at BFA-St. Albans

Essex at Champlain Valley

Burr and Burton at Harwood

Mount Mansfield at Rutland

Lyndon at North Country

Baseball

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

Mount Abraham at Vergennes, 10 a.m.

Rice at St. Johnsbury

U-32 at Spaulding

Montpelier at Harwood

MIddlebury at Milton

South Burlington at BFA-St. Albans

Burlington at Colchester 

Randolph at Lake Region

Essex at Champlain Valley

Hazen at Lamoille

Mount Mansfield at Rutland

Lyndon at North Country

Girls tennis

Matches at 11 a.m. unless noted

Stowe at Champlain Valley

Montpelier at Mount Mansfield

Boys tennis

South Burlington at Stowe, 10 a.m.

Boys Ultimate

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

Track and field

BFA/South Burlington Relays

(Subject to change)