Educator accomplishments

Longtime Thetford Academy educator Ted Peters was named Most Valuable Educator for the month of April by the Boston Red Sox. Peters was honored during a pre-game ceremony on April 5 – his 80th birthday, according to a news release from the school. Peters has lived his entire life in Thetford and was part of the Thetford Academy Class of 1963.

He joined Thetford Academy’s staff as a physical education and health educator in 1967, following in the footsteps of his parents Bill and Polly Peters, who started working for the school in 1941, according to his daughter Mary Jones, who graduated from Thetford Academy in 1992, arranged the ceremony to coincide her father’s birthday.

In his 34 years at Thetford Academy, Peters also served as athletic director, dean of students, director of student activities, director of buildings and grounds, and director of operations. He also coached soccer, basketball and baseball. He retired in 2001.

Secondary honors

Elsie Kidder, of Bradford, Vt., won best of show in the Fashion Revue category during the 4-H 2025 Central Region Spring Showcase at the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension office in Berlin April 5. Kidder made her a pair of blue overalls and a white shirt as part of the 4-H sewing project. Other Orange County 4-H members who participated in the Fashion Revue include Sati Lazuli, of Corinth, who made a pair of green overalls; Ophelia Ross, of Newbury, who made a pair of palazzo pants with contrasting pockets; and Isabelle Spooner, of Bradford, who made a pair of pig-print overalls with pig buttons.

Lazuli also placed first in the Smart Shopper category — which asks participants to create an outfit using items they already own or those purchased from a thrift store for under $25 — during the showcase; she put together a cream-colored dress and accessories for a “Bridgerton”-themed birthday party for $15.

Hanover High School junior Benjamin Hourdequin was selected as a runner up in the New Hampshire Bar Foundation’s inaugural High School Civics Essay Contest.

Scholarship opportunities

Children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of people who worked for the Cone Blanchard Machine Company for at least five years are invited to apply for a scholarship through the Cone Automatic Machine Company Charitable Foundation. To learn about eligibility requirements and terms of award payments, and receive an application, send a letter to Cone Automatic Machine Company Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 167, Ascutney, VT 05030. Completed applications must be postmarked by May 10 and winners will be notified in June 2025.

Events

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee will host a Science Symposium for Young Researchers for Upper Valley students in grades four to six from Tuesday, May 6 through Thursday, May 8. “Energy in the Ecosystem, Earth and Human Activity, and Equitable Climate Action” is the theme of this year’s symposium. Costs vary and scholarships are available. Visit https://vinsweb.org/school-programs/science-symposium/ for more information or to register.