BROWNSVILLE — Members of Brownsville Trail Life Troop 0316 conducted a flag ceremony for Albert Bridge Elementary School students earlier this month.

“A flag retirement ceremony is conducted to ensure that Old Glory, as the American flag is affectionately known, is honored in its final moments,” according to a news release from the Brownsville Community Church, which sponsors the Trail Life troop. The ceremony took place at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, at a fire pit near the church and was attended by students from the K-6 school. “This process reflects the deep respect and patriotism felt towards the flag, acknowledging that even as it reaches the end of its service, it deserves a dignified and respectful conclusion.”

The trail life troop, which is sponsored by the Brownsville Community Church, has around a dozen members and is open to children ages 5 to 18.

Secondary honors

The following Upper Valley schools have teams that have advanced to the NH Destination State Finals, which require students to work with to solve STEAM-based challenges: Grantham Elementary School; Indian River School in Canaan and Mount Lebanon Elementary School in West Lebanon. The state finals are scheduled to take place April 6 in Goffstown. The teams advanced after competing at the Northern N.H. Destination Imagination Regional Tournament in Meredith in March.

Post-secondary honors

James Bromwell, of New London, made the dean’s list for the fall 2023 trimester at at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Main Campus in Davenport, Iowa.

Adriana Caraeni, of Lebanon, was initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Massachusetts.

Educator honors

Brian Emerson, director of River Bend Career & Technical Center in Bradford, Vt., was named Vermont Career Center Director of the Year by the Vermont Principals’ Association.

The Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs has selected Rivendell Academy school counselor Nancy Hall as the recipient of its the 2024 Carolyn Donahue Friend of EOP Award which “recognizes individuals who work tirelessly to improve access to higher education for moderate-income and/or first-generation students (and) ensure their success in a post-secondary setting,” among other qualifications, according to a news release.

Colby-Sawyer College trustee Deborah L. Coffin will be honored with the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service during New London college’s May commencement ceremony. Coffin, of Sunapee, earned a a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colby-Sawyer 1976, according to a news release. After studying criminal justice at St. Anselm College, she earned a master’s degree in human services from New Hampshire College in 1985. Coffin worked as a therapist in New London until she retired in 2010. She has also taught at Colby-Sawyer and Granite State College in addition to working as education coordinator for the Enfield Shaker Museum. From 1990 to 1993 Coffin served on the Colby-Sawyer Alumni Association Board and a trustee from 2014 to 2023. Since 2010, she has been a member of the Colby-Sawyer President’s Advisory Council. Coffin has contributed financially to the college, including through funding the Deborah L. Coffin ‘76 Family Ceramics Studio in memory of her brother, David L. Coffin Jr., who graduated from the college in 1975.

Email academic accomplishments to schoolnotes@vnews.com.