Upper Valley students to present research at World Orchid Conference

LYME — Six Upper Valley students and nine adults will present their research about Lady’s Slippers this month during the World Orchid Conference in Taiwan.

The students — who participate in programs at the New Hampshire Academy of Science in Lyme — worked with scientists at the Dartmouth Center for Bioinformatics and the NHAS, according to a news release from the nonprofit organization. Grace Lan, of Crossroads Academy; Ian Sun and Kevin Sun of Richmond Middle School; Laura Schaner and Jane Cowie, of Hanover High School, and Katherine Duan, a Crossroads Academy graduate who now attends MIT, will share their posters and research papers with other scientists.

Their research focused on the Showy Lady’s Slipper, Yellow Lady’s Slipper, and the rare Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper in Northern New England.

“They investigated how to efficiently grow these endangered species by the thousands in sterile tissue culture to be able to repopulate them in the wild,” according to the release. “They have been particularly interested studying their genetic makeup to find how closely related the individual plants are to each other and how populations in locations in VT, NH and Maine are also related.”

Lebanon High School names February Student of the Month

Abigail Stone has been selected as Lebanon High School’s February Student of the Month.

Stone, a senior, is captain of the high school’s wrestling team. Lebanon High psychologist Lucas McKittrick noted Stone’s work ethic, leadership and poise, among other attributes. He lauded her for creating her own path.

“She has used her experiences on and off of the mat to challenge and better herself, to selflessly serve those around her, and to open doors for those coming behind,” McKittrick said in a news release from the Lebnaon School District. “Her empathy and tact have guided teammates and peers through uncertain times. Her integrity and voice have helped protect those who have been marginalized or silenced.”

Post-secondary accomplishments

Julia Hora, of White River Junction, who is studying criminal justice and psychology at Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities in Boston, made the dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

Jaclyn Mace, of Randolph, who is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, made the dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester.

The following Upper Valley residents made the dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester at the University of New England in Biddeford and Portland, Maine: Emma Colby, Chelsea; Cameron Stebbin, Enfield; Nathan Chickerin, Grantham; Mackayla O’Meara, Grantham; Jenna Jasmin, Hartland; Keith Lauren Martinez, Lebanon; Zoey Houde-Cran, Meriden; Anna Illsle, Meriden; Ariana Cioffi, North Springfield, Vt.; Aria Yuengling, Perkinsville; Olivia Chas, Quechee; Lilliana Gurne, Sunapee; Elizabeth Kwa, West Lebanon; Brenden Flanaga, Windsor; and Hannah Kem, Windsor.

Jacob Schilke, of Lebanon, made the dean’s list at Dean College in Franklin, Mass., for the fall 2023 semester.

The following Upper Valley residents made the dean’s list at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., for the fall 2023 semester: Wren Carte, Lebanon, biomedical engineering; John Cassel, Woodstock, mechanical engineering; Emily Dean, Woodstock, biochemistry and business; Ethan Dean, Woodstock, mechanical engineering; Liam Hemmerlin, Enfield, mechanical engineering; Lex Johnson, White River Junction, computer science; Ryan Kochiss, Enfield, data science; Kelu Liu, White River Junction, computer science and electrical and computer engineering; and Joshua Thurber, Claremont, data science.