The Addison Independent is proud to publish the Students of the Week from area High Schools each week. The students are chosen by teachers and administration from each school who would like to recognize their exceptional engagement in the high schools they attend.
 
MUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Middlebury Union High School is pleased to introduce East Middlebury resident Helen Anderson as the student of the week. She is the daughter of John and Theresa Anderson and older sister to Ada, Abel and Iver. As a senior at MUHS, Helen has been involved in a myriad of activities and is a student whose name regularly appears on the high school’s Honor Roll.
A center midfielder on the Tiger soccer team, Helen also plays left wing on the hockey team and she runs the 400 and 800 relay in track. She says she loves all three of her sports and when asked which is her favorite she responds “whichever season I am in at the time.”
By the time she graduates, Helen will have completed six Advanced Placement courses, including the four she is enrolled in this year — Biology, English Literature, Statistics and World History. She is also taking a class at Middlebury College called “Victoria’s Secrets” and is reading the works of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. She rounds out her schedule with “Introduction to Art.”
Helen has enjoyed participating in the New England Young Writers’ Program at Bread Loaf and the MUHS Debate Club.  She didn’t know much about debate until teacher Ben Krahn encouraged her to join. She says her involvement has given her great insights to listening to various sides of an issue and promoted her public speaking skills. 
Last summer Helen and four other MUHS students created a paint crew. Together the team painted a house and they felt quite accomplished when the job was done. 
As Helen looks ahead to college, she is considering a range of possibilities all across the country. She hopes to study international relations or politics, but is equally interested in humanities and creative writing. A bright future awaits Helen, and all of us at MUHS and wish her well.
 
 
VUHS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Vergennes Union High School is pleased to recognize Judith Portugal Dunne as its Student of the Week. Judy lives in Shelburne, with her mom, Susan Dunne. Her dad, Fernando Portugal-Lazzarini, lives in Burlington. Judy has a sister, Jaime, who is a ninth-grade student at VUHS.
Judy has been on the Honor Roll since her sophomore year in high school. Judy went to Hannaford Career Center for her junior year of high school and studied culinary arts. She graduated from that program last year. When Judy was in ninth grade she tried out lacrosse and also joined yearbook. During her sophomore year she decided to try rowing and is still a great member of the VUHS team.
Outside of school Judy loves to go for walks and hang out with her friends. Judy’s first job was working at the T-Bird Motor Inn, and her most recent job was at the Middlebury Inn.
Judy has learned a few things in her high school career.
“I learned from my high school experience it is hard connecting with people,” she says. “It is hard to connect with people in your class. A friend of mine once told me ‘It doesn’t matter if you win or lose at the end of the day.’ It does matter if you had fun at the end of day and that it was worth it. That’s what matters.”
Tori Cleiland, an educator at VUHS, says this about Judy: “Judy is kind and compassionate. She cares greatly for others. She is determined to push herself to succeed, especially when it’s hard, whether in a boat rowing for VUHS, in a kitchen at Culinary, in a classroom, or for a friend. Judy has great integrity, kindness and challenges herself, the very ideals championed at VUHS.”
Following graduation from VUHS, Judy plans on visiting Peru to see her dad’s family. She is planning on getting a job and traveling around the world. The faculty, staff and students of VUHS wish Judy the very best in the future.
Otter Valley Students of the week receive a gift certificate from the Book & Leaf Bookstore. Mt. Abe Students of the Week receive a free pizza from Cubbers. Vergennes Students of the Week receive a free sandwich and drink from 3 Squares Cafe. Middlebury Students of the Week receive a free pizza from Green Peppers. Students of the Week from all area high schools will receive a gift certificate from Vermont Book Shop.
With support from:
Bourdon Insurance Agency
Business Telephone Systems
Champlain Valley Plumbing & Heating
Green Earth Energy
J.W. & D.E. Ryan
Jackman Fuels Inc.
Middlebury Antique Center
Peak View Eye Care
Tinker and Smithy Game Store
United Way of Addison County
Vermont Book Shop