School news
WUHS Class of 2026 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
It is with great pride and joy that we share the announcement of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Woodstock Union High School Class of 2026.
These honors represent more than academic distinction. They reflect sustained commitment, intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a deep engagement with learning over time. Our Valedictorian and Salutatorian have distinguished themselves not only through their academic accomplishments, but through their character, leadership, and contributions to our school community.
As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded of the purpose and promise of education itself. As Maxine Greene wrote, “To be wide-awake is to be conscious of what it is to be in the world” (Greene, 1978). Our graduates, and especially these two scholars, embody this sense of being “wide-awake” to their learning, their responsibilities, and their potential to shape the world around them.
Please join me in congratulating:
Valedictorian: Schuyler Hagge
Salutatorian: Aleksandra Cirovic
We look forward to honoring their achievements more fully at graduation, where they will have the opportunity to share reflections with their classmates, families, and the broader WUHS community.
Congratulations to these outstanding students, to their families, and to all of the educators and peers who have supported them along the way. Their success is a shared accomplishment and a reflection of the strength of our entire learning community.
WUHS / HACTC 2026 National Technical Honors Society Inductees
Paige, Milo, and Harmony
Three Woodstock Union High School students recently earned one of Career and Technical Education's highest distinctions, earning induction into the 2026 National Technical Honor Society. All three participate in programming through the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (HACTC), where they have distinguished themselves not only through academic achievement but through the character and commitment that NTHS induction requires.
The National Technical Honor Society is the premier honor society for Career and Technical Education, serving more than 100,000 active members annually across secondary and postsecondary programs nationwide. Since its founding in 1984, nearly 1.2 million students have earned the distinction of NTHS membership. Induction recognizes students who meet rigorous academic standards while demonstrating the professional values and personal integrity that define excellence in their chosen fields.
Paige, Milo and Harmony are exactly that. They are young people who have identified a passion, committed to developing real skills, and shown up every day as the kind of people their peers and community can look to. We could not be more proud of what they represent - or themselves, for WUHS, and for the future of their fields.
WUHS student earns honorable mention at AVA High School Exhibition
Congratulations to WUHS student Mimi Kanda-Olmstead ‘26 for earning Honorable Mention in AVA Gallery and Art Center’s 18th Annual High School Exhibition.
This annual regional exhibition highlights outstanding artwork from high school students across Vermont and New Hampshire. Art teachers nominate students whose work demonstrates creativity, strong technical skill, and a unique artistic voice. Mimi’s work stood out among many impressive submissions and was recognized by the exhibition judges.
Mimi is a student in the Advanced Digital Photo and Design class taught by Dr. Susannah Gravel, where she continues to develop her artistic voice through photography and digital design.
We are incredibly proud to see Mimi’s work recognized and exhibited in a professional gallery.
Many 'Big Stories, Small Sentences: Room 206'
There's a new book in the school library, and it was written by students right here at WUHS.
Brenna Bridwell's class spent six weeks mastering one of the most deceptively simple forms in writing: the six-word story. The format asks writers to say something true and complete in just six words — no more, no less. Every student contributed a story, and together they became Big Stories, Small Sentences: Room 206.
A few that will stay with you:
If Heaven had a phone number...
One man's joy; Another man's sorrow.
The book is available in the school library for anyone in the community to read.
WUHS artists featured in Vermont's 250th anniversary exhibition
Eight WUHS artists are currently showing their work in Unfinished Revolutions, the Vermont 250th Art Exhibition on display at the State House Cafeteria Gallery in Montpelier. We're proud to have so many of our students represented in this statewide celebration of Vermont art.
Our artists: Calvin Lehouiller, Charleigh Parker, Matilda Richardson, Broder White, Agnes Kardashian, Adelle Danilchick, Zara Paczkowski, and Daxton Redmond.
The exhibit is free and open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. through March 27.
Up to three works will be selected by the Vermont State Curator for permanent inclusion in the Vermont State Art Collection — a remarkable honor for any young artist. Selections will be announced at the Closing Reception on March 26, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Come see our students’ work on display at the State House.
My unfinished revolution focuses on the ongoing challenge of retaining people in Vermont, especially young adults who have their entire futures ahead of them. Many young people are leaving Vermont in search of better opportunities elsewhere. This issue matters deeply to my generation because choosing to stay can help strengthen Vermont’s declining workforce and support essential public services such as schools and healthcare both of which are vital to the well-being of our communities. This piece serves as a call to action, encouraging younger generations in Vermont to invest their futures in the state rather than looking elsewhere.
I chose to express my vision through strong visual symbolism. The image of a car driving away past a “Leaving Vermont” sign represents the growing number of residents moving out of the state. The car has a Vermont license plate to emphasize that the driver is a lifelong Vermonter, and a University of Vermont sticker to show that they pursued higher education in-state. In the distance, a city skyline symbolizes their destination and the promise of “better opportunities.”
- Tilly Richardson
“My unfinished revolution is about the ongoing decline of Vermont’s moose population. Shorter winters have allowed winter tick numbers to rise, especially in areas with high moose density. A single moose can carry up to 90,000 ticks, leading to severe illness and often death. This crisis matters because moose are an essential part of Vermont’s ecosystem. If left unchecked, tick populations will continue to grow, and Vermont will continue to lose its moose.”
- Agnes Kardashian
“My unfinished revolution focuses on mental health in Vermont. Teens in particular have been increasingly affected by mental health struggles, leading to rising rates of depression and suicide.
My artwork portrays how overwhelming it can feel to face your own mind. It shows how small and helpless these struggles can make a person feel - as if there is no escape. I used dark tones and a shadowed theme to create a mood that reflects depression and emotional weight. The large, dark figure in the center symbolizes the power of the mind and how massive an obstacle it can become at times.
I hope my audience feels the heavy, ominous atmosphere of the piece. I want viewers to gain a sense of what it is like for those who battle mental health challenges in silence. That idea of struggling unseen is why I chose to title my work Shadows.”
— Calvin Lehouiller