Bands from Lyndon Institute and St. Johnsbury Academy are expected to offer up their music to support local music education programs in the first ever "Battle of the Bands" on May 23 in the Lyndon Institute Alumni Auditorium. "Our goal is to help more students to be performers, not just spectators, and producers, not just consumers," said LI headmaster Rick Hilton and a guitarist in "The Vikings." . . .   

Wednesday, May 14, 7 pm in the Town House, Guest Artist Harpsichordist Jacob Stott performs music of the Renaissance and Baroque with LI students in the Third Annual Renaissance and Baroque Music Festival. Wednesday, May 21, 7 pm percussionist Josh Gates from the Bowdoin International Music Festival will be playing with LI students.  . . .   

The 2008-2009 academic year for Lyndon Institute will begin with Upperclass Registration on August 6 and end with Commencement on May 31. The calendar gives specific information on scheduled marking periods and breaks.   

Author and professor Tammy Greenwood LI '87 will be the speaker at the 2008 Commencement exercises for Lyndon Institute on Sunday, June 8. LI Headmaster Rick Hilton said, "Lyndon Institute has a proud literary tradition, including faculty authors such as Burt Porter, Gerry Stork, and David Stahler and the many student authors who have learned from them. . . .   

Lyndon Institute Music Department's Visiting Artist Series continues this May with the Third Annual Festival of Renaissance and Baroque Music. The Festival will again feature Jacob T. Stott giving a series of workshops, master classes and demonstrations and culminates with a recital on Wednesday May 14, at 7 p.m. in the Town House. Performing . . .   

May will be the "Month for the Arts" at Lyndon Institute.  In addition to the Honors Assembly on May 20 and the Prom on May 17, there will be eight concerts or recitcals by the school's performing arts programs and the annual student art exhibit.  Updates on locations and programs will be published throughout the month.  . . .   

Lyndon Institute's Latin scholars walked away with the grand prize of  the Silver Bowl for small schools at the 2008 Latin Day held earlier this month at the University of Vermont.  The Silver Bowl is awarded based on points earned in a day long competition of skits, individual projects and displays about Roman life, costumes, and probatios (tests) for juniors (Latin 1 and 2) and seniors (Latin 3 and 4).  . . .   

Lyndon Institute's Pulse Dance Company competed in the 2007 Starbound National Talent Competition and came home winners. A Company of Pulse Dance Company at won gold for their choreography Gaining Perspective. Pulse's B Company also got a gold medal for their choreography Turned Upside Down and Inside Out. Individual honors went to Brenna Banister who won high silver and Cayte Bona who took gold. . . .   

For the first time, the Lyndon Institute Theater Company competed at the Vermont Drama Council's State Theater Festival and they came home as winners.  Individual Awards were given to seniors Kim Stacy and Dean Phypers, junior Ryan Howland and freshman Taylor McAllister for outstanding achievement in acting. An ensemble award was given to the entire company for outstanding achievement in Comic Timing. . . .   

The Lyndon Institute Human Services class recently participated in the Daffodil Days fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Students raised $553 by selling 43 bunches of daffodils, Hope Bears and potted plants. The American Cancer Society uses the dollars raised to fund cancer research, educational programs, advocacy, and other services for cancer patients and their families.  . . .   

 The Lyndon Institute Theater Company walked away from the Vermont Drama Council's Regional Theater Festival with an ensemble award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Comedic Style for its production "The American Crisis, Version 2.0 - for the times that try our souls" by Ned Lauver. Individual Awards were given to senior Kim Stacy and freshman Taylor McAllister for outstanding achievement in acting. . . .   

Lyndon Institute's Technical Educational students scored big at the annual Vermont Skills USA competition in South Burlington.  Nick Newland:  Gold medal (first place) in Welding Technology and Bronze medal (third place) for architectural drafting. Jake Gorham:  Silver medal (second place) for Diesel Equipment Technology. Technical Education at Lyndon Institute prepares students to obtain industry recognized certifications in computer technology, welding, construction technology, health care and child development.  . . .   

LI Welding instructor Larry Kirchoff has been honored with a Section Educator Award from the American Welding Society (AWS), District 1.  AWS District Director Russ Norris surprised the long-time LI teacher with the award as he was preparing students to participate in the upcoming SkillsUSA competition. Kirchoff's award was given in recognition of "quality of instructional performance devoted to the promotion and expansion of welding skills and knowledge." The . . .   

"My childhood was war," said Asadullah, a young man from Afghanistan now attending high school in Bennington, VT, "I saw things no child should see."  Asadullah spoke at Lyndon Institute on Thursday, March 13, as part of the school's foreign language week observance. Asadullah was born in Bamyan, a provincial capital north and west of the capital of Kabul, the Afghan capital.  . . .   

Parents and students can now check on-line for the menus offered at the Lyndon Institute cafeteria.  The menus will appear every Friday afternoon during the school year under the "Residential Life" and "Dining Services" pages of the LI website.   

Both LI Visual Arts Teachers To Remain Active in 2008-09 Following several weeks of planning, Lyndon Institute has announced that both of its visual arts teachers will serve LI students during the next academic year. Arts Department Chair Barb Follett and Arts Instructor Ellen Levitt will both continue teaching next year, contrary to rumors that spread after discussions of planned staffing changes were begun with faculty on January 31. . . .   

LI alumna and Lyndon native Twila Perry has been promoted to an assistant headmaster's post responsible for technical education and other practical career preparation for students in the academic year 2008-2009. "Twila Perry is regarded throughout the state as one of the best administrators in Vermont," said Headmaster Rick HIlton in announcing the appointment. . . .