SerVermont Honors Lyndon State IT Head for Volunteer Work

MIKE DENTE RECEIVES GOVERNOR’S AWARD

June 12, 2012

LSC employee Mike Dente has been honored with a 2012 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Community Service. The award comes from SerVermont, a commission which promotes, supports, and recognizes volunteerism and community service throughout Vermont. The commission was established by then-Governor Howard Dean in 1993.

Dente, the chief technology officer at LSC, volunteers for a wide range of positions in the Northeast Kingdom. He spends many afternoons at Lyndon Town School (LTS) helping with diverse after-school programs-from meteorology and weather to robotics and GPS.

Melodie Fox, LTS after school coordinator values Dente’s strengths, “Mike has spent many hours mentoring the 4-H students. They are upper graders-4th through 6th graders. He is always consistent with them and sets a great example.”

“He is a strong male presence in these children’s life.” Fox adds, “These students really listen to him. And Mike has good ears; he is a great listener.”

Dente is on the Board of Directors for Kingdom Animal Shelter and an active member of Kingdom Kats. Kingdom Kats is a St. Johnsbury-based agency that provides emergency shelter for cats and also places them in appropriate homes. Aine Baker, VP of KAS, weighed in, “Mike is terrific with fund-raising ideas. He is a calming steady presence-a diffuser of tension. He maintains both our website and Facebook page.”

“He’s our IT go-to-guy.”

Dente has also been an officer in the Bailey Hazen snowmobile club and a volunteer disc jockey at a number of benefits for non-profit organizations.

The award ceremony was held June 9 at the Vermont State House.