Send your organization's announcement to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Questions? Call Bonnie Eaton at 703-917-6449.
Cadet Christina Ghani, daughter of Nigel Wilkinson of Potomac Falls, has recently graduated from the Massanutten Military Academy at their May 31 graduation ceremony. Ghani earned Gold, Silver, and Bronze Eagle Academic Awards for maintaining a grade point average over 3.0 and was the first MMA Cadet to receive a Varsity Letter in Gymnastics. Ghani will attend Towson University in the fall semester with a full athletic scholarship.
David Johnston, son of David W. Johnston of Leesburg, graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Va. on May 31. Johnston was active in football, basketball and baseball. He was named the "Outstanding Sportsman" for 2001-2002. He was also a member of the drill team, the German National Honor Society and a flight commander in the Academy's Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Zachary Mathews (Schumacher), a fourth grader at Leesburg Christian School was honored at the 82nd Annual American Legion Auxiliary statewide convention held in Roanoke, Va. for his essay, entitled "What America's Future Holds for Me."
Zachary's essay was first submitted to Purcellville Unit 293 for judging and then submitted to the state. He has won a total of $50 in prize money and earned a medal and a certificate. His essay has now been forwarded on to the Southern Division for judging at the National level.
The Purcellville American Legion Auxiliary and Leesburg Christian School have had numerous state winners over the past several years. Information regarding next year's contest will be distributed to schools in the late fall.
The Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College is offering online classes for certification in veterinary technology. students must be residents of the state of Virginia and working part time in a veterinary practice to qualify. The course will take eight semesters. visit www.nvcc.edu.
Dominion High School has named Saan Hartmetz as their first band director. Hartmetz previously served as a music teacher at Farmwell Station Middle School.
Will Sellers, Sterling resident and graduate of Broad Run High School, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in Boy Scouting.
Sellers has participated in Boy Scout Troop 761 since the fifth grade and has served in leadership positions over the last four years to include senior patrol leader, instructor and chaplains aide.
Sellers chose the Good Shepherd Alliance Walk-in Emergency Homeless Shelters for his Eagle Project. His objective was to build, organize and stock a library there. He coordinated members of his Troop and community peers in completing approximately 193 hours of fundraising, book collecting, book taping and the building of four bookshelves, which he installed at the Good Shepherd Women's Homeless Shelter in Lucketts.
In addition to community service, Sellers has earned 23 merit badges, including badges in horsemanship and space exploration. Sellers passed the Eagle Board of Review on June 23. An Eagle Court of Honor commemorating Sellers will take place at a later date this year.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently awarded the Potomac Falls High School Fine Arts Department a $500 grant. The grant will be used by the school’s art department to design and construct a Monet garden in one of the school's courtyards.
The Youth Services Division of Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) has limited openings in its Before and After School Programs for the 2003-2004 school year. The County After School Activities (CASA) Program and the Before School program provide supervised recreational and educational activities designed to help meet the needs of working families.
The popular CASA program is designed for Loudoun County students in grades K-5. Kindergartners must be at least 5 years old to participate. Non-public school students may enroll, if parents can provide transportation to the program site. CASA operates Monday-Friday from the close of the school day until 6 p.m. and follows the normal county school calendar. Enrollment for both programs is on a first-come, first-served basis and must be handled in person at the PRCS administrative office located in Leesburg.
Currently, there are openings for the Before School Program at Hutchison Farm Elementary School. The monthly fee is $135 with a $45 registration fee per child. After School Program openings currently exist at the following elementary schools: Algonkian, Ashburn, Balls Bluff, Catoctin, Dominion Trail, Hutchison Farm, Lowes Island, Mountain View, Potowmack, Reid, Rolling Ridge, Round Hill, Sanders Corner, Sugarland, Sully, and Waterford. There are also CASA openings at Arcola Community Center (serving Arcola and Aldie Elementary Schools), Lovettsville Community Center (serving Lovettsville Elementary School), and Sterling Annex Community Center (serving Guilford and Sterling Elementary Schools). The monthly fee is $275 with a $45 registration fee per child.
For information about CASA and the Before School Program, call 703-777-0343 or visit www.loudoun.gov/prcs/youthservices/casa. To express an interest in adding CASA sites at Banneker, Hillsboro or Lucketts Elementary School, call 703-777-0432.
The Rust Sanctuary, 802 Children's Center Road, in Leesburg is offering the following summer camps for children:
* "Nature's Tales." Tuesday, July 22-Friday, Aug. 1, 1:15 p.m.- 4:15 p.m. Includes stories about nature, exploring the gardens and trails, games and art projects. Cost is $145 for members and $185 for non-members. The program is for children pre-K or K in fall of 2003, or at least four years old by May 1, 2003.
* "Predators and Prey." Tuesday, July 21-Friday, Aug. 1, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. Includes hiking, games, crafts, learning about adaptations in plants and animals and looking for some predators and prey on the trail. Cost is $145 for members and $185 for non members. For children entering grades 1-2 in fall 2003.
Monday, Aug. 4-Friday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn about what tools animals use to build their homes, move around and find food. Cost is $160 for members and $205 for non members. For children entering grades 5-6 in fall 2003.
* Grades 6-8. Camp from Tuesday, Aug. 12-Saturday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Overnight campout is Friday at noon through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Learn outdoor survival skills, wilderness animals, take hikes and go on a tent campout. Cost is $180 for members and $235 for non members. For children entering grades 6-8 in fall 2003.
Call 703-669-0000 for more information.
Registration is now open for the third year of Loudoun County Public Schools' (LCPS) stringed instrument program. The program will not be in partnership with Shenandoah University for the 2003-2004 school year, but there are no major changes to the program. Registration forms are available at school offices, guidance departments, from music teachers and at the Fine Arts Office at the LCPS North Street Offices, 102 North Street, N.W., Leesburg. The program will be offered to students in grades 4-8 at each of the school system’s nine middle schools and Harmony Intermediate School. For the first time, a county-wide stringed orchestra will be formed. The orchestra will meet one night a week and is open to third-year students and second-year students with a teacher recommendation. Call Joshua Russell at 703-669-1427.