To have an item listed, mail to the Gazette-Packet, 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. If you have any questions, call Elizabeth Orr at 703-917-6449.
Guiding Our Children Home Alliance (GOCHA) Home School Support Group plans to hold a Not-Back-to-School picnic for home schoolers from Fairfax County and surrounding areas Thursday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Jefferson Manor Park, 2902 Farmington Drive, Alexandria. Bring your own food and drink, and games to share. For more information, contact Lorraine Hitchcock at lorrie2@bellatlantic.net.
United Community Ministries'(UCM) Bryant Early Learning (BEL) Center is currently enrolling for the after-school program, Carmen's Kids, held at Bryant Early Learning Center, 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria. Hours are school dismissal-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Care is open for children in grades kindergarten-third. Carmen's Kids will provide transportation from Groveton and Hybla Valley, and possibly other schools, depending on enrollment Carmen's Kids uses a sliding fee scale. For more information, please contact 703-768-7106, ext. 325.
United Community Ministries (UCM)’s Youth in Action program will distribute school supplies for children to more than 500 children this year. Parents and children in need can register at 7511 Fordson Road. Supplies will be distributed in late August. When registering, parents are asked to bring their child’s fourth quarter report cards and free lunch letters and proof of address or UCM client ID number.
The Alexandria Band of Northern Virginia Community College has openings in all sections. The first rehearsal will be Thursday, Sept. 9, at John Adams Elementary School, Alexandria, 7:30 p.m. For more information call Dr. Robert Petrella, 703-845-6252.
Brian Wise, a student at St. Stephens and St. Agnes School, was among 100 students chosen to attend Washington and Lee University's Summer Scholars Program, held from July 4-July 30 in Lexington, Va.
Amelia Buczinski and Christopher Paul both earned the New Nebraskan scholarship from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Neb. Buczinski, an architecture student, was awarded $5,604 and Price, a history major, was awarded $8,490. The New Nebraskan award rewards talented UNL students that are from states other than Nebraska.
Rukshand Hasham, a former student of the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College, will start classes this month at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Van D. Hipp Jr., of Alexandria, has been named to Charleston southern University's Board of Visitors. Hipp, the chairman of the American Defense international in Washington, D.C., will serve on the board through Dec. 31, 2007.
The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, recently released its list of recent graduates. The graduates from Alexandria were: Veronique Z. Anderson; Laura T. Arnheim; Kelly L. Beyer; Megan A. Blaker; Lindsey C. Brown; Burke S. Brownfeld; Kelly A. Burke; Virginia E. Charles; Giny Cheong; Clint K. Coo; Margaret K. Donelan; Earl F. Glock; Emily W. Greene; Sarah B. Hodgkins; Nathaniel E. Johnson; Sarah A. Matthews; Evan S. McCreedy; Brian R. McDonald; Christian A. Patrizia; Ashley E. Peterson; Sarah M. Powell; John K. Roche; Jonathan O. Smith; Kristyn J. Thiel; Howard H. K. Van; and Randall M. Winnette.