More than 1,000 Loudoun County students will compete in the Odyssey of the Mind Regional competition at Dominion High School this Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Teams from 25 elementary schools, 8 middle/intermediate schools and one high school will vie for the right to represent Loudoun County in the state finals. State winners will compete in the 25th World Finals at the University of Maryland in May. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Hatrick will preside over the awards ceremony which will begin in the Dominion High School gym at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
The Travis Film Festival is underway for high school student filmmakers throughout the county. Students may submit their films in up to three categories: Drama, Comedy, and Documentary/Other. A panel of professionals will judge the works, and the winning filmmakers will be awarded cash prizes. A poster competition is being held in conjunction with the film contest, and the winning artwork will become the poster for this year’s film festival. Artwork for the poster contest is due April 12 by 3 p.m. at the Loudoun Arts Council, 15 North King Street, Leesburg. Films must be received by 3 p.m. on April 30 at the same address. Full guidelines and entry forms for both contests are contained on the website www.travisfilmfest.com. Student films will be shown to the public on May 25, 26, and 27 at area theaters.
Ashley Dawson of Sterling, a senior majoring in accounting and information systems in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been named to the college's 2004 Business Horizons leadership team. Dawson will serve as the graduate student / MBA liaison.
Ashley Bristol of Sterling, a junior majoring in marketing management in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been named to the college's 2004 Business Horizons leadership team. Bristol will serve on the publicity committee.
The Spart Mart at Broad Run High School, Fort Necessity at Park View High School, and Titans Corner at Dominion High School, all school-based enterprises, were recognized with gold-level certification by DECA, "An Association of Marketing Students," and Frito-Lay.
Eight Broad Run High School seniors took two first place awards in the Virginia "We the People" competition, a debate program sponsored by the United States Congress, on Feb. 9 in Richmond. The winning students were: T.J. Domingue, Britany Raymond, Tyler Vlasic, Charla Wacker, Jenna Caso, James Dundas, John Moriaty, and Erik Voss.
The Loudoun Education Foundation has awarded seven scholarships funded by the Claude Moore Foundation to benefit Loudoun County Public School teachers. The scholarships are for $5,000 each and are to used by teachers enrolled in graduate programs. This year's recipients are: Lisa T. Berg, third-grade teacher at Round Hill Elementary; Damian T. Krisko, first-grade teacher at Evergreen Mill Elementary; Karen Elizabeth Orr, second-grade teacher at Horizon Elementary; Bonnie M. Robertson, special education at Stone Bridge High School; Jean C. Rodriguez, language arts teacher at J. Lupton Simpson Middle School; Annamarie Wilkinson, German teacher at River Bend and Seneca Ridge Middle Schools; and Karen J.D. Yurish, English teacher at Harmony Intermediate School.
On March 29 at 7 p.m., the Parent, Teacher, Student Organization for Potomac Falls High School is hosting a Family Night event featuring Loudoun County's Gang Response and Intervention Team (GRIT). Parents, family members and students are welcome to join us in the auditorium. Sheriff's Investigator Scott Mastandrea will serve as the guest speaker. For more information, contact Tom Koenig at 703-266-3922 or email tjkoenig59@hotmail.com.
The student poster contest is an annual part of the Leesburg-Loudoun Arbor Day Celebration, which will take place on April 24, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. The contest is open to all Loudoun County students from grades K-12, including public, private, or home-school students. This year's theme, "As Trees Grow, Weather Goes," is about how trees influence weather. All posters must be 11" by 14" and include the student's name, grade, age, school name and teacher's name on the back of the poster. Entries should be submitted to Melissa Pagano-Kumpf, Art Supervisor, Loudoun County Public Schools, North Street Office, 102 North Street, NW, Leesburg, VA 20176. The deadline to submit a poster is March 26. Prizes will be awarded to the students who create the top 50 posters. The posters will remain on display at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve during the 2004 Annual Arbor Day Celebration. All entries become the property of the sponsors and may be used at their discretion. For more information on the annual Arbor Day student poster contest, contact Suzie Brown at Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, suzie.brown@va.usda.gov, or by calling 703-777-2075. Information about the 16th Annual Arbor Day Celebration, including the poster contest rules and regulations, is available at www.loudoun.gov/general/arbor.htm.
The Broad Run High School Parent-Teacher-Student organization (PTSO) will host its annual Spring Craft Fair, Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This Ashburn tradition attracts more than 100 crafters and their hand-crafted items, including stained glass, soaps, pottery and ceramics, home and garden accessories and much more. Admission is free, but guests are asked to bring canned or non-perishable food items for donation to the Loudoun InterFaith Relief food bank. All proceeds go to support school organizations and special events, as well as to provide scholarships. Broad Run High School is located on Ashburn Road in Ashburn, one-quarter mile west of its intersection with Ashburn Farm Parkway. For more information, contact Jeanette Gandhi at 703-729-2005 or e-mail jeanette.gandhi@verizon.net.
Farmwell Station Middle School at 44281 Gloucester Parkway in Ashburn Village will be presenting performances of "Once on This Island" on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. "Once on This Island" is a musical play based upon the novel entitled "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy. Tickets cost $5 each and order forms are available in the Farmwell Station Middle School office. In addition, order reservations can be made by e-mailing OnceOnThisIsland_FSMS@Yahoo.com. Checks for tickets should be made payable to FSMS. All seats are reserved and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Sterling Annex on West Church Road in Sterling is offering several programs in March for ages 5 to 12. Crafty Saint Patrick's Day Camp is on March 17, Spring Pinata Workshop begins March 22 and Drawing and Watercolor Painting begins March 29. Pre-registration is required. For more information call 703-430-6673.
The Advisory Board of the Ashburn Library, a branch of the Loudoun County Public Library, is accepting applications for a scholarship of $250 and the donation of a reference book to the Ashburn Library in honor of the award recipient. All 2004 high school graduates who will attend a post secondary school in the fall of 2004, and who attend either Broad Run High School or Stone Bridge High School, are eligible to apply. Seniors applying must demonstrate scholastic ability and interest in reading and library activities. Candidates applying must possess a current Loudoun County library card, complete an application (available at the information Desk of the Ashburn Library, and Guidance Office at Broad Run and Stone Bridge High School) and submit the application by midnight April 14. Award selection will be made by the Ashburn Library Advisory Board. For more information and to receive an application, call or visit the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn, P: 703-737-8100V/TTY.
Loudoun Hospital Center is accepting applications for the summer high school student volunteer program. Students must complete the 8th grade by June to participate in the eight week program. Volunteers may help in many different areas, including radiology, lab, medical/surgical floors, pharmacy, physical medicine and rehabilitation, nursing and rehabilitation, food services, and the information desk. Opportunities are available at the Lansdowne and Cornwall. Deadline is April 1. Call Joyce Sargent at 703-858-6468.
Loudoun Volunteer Services is offering ten $500 scholarships to seniors, one for each Loudoun public high school with a graduating class, one for C.S. Monroe Technology Center, to one senior student in a private school and to one home-schooled senior. Students who have performed volunteer service at their church, school or for their community and who have a pending acceptance to an accredited college, business or vocational school are eligible for the scholarship. Students should submit their scholarship application to Loudoun Volunteer Services, 1 Harrison St. SE, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, by the close of business on April 5. Applications are available at each school, by visiting www.loudoun.gov/pio/student.htm or by calling Lisa Rose, Volunteer Coordinator at 703-777-0113. Scholarship winners are selected by the Loudoun Volunteer Services Student Volunteer Program Committee, based on a demonstrated contribution to the community through volunteer service. Various clubs, community organizations and corporations from throughout the region donate money for these scholarships. To learn more about Loudoun Volunteer Services visit www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm.
The 10th Congressional District Art Show will be Saturday, April 3, at Heritage High School in Loudoun County. The competition is open to all high school students in the 10th District. Students interested in participating should contact their school's art teachers or principals for detailed information on how to enter their work. All pieces entered in the competition will be displayed at the show, which will be open to the public from 12-2 p.m. at Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road SE, Leesburg. The entry named "Best in Show" will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year, alongside "Best in Show" entries from similar shows in congressional districts across the country.