Guests at last week's Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce dinner shared more than a dinner at Cedar Knoll Inn. They shared in the awarding of scholarships to four high school seniors.
The scholarship recipients were Shirlinda Brice, Mount Vernon High School; Kimberly Anne Wagner, West Potomac High School; Marlene Luchi, Bryant High School; and Andrew Lefebvre, Edison High School.
Introducing the winners was Chamber President Dan Rinzel, who said, "These are truly impressive individuals with stirring records of accomplishment during their high school years. We hear frequent criticism of the lack of values and absence of discipline among young people today, but these scholarship recipients demonstrate that motivated students can achieve anything."
Otha Davis, principal of Walt Whitman, was the evening's speaker. Davis said, "We would like to recognize the outstanding achievements of our Excellence in Education Scholarship winners. Certainly, they have taken advantage of the many wonderful educational opportunities that have been afforded to them by the schools they attend. The Mount Vernon/Lee Chamber of Commerce is to be commended for their invaluable support of our schools and young people."
ALL FOUR WINNERS have plans to continue their education. Marlene Luchi, Bryant Alternative High School, is planning to attend either Northern Virginia Community College or George Mason University where she will pursue a degree in business. Luchi, who is originally from Brazil, has excelled at Bryant High School where she has been president of the National Honor Society and has received numerous awards for academic achievement. Luchi has also been involved in the community through helping with Meals on Wheels, the annual Route 1 Clean-up Day and walks for the homeless.
Andrew Lefebvre, Thomas A. Edison High School, will be attending the University of Virginia. Lefebvre distinguished himself in high school by serving as a member of the National Honor Society at Edison; he is also affiliated with DECA, and the Key Club, where he served as treasurer. Lefebvre has played on the varsity tennis team and also been the manager of the girl's varsity tennis team. He has been active with this church youth group and volunteered at Christ House Soup Kitchen in Alexandria.
Shirlinda Brice, Mount Vernon High School, will study Fashion Merchandising at Old Dominion University. During high school she maintained a high grade point average while being involved with band, cheerleading, Future Business Leaders of America, DECA and the English Honor Society. Brice has been active with her church youth group and volunteered with the Mount Vernon Health Day Car Center for seniors.
Kimberly Anne Wagner, West Potomac High School, plans to further her education by taking a duel major in finance and marketing at the University of Virginia Business School. At West Potomac, Wagner has been involved with the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and participated in Model UN. She has been actively involved in sports including cross-country, track, soccer, swimming and tennis.
SINCE 1997, the Chamber of Commerce has awarded more than $24,000 to local high school students to further their education. These scholarships are made possible by the businesses in Lee and Mount Vernon Districts who have contributed to the Scholarship Fund and the Golf Tournament to make these scholarships possible.
Members of the Chamber Education Honor Roll 2004 include: Pat McHugh, Natural Stone; Cintron Lock & Safe; Village Hardware; Olde Towne Women's Club; Virginia Contracting; Angelena V. Bracht; James R. Glenn; Jerry's Paint & Wallcoverings; Turner, Trichel & Associates; Alexandria Surveys; Pat Grant, Long & Foster Realtors; Elsie's Magic Skillet Restaurant; Kathy's Corner; Supervisor Dana Kauffman; Bel'Art Framing; Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co.; Stewart McKnight; Woodlawn Kennels; Delegate Kris Amundson; 4 More Travel; Frog Pond Early Learning Center; Kelso & Associates Architects; Rent-All Center; Richard F. Neel, Jr.; Delegate Mark Sickles; Holly Woods & Vines; Helco, Inc.; Sandy Liddy Bourne; Assured Plumbing, Inc.; Master Roofing and Siding; Genuario Construction Co.; Joyce Clevenger, Weichert Realtors; Community Business Partnership; Dunn, Curcio & Keating; Fort Belvoir Federal Credit Union; Cox Communications; Hilltop Golf Club; Ourisman Dodge; Redmon, Peyton & Braswell, LLP; Service Distributing, Inc.; Sheehy Honda; Hartick, LLC; RSM McGladery, Inc.; Supervisor Gerry Hyland; The Bender Group, Randy Bender; Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse; Town & Country Landscaping, Inc.; John McAllorum; Coldwell Bankers Residential Brokerage; Hollin Hall Automotive; Senator Linda "Toddy" Puller; ADT, Inc.; FastSigns of Alexandria; Inova Mount Vernon Hospital; Rick's Carpet & Flooring Showcase; Joan Gros, Long & Foster Realtors; Chris Braunlich; and Paul Kaeppel, Weichert Realtors.