Emily Steakley and Rachel Trippett, both of McLean, were named to the dean's list for Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences for the fall semester. Steakley is a sophomore majoring in history, and Trippett is a junior majoring in international relations. To qualify for the dean's list, students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.4 for the semester.
Amara Katherine Craighill and Eric T. Vaughn, both of McLean, were named to the faculty honors list at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., for the fall semester. To earn this honor, a student must achieve a semester grade point average of at least a 3.667, with no individual letter grade below a B-minus.
Philippa M. Davidson, daughter of Simon G. Davidson and Marie-Louise R. Davidson of McLean, is among 16 Colgate University students spending the spring semester in London with Kira Stevens, Colgate associate professor of history. Davidson is a junior concentrating in history.
Vanessa Meccarielli of McLean was named to the Syracuse University College of Human Services and Health Professions dean's list for the fall semester. To qualify for the dean's list, students must achieve at least a 3.4 grade point average for the semester. Meccarielli is a freshman majoring in child and family studies.
Domenic Scarano of McLean was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Quinnipiac University of Hamden, Conn. To qualify for the dean's list, students are required to earn a grade point average of at least 3.0 with no grade lower than a C.
The following Virginia Tech undergraduate students, all residents of McLean, were among those honored at the university's Fall Commencement Ceremony held Friday, Dec. 17, in Cassell Coliseum:
Hunter Dasch received a bachelor of science in business degree in management from the Pamplin College of Business.
Myra Gourley received a bachelor of fine arts degree in art (fine arts) from the College of Architecture and Urban Studies.
Theresa Klunk received a bachelor of science degree in computer science from the College of Engineering and a bachelor of arts degree in foreign languages (Spanish) from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
Joo Lee received a bachelor of science in business degree in business information technology from the Pamplin College of Business.
Katherine Robinson received a bachelor of science degree in psychology from the College of Science.
Neil Schafer received a bachelor of science in computer engineering degree (magna cum laude) from the College of Engineering.
Abrahm Behnam received a bachelor of science in engineering science and mechanics degree (magna cum laude) from the College of Engineering.
Puya Jafari received a bachelor of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
Claudine Mazeas received a bachelor of science degree in clothing and textiles from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
The artwork of Kristin Machado of McLean will be featured in a senior art exhibition on display in the duPont Gallery at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg from March 11-20. Machado is a senior majoring in studio art and is a recipient of the Emil Schnellock Award for excellence in painting and the Alfred Levitt Scholarship. She also serves as the representative for the Visiting Artists and Speakers Committee, the art editor of the literary magazine Aubade and the vice president of the Studio Art Club. Her exhibit will feature oil painting and sculpture.
McLean native Robert Crawford won $14,000 in renewable scholarships at Johnson & Wales University's 16th annual National High School Recipe Contest in Denver. Crawford is one of 20 students from across the nation selected as finalists out of a pool of more than 500 applicants. His recipe is seared scallops with purple potato puree, corn chutney and red pepper coulis. Crawford is the son of Robin and Charles Crawford and attends McLean High School.
University of Chicago third-year student Anyu Fang, 21, of McLean, has been named a Truman Scholar, a distinction awarded to only 75 American college students each year. Fang, an economics major who spent his early years in China before he moved to Virginia for high school, plans to use the $30,000 award to study human rights law. He has interned in Amnesty International's legislative office in Washington, D.C., as well as in Congress with Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and is interested in some day going back to Washington to work on legislation that deals with shelter and food as human rights issues.
In addition to his studies, Fang is an executive board member of the student group the Giving Tree, a social justice organization, and he has organized many campus education events about food and housing insecurity and has led community service trips to South Side homeless shelters. Fang also founded the University's French Club during his freshman year. Because he is interested in economic development, he has studied Francophone African countries, and he studied abroad in South Africa during his second year. This summer, Fang plans to intern in the Fairfax County Department of Housing.
Roger A. Fransen of McLean, a junior majoring in management, has been selected as a student member on the Multicultural Diversity Committee in Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business. The Multicultural Diversity Committee promotes diversity and awareness of related issues and creates events to encourage diversity within Pamplin. Faculty committee members are asked to recommend students from their programs based on academic standing, a willingness to contribute, and leadership experience.
Gaurav Gupta of McLean, 19, a sophomore biomedical engineering undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, is conducting studies that could lead to improved treatments for heart disease. He found that mice deficient in the "anti-aging" gene klotho are a good model for age-related blood vessel stiffening. This project was funded through the university's Provost Undergraduate Research Awards and conducted in the lab of Professor Dan E. Berkowitz. Gupta plans to build on this work by evaluating the ability of other medications to improve vascular stiffening. He is applying for funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Nora Crawford of McLean was on the dean's list for the fall semester at Rutger's University in New Brunswick, N.J. She is pursuing a pre-med major.
Daniel Bevels, son of Terry Bevels of Alexandria and Lisa Bevels of McLean, earned an honorable mention for the fall semester at Lynchburg College. Bevels, a graduate of Langley High School, is a freshman.
Jonathan D. Loretta of McLean has been named to the dean's list at Pennsylvania State University for the fall semester. He is a sophomore in the Smeal College of Business, majoring in accounting.
Cadet Zachary K. Huson of McLean is among the 462 Virginia Military Institute cadets who were recently named to the dean's list for the fall 2004 semester. To be eligible for the dean's list a cadet must have a grade point average of 3.0, with no grade below a 2.0. Huson, a sophomore electrical engineering major, is a graduate of McLean High School and is the son of Greg and Susie Huson of McLean.
Wardner Penberthy of McLean ran in the 2005 Boston Marathon as part of the President's Marathon Challenge team from Tufts University in Boston. The team ran to raise money to support health, nutrition and fitness programs at Tufts, as well as research on nutrition, aging, obesity, famine and hunger.
Carissa Culbreath of Falls Church, graduate of George C. Marshall High School and currently a junior at the University of Mary Washington, was inducted into the Cap and Gown chapter of Mortar Board, a national honor society based on scholarship, leadership and service. Culbreath is the daughter of Cliff and Alma Culbreath of Falls Church.
Wynne Breed of McLean studied in Spain for the Spring 2005 semester. Breed is a junior at Connecticut College in New London, Conn.
Jason Dawson of McLean graduated from Costal Carolina University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in May.
Thomas DeJarnette Triplett of McLean earned a BSBA in Business Administration from Longwood University on May 14.
Charlotte Lauren Meadows, Mclean, earned a BSBA, cum laude in Business Administration from Longwood University on May 14.
Jeffrey Alex Chang graduated from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina in Business on May 16 2005.