Send announcements 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 the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
Goose Creek District Club will be holding its annual Cub Scout Day Camp June 20-24 and June 27-July 1, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds. More than 400 Cub Scouts are registered to attend this year.
Air Force Airman Adam M. Simmons has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises and special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Simmons is the son of Steve and Suzanne Ainey of Ashburn. In 2003, the airman graduated from Westfield High School, Chantilly.
The Loudoun County Department of Social Services hosted a Foster Family Appreciation Luncheon at the Outback Steakhouse in Sterling May 21 to honor the agency's foster families. Bashar Kassir, manager/proprietor of the restaurant, sponsored the event by opening his restaurant early for the group and donating all of the food.
Robert Chirles, director of Loudoun County Department of Social Services welcomed the foster families, who received certificates of appreciation, and other guests to the luncheon.
A plaque and bouquet of red roses were presented to Loudoun County's Foster Parents of the Year, Raine
and Bill Dickey. Debra Comer received a clock in recognition of her 10 years of service. Family picture frames were given to Nancy and Fred Casares, Ginnie and Vic Dively, Mary Jackson and Frances Tibbs for
their five years of service. Nancy and Fred Casares and Judi and Toni Williams were applauded for going above and beyond the call of duty this past year and received plaques to commemorate their extraordinary efforts.
Community service awards were presented to Pat and Ray Wimmer for their volunteer work on behalf of foster children, Sandra Glenney, guardian ad litem, for assisting with pre-service training for foster parents, and Kassir, owner of the Outback Steakhouse, for donating the use of his restaurant and the food for the appreciation event.
Anna Prinz, daughter of Thomas Prinz and Robin Skinner-Prinz of Leesburg, was awarded a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Earlham College during commencement ceremonies May 7.
Tyler Pearson, Stone Bridge High School, was selected to attend this summer's Governor's School for Humanities at the University of Richmond, July 3-30. This four-week program of classes, workshops, field trips and special events is designed to encourage individual growth and challenge students to achieve personal excellence in their fields. Pearson was also chosen to represent his high school at Boys State of Virginia, June 19-25, at Liberty University. Entering his senior year, Pearson is a varsity football and baseball player with above a 4.2 GPA.
Equality Loudoun announces that the Capital Pride Planning Committee has selected its acting president, David Weintraub, as one of nine Capital Pride Heroes for 2005.
These individuals are nominated from within the Washington, D.C., area community and honored for "extraordinary efforts to bring full equality to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities," according to the press release.
Equality Loudoun is a nonpartisan community and advocacy organization working to improve the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in Loudoun County, and eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The "Horsing Around Loudoun," jury chose 32 artists from numerous submitted entries. Designs ranged from the literal to the whimsical, with names such as "Irises," ÒEquus Cumulus," "Horsefly," and "Horse and Bogey." The jury evaluated artistic excellence, creativity, originality, variety and weather resistance. "Horsing Around Loudoun" is a countywide, outdoor arts project sponsored by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Loudoun's equine tradition. Artists will transform 32 life-size sculptures into works of art. Sculptures will be on public display around the county for about three months.
The winning, local artists include Conor Backman, Purcellville;
Leonor Aluim Brazao, South Riding; Shirley A. Brown, Sterling; Suzanne DeSaix, Lovettsville; Barbara Drumheller, Leesburg; Jill Evans-Kavaldjian, Lovettsville; Penny Hauffe, Leesburg; Carmen Barros Howell, Purcellville; Amy Kinshella, Ashburn; King Street Studios, Leesburg; Loudoun Country Day School, Leesburg; Anne Lukas, Sterling; Lindsey Morgan/Leslie Tharp, Ashburn; Elaine Nunnally, Sterling; Constance Pallella, Leesburg; Christina Sanders, Potomac Falls; Silvia Sovza, Potomac Falls; and Cynthia L. Stowers/Ivonne L. Couret, Sterling.
Businesses wanting to sponsor a horse can visit http://www.horsingaroundloudoun.org or call Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce at 703-777-2176.
Nicolas Mangus, a senior at Dominion High School, was awarded the 14th annual Dr. Juergen Reinhardt Memorial Scouting Scholarship for his record of service in both his school and the community, his commitment to scouting principles and participation in extracurricular activities. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Mangus of Potomac Falls, Mangus has actively participated in scouting for 13 years and has held various troop leadership positions, including patrol leader, senior patrol leader and historian. He has also participated in National Honor Society, the Dominion High School's cross county team, the senior class council and won the MADD essay contest. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior planning to pursue additional education, residing in Loudoun County, who has demonstrated a commitment to education, scouting and the community. Mangus joins previous winners: Jonathan Tew, Cheryl Johnston and Daniel Morris, Loudoun Valley High School; Bobbie Barile of Broad Run High School; Andres Peres and Geoffrey Lawson of Park View High School; Matthew Bingham, Gregory Mayo, Andrew Mayo, Casey Quinn and Andrew Heironimus of Loudoun County High School; and Steven Yarbrough of Stone Bridge High School.
Four Loudoun County public-school seniors were each presented with a $450 check from Sheriff Steve Simpson Tuesday, June 14, as part of the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute (VSI) scholarship program.
The four students presented with the scholarship checks were Natasha Yvonne King from Broad Run High School, and Mallory Biazzo, Christine Allen-Cervantes and David Wilkens all of whom attend Stone Bridge High School.
Natasha has been accepted to Roanoke College, Mallory will be attending Christopher Newport University, Christine will be attending Radford University and David will be attending George Mason University.
The scholarship program, established by the VSI's Board of Directors, assists students in their educational endeavors in law enforcement or criminal justice. The scholarship program is limited to students attending Virginia colleges and universities. The scholarship program is funded through a membership drive, which was conducted last August by the Virginia Sheriff's Institute through mailings sent to homes throughout the state of Virginia.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) has selected Connor Forman, a freshman at Stone Bridge High School, as Student Volunteer of the Month.
Connor volunteered as the assistant coach with the Loudoun Youth Soccer Association, for a local girl's soccer team, "F5," being coached by his father, David Forman, who took on the team when he found out the girls would not be able to play if they didn't have a coach.
Connor fully accepted the responsibility while continuing with a heavy workload in high school, where he takes all honors courses and also spends time conditioning for varsity lacrosse. With biweekly practices, about seven hours per week were devoted to the soccer team where he helped teach the fundamentals of the game and individual skills to 10- to 11-year-old girls. Connor also stressed the importance of having fun while playing the game.
Connor was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Andy Johnston, member of the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board, at a gathering where the girls, their parents and his family were present.
To nominate an outstanding student volunteer or group of
volunteers, send a paragraph describing the student's volunteer efforts to Lisa Rose, Volunteer Coordinator, Loudoun Volunteer Services Board, at pivs@loudoun.gov or mail to P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, or fax to 703-771-5841. To learn more about Loudoun Volunteer Services visit www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm.
The Nursing Division of Patient Care Service of Inova Loudoun Hospital conducted three community outreach programs during their recent National Nurse's Week celebration. The programs allowed Patient Care Services to provide donations of $1,000 to the Loudoun Community Free Clinic, 15 large boxes of medical books to tsunami relief and 40 used cell phones to the Women's Shelter of Loudoun County.
On July 1, Pamela L. Grizzle will be sworn in as a judge for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the 20th Judicial District. Grizzle will sit primarily in Loudoun County. The swearing in will occur at 5 p.m., in the Old Courthouse in a Circuit Court proceeding. Jean Harrison Clements, a judge on the Court of Appeals of Virginia, will administer the oath of office.
Grizzle graduated from the George Mason University School of Law in 1992. She graduated from Bradley University in 1987. Grizzle resides in Leesburg with her three children.
John C. Desmedt II has contracted under the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program as a nonscholarship cadet, which is available to soldiers who have completed two years of college, and can complete their college degree requirements in two years. The students can receive a stipend, a flat-rate payment for uniforms, and use of their earned military educational benefits during the academic year as a contracted cadet in their last two years at an ROTC hosted college or university.
Upon graduation from college with a bachelor's degree and completion of ROTC courses, the cadet will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, National Guard or Reserve and will be required to fulfill a military service commitment.
Desmedt will attend the University of Richmond. He is the son of John C. Desmedt of Nokesville and Rhonda R. Dramstad Leesburg. The cadet graduated in 1997 from Brentsville District High School, Nokesville, and received a bachelor's degree in 2002 from Radford University.
Michael J. Wilhelm has graduated from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Md. The graduate received a medical degree and was commissioned to the rank of captain, with a minimum seven-year active duty service commitment.
The university is a tuition-free institution which manages a graduate nursing school, a graduate school with doctor of philosophy and master's degree programs, and a medical school that prepares men and women for careers as physicians in the Army, Navy, Air Force. The medical school curriculum includes a concentration of preventive medicine, primary care, military medicine and emergency medicine.
Wilhelm is the son of Alfred D. Wilhelm Jr. of Ashburn and grandson of Floyd Miller of Spokane, Wash. His wife, Sara, is the daughter of Franz and Ann Kelsch of Gilroy, Calif. The captain graduated in 1994 from The Potomac School, McLean, and received a bachelor's degree in the year 2000 from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.