Donnelly Alison Gillen of Potomac graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland. Donnelly was awarded departmental honors by the Department of Art History and Archeology for her thesis: "The Metaphysical Philosophy and Painting of Giorgio de Chirico and Carlo Carra," and was the recipient of the "Judith K. Reed Award" as the department's outstanding scholar. She will attend law school in the fall. The daughter of Mary-Margaret and Neal Gillen; Donnelly is a 2001 graduate of Walt Whitman High School
Allana Strong, of Potomac, was named to the dean's list with distinction at Duke University for the Spring 2005 semester.
Dara Feldman, a kindergarten teacher at Garrett Park Elementary School, is one of only three honorees throughout the nation being recognized in early childhood education with a Disney Education Award and one of 45 national winners in all education fields. She was selected from more than 50,000 nominees. Feldman was recognized for a commitment to teaching that results in a creative, high-tech kindergarten.
Vaibhav Vish, of Potomac, graduated June 10 from Landon School, Bethesda. Vaibhav was the valedictorian at Landon this year. Vaibhav was the co-president of the Landon Debate Club, a senior editor of Landon News, president of Prometheus, Landon's Literary magazine and outreach coordinator of the Environmental Club. As founding member of the Debate Club, Vaibhav attended many tournaments and is a Nationals qualifier. Vaibhav is active in community service, and has worked in hospitals and libraries in the county. Vaibhav scored 1600 in his SAT, and is a semi-finalist in the Presidential Scholars program. Vaibhav has lived in Spain learning Spanish, worked at the EPA, and studied at Cambridge, U.K. In his spare time Vaibhav plays tennis and ping pong, and likes to watch a variety of sports.
Vaibhav will be attending the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania this Fall. Vaibhav has been recognized as a Joseph Wharton Scholar at the Wharton School, and a Benjamin Franklin Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania.