<i> Send announcements to The Reston Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to
reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Jean Card at 703-917-6437, with questions. </i>
Gulay Berryman, a Reston-based artist, will exhibit her artwork in the annual Biennale Internazionale dell' Arte Contemporanea di Firenze, www.florencebiennale.org, which will take place between Dec. 3-11 in Florence, Italy. The international art show gathers between 800-900 artists selected from around the world to display their works. Most are sponsored by museums or cultural institutions, but Berryman is one of a limited number who are participating as independent artists.
Berryman is a representational artist painting primarily in the oil painting medium. She obtained her formal art training at the Exole des Beaux Arts de Versailles in France and at the Accademia di Belle Arte di Brera in Milan, Italy. She has painted and held exhibitions abroad in seven countries. Examples of her work can be found at www.geocities.com/gulayart.
Sonia Y. W. Chu of Reston graduated from Mount St. Mary's University with dean's list honors. The university, founded in 1808, is the second oldest Catholic university in America and is located in Emmitsburg, Md.
Allison Jean Hall of Reston made dean's list at Ohio Wesleyan University, located in Delaware, Ohio. To qualify, students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale in at least three unit courses. Robert and Anne Hall of Reston are her parents.
The following Virginia Tech students were among those honored at the university's spring commencement ceremony held May 13 in Lane Stadium. Approximately 5,200 bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. candidates along with their families and friends attended the on-campus ceremony presided by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. David L. Calhoun, president and CEO of GE Transportation and Virginia Tech alumnus, delivered the commencement address.
Local Honorees were:
* Lauren Fallabel, B.S. (magna cum laude) in human development
* Laura Benson, B.S. in sociology.
* Marcelo Mandoles, B.S. in business (magna cum laude) in finance.
* Brent Robinson, B.S. in computer science.
* Grant Snodgrass, B.A. (cum laude) in English.
* Marc Vuolo, B.A. in history.
* Kelly Burke, B.S. in human nutrition, foods, and exercise.
* Mary Larson, B.A. in art.
* Ian Marley, B.S. in aerospace engineering.
* Adam Smith, B.S. in computer engineering.
* Sarah Smith, B.A. in English.
* Graham Terban, B.S. (cum laude) in biology.