To have an item listed, mail to the Gazette-Packet, 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. If you have any questions, call Marguerite Rogers at 703-917-6407.
Larry Ward is a T.C. Williams graduate (1976), married and father of Nina, 18, Vanessa, 15, and Angela, 9. In addition to obtaining his doctorate degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University and more than 25 years of experience in human services, Ward is publisher of Human Services Connection (HSC), a new monthly magazine devoted to the human services industry in Cambridge, Ma.
W. Scott Stoner was elected president of The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association at the Association's Annual Meeting in Calgary, Alberta on Feb. 22. The Grand Lodges of all 50 states and Puerto Rico are the members of the Memorial Association, representing a fraternity of nearly 2 million Masons. President Stoner presides over a 22-member Board of Directors from across the nation. He has been a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee since 1991. In one of his first official public appearances as President, he was a featured guest speaker, along with the Mayor of Alexandria, at a wreath laying ceremony held at the Masonic Memorial on Feb. 27 honoring the 273rd birthday of George Washington. The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, located in Alexandria, Virginia, is the headquarters of the Memorial Association.
Army Pvt. Asia M. Lewis has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Lewis' mother is Lelethia Abdus-Shakur Lewis of E. Oxford Ave., Alexandria.
The private is a 2004 graduate of the Girls Woods Program, Axton, Va.
Marine Corps Pvt. Mohammad M. Nekoueian, son of
Tahereh Mirzajan and Ali Nekoueian of Alexandria, Va., and Marine Corps Pvt. Christopher S. Hellmuth, a 2004 graduate of Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria, Va., recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. Nekoueian is a 2004 graduate of West Potomac High School of Alexandria, Va.
Hellmuth is a 2004 graduate of Bishop Ireton High School of Alexandria, Va.
Air Force Airman 1st Class Nelly M. Pisfil-Rodriguez has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
Pisfil-Rodriguez's parents are Nelly and Jorge Pisfil of Cornell Drive, and her brother is Jorge Pisfil-Rodriguez of Vernon Square Drive, all of Alexandria, Va.
The airman is a 2004 graduate of West Potomac High School, Alexandria.
Army Pfc. Stacy-Ann N. Smith has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of Carol E. and stepdaughter of Michael Bell of Pleasure Cove Court, Alexandria.
Jennifer Thomas of Alexandria plays the flute for the Franklin & Marshall College Symphonic Wind Ensemble. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is directed by Brian Norcess, F&M’s director of instrumental music, will present different works including Robert W. Smith’s “Divine Comedy,” Frank Ticheli’s “Blue Shades” and Gustav Holst’s “Second Suite in F.” Thomas is a first-year student at F&M and 2004 graduate of the St. Stephens & St. Agnes School. She is the daughter of Beverly Thomas and John Thomas.
Kimberly Crane, an Earlham College junior and daughter of Donald and Nancy Crane of Alexandria, performed in the Gospel Revelations 40th Anniversary Winter Concert Dec. 5. The concert was held at the Goddard Auditorium at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. Selections for the concert included “Hosanna,” “Holy,” “God is Here,” “Great Things,” “God’s Got a Blessing,” and “All Around.” The choir will tour in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York from March 17-21.
Tiffani R. Fuller, of Alexandria, has made the Merit List at Darton College for the fall 2004 semester.
Margaret O’Meara, a home schooled second-grader of Alexandria, has won the Institute for Global Environment Strategies Art Contest for grades second-fourth, for her picture “Volcanologists Can Study Volcanoes Up Close — Or from a Distance!” This is the first time a second-grader has won the contest. The theme, “Picture Me! What Kind of Earth Scientist Would I Be?” challenged students to draw themselves as Earth explorers, showing what they would study and what kinds of tools they would use. O’Meara’s artwork appeared on the 2004 IGES holiday card, and also received a $250 savings bond.
Whitt Larkin, a senior at Episcopal High School, was honored by the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club as the Club’s Athlete for November. Whitt was team caption and a four-year starter for the Episcopal varsity soccer team. He completed his four-year varsity career with 17 goals, 17 assists, and numerous conference and state awards.
Jennifer Reid Lewis of Alexandria has made the University of Wyoming’s academic Dean and Freshman Honor Roll for the 2004 fall semester.
Michelle Sledge, a Spanish teacher in the Foreign Language Department at Hayfield Secondary School, has just completed her master’s degree.
Army Pvt. Million S. Goitom has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Solomon S. Goitom of Patience Court, Alexandria, Va.
Navy Seaman Sohak Aziz, son of Maliha Aziz of Alexandria, recently returned from participating in tsunami relief operations while attached to Navy Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) Seven, the Seabees, forward deployed to Guam from its homebase in Gulfport, Miss.
Aziz's unit deployed more than 70 Seabees to the island nation of Sri Lanka in support of humanitarian assistance. Aziz is a 2002 graduate of Thomas Edison High School of Alexandria, Va.
Noah B. Gallahan has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year. The recruit qualifies for a $10,000 enlistment bonus. Gallahan, a 2004 graduate of Nelson County High School, Bardstown, Ky., has reported to Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., for active duty.
He is the son of Pamela Gallahan of Alexandria, Va., and Douglas W. Gallahan of Evergreen Court, Bardstown.
J. Michael "Mick" Bednarek, Colonel, United States Army was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on Jan. 4, in a ceremony at the U.S. Joint Forces Command Joint Warfighting Center, Suffolk, Va. Bednarek, a 1971 graduate of Bishop Ireton High School and 1975 military graduate of Old Dominion University is currently Commander, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center at Ft. Polk, La. His parents, Colonel (Ret) and Mrs. Frank Bednarek (deceased) were long-time residents of Alexandria. In March, Bednarek will assume his new assignment as Assistant Deputy Commander, 25th Infantry Division Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Bednarek and his wife, Holly, have four children, Missy 23, Chris 21, Stephanie 17 and Joanna 15.
Virginia Jaycees Announce 2005 Board of Directors
The Virginia Jaycees, a leadership training organization for young adults, recently announced the names of its 2005 Board of Directors. Beth Fujishige has been elected 66th president and chief executive officer. An installation ceremony and year-end awards presentation was held at the Virginia Jaycees state convention on Jan. 29 at the Williamsburg Hospitality House in Williamsburg.
Formerly of Anaheim, California and current resident of Alexandria, Virginia, Fujishige, is the first Asian American to hold the organization's top volunteer leadership post. Her record of service on the board includes vice president of membership (2004) and community development vice president (2002). She also served with distinction as local president of the Alexandria Jaycees (2001). Currently, Fujishige is employed as Director of Client and Community Relations at McLaughlin Investments, a full-service investment firm in Alexandria. She holds a B.A. degree from UCLA (1987) and an M.B.A from Claremont University (1994).
Paul Martin Riegert, major of the United States Marine Corps, of Alexandria was one of the 108 people from across the country selected as regional finalist for the White House Fellows Program. Visit www.whitehouse.gov/fellows.