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.
A Potomac Falls resident, Mandy Hamilton, recently earned the award of Competent Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. She earned the award with a speech about adopting children through an outreach organization, given at the April 7 Loudoun Toastmasters meeting. The award is considered the first step in becoming a proficient public speaker.
Diane Ryburn has been named director of the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) effective immediately. Ryburn had served as acting director of the department since the retirement of Cindy Welsh on Jan. 1.
A 21-year PRCS employee, Ryburn, 48, began her service with Loudoun County in 1984 as a recreation specialist developing and implementing countywide programs for senior citizens, camps and County After School Activities (CASA). Over the years, she has held several different positions with increasing levels of responsibility in all areas of PRCS.
A certified parks and recreation professional, Ryburn has held several leadership roles in professional organizations, including serving as president of the Virginia Recreation and Parks Society. She is a 1997 graduate of Leadership Loudoun and has served as a leadership skills instructor for the county government. Ryburn earned a bachelor's degree at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., and has done graduate work through the University of Maryland and the University of Georgia. She and her husband live in Bluemont and have two adult children.
Loudoun Volunteer Services has selected Natalie Hyatt, a senior at Loudoun Valley High School, as student volunteer of the month for April.
Natalie spends much of her time volunteering at the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, where she has contributed more than 375 hours so far this school year. Her volunteer service also includes being a part of the Loudoun youth focus group, "Listening to Youth" and the "Step-Up" Loudoun Youth Initiative; serving as a teen member on the
Lovettsville Community Center Advisory Board; and participating in her church youth group.
Natalie has been an active participant in the student group that participated in the "Won by One" Jamaica project which was honored by Loudoun Volunteer Services in January for its outstanding efforts. She also organized a luncheon to welcome new students last fall.
Natalie was presented with her award by Leigh Ann Macklin, president of the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board, in front of her peers at the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company.
Loudoun Volunteer Services gives special recognition to students who give their time to the community in an extraordinary way. 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.
Marvin Glick, professor of biology at the Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), has been selected as one of the 2005 Faculty of the Year by Northern Virginia Community College's Alumni Federation. Honorees are selected based on outstanding mastery of their academic discipline and demonstrated commitment to the intellectual growth and development of students. One faculty member from each of NVCC's six campuses is chosen for the honor.
Glick has been at the Loudoun Campus since 1979. An educator for 40 years, he taught previously at the University of South Dakota, University of Kansas, North Country Community College and Oberlin College. Glick received a bachelor's degree from Eastern Mennonite University, a master's degree from Oberlin College and a doctorate from
the University of Kansas.
Army Pfc. Stuart A. Martin has graduated from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
The course is designed to train enlisted soldiers to operate the Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to include mission planning, launching, remote piloting and recovery of the air vehicle. The training prepares students with the requisite knowledge and skills to perform as air vehicle operators and mission payload operators. Instruction consists of doctrine and tactics training, positive target identification training, hands-on system institutional mission simulator training and flight line training. The course culminates with a field training exercise that integrates job specialty and combat training into a simulated tactical scenario that gives soldiers the opportunity to demonstrate their newly learned skills under realistic conditions.
Martin is the son of Martha M. Davies of Ashburn.
Loudoun County Recycling Specialist Tony Hayes of the Office of Solid Waste Management visited Daisy Troop No. 1053 of Sterling for a round of "Show and Tell" with recycling products ranging from toys to T-shirts. The girls each brought a recyclable item to show how they recycle at home and at school.
Earlier, Bear Den No. 2 of Cub Scout Pack 905 visited Hayes at the Office of Solid Waste Management and talked about how they recycle at home. The boys also learned about all sorts of new products that are made from recyclable bottles, cans and paper and why it is important for everyone to recycle as much as possible.