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 Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
Nearly 50 motorcyclists left from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Administration Building in Leesburg Thursday, Aug. 17, for a trek in honor of Sept. 11, 2001, first responders who lost their lives on that day.
The "9/11 Ride" left Leesburg at 10:30 a.m. and was to travel
to the crash site of United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Organizers are anticipated 5,000-10,000 people in Somerset, Pa., for this year's event. The riders were scheduled to return to the area and ride to the Pentagon on
Saturday, Aug. 19. The ride will then continue to New York City where they will visit the site of the World Trade Center.
The ride is in support of the America 9/11 Foundation, which funds the America's 9/11 Foundation College Scholarship program for active or disabled Police/Fire/EMS family members.
At a graduation ceremony held Thursday July 27, at Heritage
High School, the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue System recognized 77 volunteers and three career personnel who recently completed firefighter and emergency medical technician training.
With the completion of these programs, 25 Firefighter I, 18 Firefighter II, five First Responder, 20 EMT-Basic, seven EMT-Enhanced, and five EMT-Intermediate providers are now fully trained to respond to emergencies throughout Loudoun County.
Awards were presented to the top students from each of the volunteer graduating classes. The top students are First Responder, Susan Mandel Gibson; EMT Basic, Tisha Mclendon and Drew Doiron; EMT Enhanced, Dawn Chichy; EMT Intermediate, Matthew Webb; Firefighter I, Corey Lockhart and Firefighter II, Andrew Brown.
The volunteer graduates are Karland Baker, Station, 13, FF 1; William Barton, 11, FF 1; Jeffery Bellmer, 6, FF 1; Ashley Burka, 15, FF 1; Ronald Claar Jr., 11, FF 1; Andrew Coston, 13, FF 1; Nelson Fernandez, 11, FF 1; Mark Golino, 11, FF 1; Brian King, 11, FF 1; Jason Kneas, 9, FF 1; Corey Lockhart, 11, FF 1; Christian McNierney, 6, FF 1; Nathaniel Moore, 13, FF 1; Rodney Pratt, 11, FF 1; Juan Rodriguez, 6, FF 1; Erin Rush, 9, FF 1; Theodore Sisk II, 6, FF 1; Michael Skretta, 6, FF 1; Nora Benham, 11, FF II; Andrew Brown, 11, FF II; Jordan Cabo, 11, FF II; William Cleary, 6, FF II; Timothy Duckworth, 11, FF II; Timothy Gladding, 6, FF II; Jared Hartman, 11, FF II; Thomas Henley, 11, FF II; Bryan Knight, 11, FF II; Scott Newcomer, 11, FF II; Kenton Rambo, 11, FF II; Mark Smedberg, 11, FF II; Tim Smith, 11, FF II; Chris Sutherland, 9, FF II; Patrick Todd, 11, FF II; Edward Zimmerman, 8, FF II; Matthew Blair, 6, EMT-B; Carlos Burns, 6, EMT-B; Cliff Castleman, 6, EMT-B; James Chernega, 6, EMT-B; Drew Doiron, 6, EMT-B; Alex Johnston, 6, EMT-B; Tisha McLendon, 15, EMT-B; Ronald Mecredy, 15, EMT-B; Ronald Meister, 15, EMT-B; Michael O'Brien, 15, EMT-B; Chris Rankin, 15, EMT-B; Ty Rudder, 18, EMT-B; Margaret Slocum, 15, EMT-B; Knute Sorenson, 6, EMT-B; Tim Ward, 15, EMT-B; Derek Derzanski, 15, EMT-E; Joe Koeinger, 15, EMT-E; Dave Shafer, 15, EMT-E; David Charlip, 15, EMT-I; Sabrina Evangelisti, 15, EMT-I; Chris Horan, 15, EMT-I; Kymber Miner, 15, EMT-I; Matthew Webb, 15, EMT-I; Mark Featherstone, 11, FR and Leo Genovese, 11, FR.
The following Leesburg students enrolled at Virginia Tech were among those honored at the university's spring commencement ceremony held Friday, May 12, in Lane Stadium.
Theodore Berry, bachelor of arts degree in art; Bryan Hartsook, bachelor of science degree in civil engineering; Tracy Higgins, bachelor of science degree in biological sciences; Alec Hutchinson, bachelor of arts degree (magna cum laude) in political science; Alyson Johnson, bachelor of science degree in animal and poultry sciences; Susie Kim, bachelor of science degree in psychology; Heather Kmak, bachelor of science degree (magna cum laude) in agricultural and applied economics; Carolyn Landes, bachelor of arts degree in communication; Andrew Letson, bachelor of arts degree in political science; Casey MacQueen, bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in chemical engineering; Matthew Peterson, bachelor of science degree (magna cum laude) in computer science; Kira Zmuda, bachelor of fine arts degree in art; Kimberly Dix, bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in animal and poultry sciences; Vineet Lall, bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering; Amy LaMagra, bachelor of arts degree in communication; Kathleen Mitchell, bachelor of fine arts degree in art; Wendy Reed, bachelor of arts degree in international studies; Michael Val, bachelor of science degree in computer engineering; and Meghann Wing, bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in economics and bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in finance.
The following Ashburn students enrolled at Virginia Tech were among those honored at the university's spring commencement ceremony held Friday, May 12, in Lane Stadium.
Robert Apuzzo, bachelor of science degree in finance; Christopher Edens, bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in biochemistry; Danny Fasold, bachelor of arts degree in communication; Vanessa Gentzen, bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering; Manzell Hines, bachelor of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies; Scott Larimer, bachelor of science degree in mathematics; Bernard Lee, bachelor of arts degree in music; Julieanna McGuire, bachelor of arts degree in political science; Jaime Sanchez, associate of agriculture degree in agricultural technology; Christine Yerks, bachelor of science degree in management; Jessica Laird, bachelor of arts degree in communication; Dion Mitchell, bachelor of science degree in management; Kieumi Nguyen, bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering; and Christopher Plass, bachelor of architecture degree (cum laude) in architecture.
The following Chantilly and South Riding students enrolled at Virginia Tech were among those honored at the university's spring commencement ceremony held Friday, May 12, in Lane Stadium.
Lauren Berry, bachelor of science degree in psychology; Erin Cantwell, bachelor of science degree in animal and poultry sciences; Wayne Chiang, bachelor of science degree in computer science; Adam Chin, bachelor of science degree in computer science; Kristin Cooper, bachelor of science degree in psychology; Brian Fitzpatrick, bachelor of science degree (cum laude) in finance; Adam Flores, bachelor of arts degree (magna cum laude) in political science; Troy Hughlett, bachelor of arts degree in history; Matthew Lauro, bachelor of arts degree in communication; Joseph Lebo, bachelor of science degree (cum laude) in accounting and information systems; Seung Lee, bachelor of arts degree in philosophy; Soo Sie Lim, bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in accounting and information systems; Ryan Luu, bachelor of science degree (cum laude) in computer engineering; Anshul Saxena, bachelor of science degree in industrial and systems engineering; Diane Taing, bachelor of science degree (summa cum laude) in finance; Nicholas Warmbrunn, bachelor of science degree in finance; Olusola Ayeni-Biu, bachelor of arts degree (cum laude) in communication; Lindsay McAree, bachelor of science degree (magna cum laude) in management; Meghan Mikoski, bachelor of science degree in marketing management; Sharika Nichols, bachelor of science degree in marketing management; Kunal Sharma, bachelor of science degree in economics; and Graham Wasilition, bachelor of science degree in materials science and engineering.
The following Sterling, Potomac Falls and Dulles students enrolled at Virginia Tech were among those honored at the university's spring commencement ceremony held Friday, May 12, in Lane Stadium.
Robert Carter, bachelor of science degree in mathematics; Justin Claeys, bachelor of science degree in computer science; Joseph Hussa, bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering; Peter Lazarevich, bachelor of science degree in civil engineering; Eric Marshman, bachelor of science degree in biological sciences; Erich O'Saben, bachelor of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies; Christopher Philyaw, bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering; Zachary Snee, bachelor of arts degree (cum laude) in communication; Daniel Thayer, bachelor of science degree in computer engineering; Jon-Erik Valetti, bachelor of science degree in marketing management; Mark DeAngelis, bachelor of science degree in sociology; Marios Epaminonda, bachelor of science degree in accounting and information systems; Joanna Fox, bachelor of science degree (magna cum laude) in accounting and information systems; Jules Kroehl, bachelor of science degree (magna cum laude) in aerospace engineering; William Lovely, bachelor of science degree (cum laude) in accounting and information systems; David Malan, bachelor of science degree in civil engineering; Lauren Manns, bachelor of science degree (cum laude) in finance; Rachel Mitnick, bachelor of arts degree (cum laude) in communication; Seth Petersen, bachelor of arts degree in communication; Stefanie Soltoff, bachelor of science degree (cum laude) in mathematics; Janna Steele, bachelor of science degree in human nutrition, foods and exercise; James Taylor, bachelor of science degree in marketing management and bachelor of science degree in finance; Kurtis Thompson, bachelor of science degree in computer science; Vanessa Lyon, bachelor of arts degree in international studies; Moshiur Rahman, bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering; and Tiffany Fletcher, a bachelor of architecture degree in architecture.
Air Force Airman 1st Class Constance M. Morris has arrived for duty at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nev. Morris, an aircraft armament systems apprentice with one year of military service, is assigned to the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
She is the niece of Lidia Beer of Ashburn. The airman is a 2003 graduate of Broad Run High School, Ashburn.
Army Reserve Pvt. Hector R. Rodriguez Jr. has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
He is the son of Hector Rodriguez Ashburn. Rodriguez is a 2004 graduate of Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn.
Project Future, sponsored by the Good Shepherd Alliance, provides homeless children with experiences at summer day camp, crafts, sports, field trips and educational activities. The group toured the White House Visitor Center, Aug. 10, exploring the exhibits on the White House and then experienced a visit to the actual White House. The self-guided tour took the group through the library on the first floor, upstairs to the East Room, Green Room, Red Room, Blue Room and the State Dining Room. Afterwards the children were treated to a visit to the Smithsonian Institution's Renwick Gallery comprising a history about American Crafts.
The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation provided GSA with a $27,000 grant to make this homeless children summer camp a reality. Virginia Regional Transit provided reduced rate bus service transportation for eight adult staff and 12 children.