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.
Mackenzie Dickson, a senior at Broad Run High School and Christine Dang, a senior at Park View High School have each received a $1,000 scholarship from Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. In the fall, Dickson plans to attend Brigham Young University where she will major in psychology. Dang, will attend the College of William and Mary where she will pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.
Home-schooled students from Ashburn and Leesburg visited the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility to see what happens to household garbage. The group also learned how plastic bottles are recycled into T-shirts, soup cans are recycled into toys, such as the "Slinky," and why it is important for everyone to recycle. Landfill tours are available through November, Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ashley Castor of Sterling, a student in the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech recently received the A.E. Evans Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students.
The Loudoun Crime Commission presented its third and final Outstanding Loudoun Youth award of the 2005-2006 school year to Michael Cliett, a Belmont Ridge Middle School eighth-grade student, in connection with the Commission's "Cruisin' in the Right Lane" Program.
Michael's nomination came from Maria O'Brien, eighth-grade guidance counselor at Belmont Ridge Middle School, who described Michael as a young man dedicated to his school, his family, and his community. He is responsible, self-directed, motivated, compassionate and unaffected by peer pressures. His energy and enthusiasm for helping others and improving himself is infectious, according to O'Brien.
Kristen Claeys of Sterling, a student in the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, has been named a recipient of the Derek Myers Endowed Scholarship, given annually to a student based on academic achievement.
Keep Loudoun Beautiful sponsored its annual essay and poster contest in the elementary schools with themes of recycling, composting, ecology, beautification and clean up. One essay and one poster winner from each participating school were chosen in two age groups, kindergarten-second grade and third-fifth grades.
Essay winners were Belmont Station, Molly McCabe; Cool Spring, Bridgitte Lieu and Kaitlyn Lease; Evergreen Mill, Troy Sweeney and Grace Wu; Leesburg, Brittany McCullock; Lovettsville, Ben Hughes; Lucketts, Thomas Enright; Middleburg, Hannah All; Mountain View, Courtney Powell-Schollian; Newton-Lee, Makenzie Conklin and J.W. Tolbert, Gia Ferrara. Each essay winner won a gift certificate from Books A Million bookstore in Leesburg.
Poster winners were Algonkian, Caroline Dunn; Catoctin, Bruce Martinez and Michael Rexrode; Cool Spring, Janelly Ariza-Castro and Melissa Meyers; Emerick, Kathy Bui and Grace Redding; Evergreen Mill, Nicole Balavage and Preston Womack; Hillsboro, Taileigh Testerman Hough; Lincoln, Jonathan Connor Barrett and Brianna Tyler; Leesburg, Brianna McLaine and Caileigh McLaine; Lovettsville, Joseph Keim and Indigo McLaughlin; Lucketts, Jenna Knoell; Middleburg, Grant Chungo and Henry Feil; Mountain View, James McCray and Abby Taylor; Newton-Lee, Anna Ngai and Aliya Qureshi; Sugarland, Katerina Banks and Lucia Caraballo and J.W. Tolbert, Matthew Kim and Tyler Frank. Each poster winner had their posters framed and returned to them.
All winners will receive a KLB T-shirt and all participating students will receive KLB pencils. All winning essays and posters will be displayed over the summer on the Web site www.keeploudounbeautiful.org.
Gary Fry of Sterling a student majoring in building construction in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, was recently awarded the Hazel-Pruitt Scholarship, which is awarded to students based upon merit and financial need.
Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services announces the hiring of Steve Sawyer as parks division manager. He joined the department effective May 8, after retiring as a captain with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Sawyer earned a bachelor of science degree in outdoor recreation from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree in instructional systems from Florida State University. During his 28 years with the Coast Guard, he was assigned to several operational command cadre billets where he had overall responsibility for facilities and unit morale programs including all recreational activities for multiple shore and afloat units across the country.
Allison Jarnagin of Sterling, a student in the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Vriginia Tech, has been named a recipient of the Derek Myers Endowed Scholarship, which is given annually to a student based on academic achievement.
The Loudoun Volunteer Services Board has selected the 2006 Student Volunteer Scholarship recipients. Through the Student Scholarship Program, graduating seniors in each Loudoun County public school and the C.S. Monroe Technology Center, as well as private school and home-schooled seniors, are eligible for at least a $500 scholarship. The program is funded each year by donations from Loudoun County businesses, civic groups and individuals.
The award recipients are selected based on their volunteer service to the Loudoun Community. The 2006 Student Volunteer Scholarship recipients are:
* Broad Run High School, Mackenzie Dickson and Katherine Peterson.
* C.S. Monroe Technology Center, Ashley Jones (Stone Bridge High School).
* Dominion High School, Natasha Amirhadji and Megan Meidlinger.
* Heritage High School, Christie Cerimele, Caitlin Krueger and Brittany Rose.
* Home-schooled, Joshua Brown.
* Loudoun County High School, Andrew Cypher, Christina Dawson, Bianca Garramone and Victoria Stevens.
* Loudoun Valley High School, Philip Harper, Kevin Hayba and Jacqueline Lewis.
* Park View High School, Laura Jones.
* Potomac Falls High School, Catherine Krips and Jeong "Evan" Oh.
* Stone Bridge High School, Jennifer Borman and Melissa Muir.
For the second year in a row, Loudoun Volunteer Services was able to award a $4,000 scholarship to an overall, outstanding Loudoun County student who demonstrated exceptional community service above and beyond the call of duty. This year's scholarship has been awarded to Kevin Hayba, who mentors children with special needs at Mountain View Elementary School.
Renae Smith, daughter of Lt. Col. John and Jana Smith of Sterling, is majoring in political science at Grove City College (Pa.) and was named to the Dean's List for outstanding academic performance during the spring 2006 semester.
Loudoun County Sheriff's recruits took six of the top-10 academic spots at the 114th session of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy's Basic Deputy Sheriff School.
Loudoun recruit Deputy Mark McCaffrey received the Directors Award for the Basic Deputy Sheriff in the session. This award is based on the highest overall academic score taken from grades achieved in the academic exams, firearms training and driver training. Deputy Seyem Katie Kim and Deputy Elizabeth Kamps placed second and third respectively.
McCaffrey also took a leadership role in the session holding one of the three vice presidential positions
According to the Sheriff's Office its recruits consistently place in the top five of the academy graduates, which consist of recruits from agencies throughout the Northern Virginia Region
The recruits, who are now state certified in basic law enforcement, are Mark F. McCaffrey, Seyem K. Kim, Elizabeth A. Kamps, Sarah J. Gerlach, Nathan K. Ferguson, Bonnie J. Schmeider, Curtis W. Ulmer, Danial E. Reeves, Brandi L. Johnson, Donovan W. Reid, Dennis M. Mooney, Oscar M. Cesar, Aaron M. Marks, John A. Pierce, John F. Arnold and Robert R. Thomasson.
Madeena Sadozai and Jack Maschler, kindergarten students at Creme de la Creme Elementary School were recently awarded first and third place in a national art contest titled, "How Green Is Our Future?" sponsored by Weekly Reader and Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Institute.
The art contest asked students to draw an example of how they would save the earth by concentrating on a problem in their local environment. There were more than 5,000 entries from kindergarten through 12th-graders.
First-place winner Madeena was awarded a $50 check from Weekly Reader and an autographed copy of Jane Goodall's "The Eagle and the Wren." Jack, who won third-place, received an autographed book.
Randall L. Kelley has been named Inova Health System senior vice president and chief executive officer of Inova Loudoun Hospital. He will begin his duties with the hospital Aug. 1.
Kelley has nearly two decades of experience in health care, most recently serving as president and CEO of the 206-bed Gateway Health System in Clarksville, Tenn.
Kelley has a master's of health-care administration degree from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.
Kimberly Lyon, Potomac Falls High School 11th-grader, was awarded second place in the high-school division of the statewide cachet design contest for America's 400th Anniversary, honoring the 1607 founding of Jamestown.
Kathryn L. Yassine, a Park View High School graduate, recently completed her degree in systems engineering with a minor in business from George Mason University's Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering (IT&E).
While at school, Yassine received numerous awards and commendations such as first place at the 2006 IEEE Systems and Information Engineering Design Symposium; first place at the 2006 United States Military Academy Capstone Conference; the George Mason Distinguished Academic Achievement Award in Systems Engineering Award; and the George Mason Provost and University Deans Scholarships, to name a few.
Lauren DiRenzo, a junior at Broad Run High School, was one of 80 students from 31 states who were selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants to join this summer's Earthwatch Institute's Student Challenge Awards Program. She will participate in a field-research expedition titled, Salmon of the Pacific Northwest located in the Skagit River Basin of Washington State working with principal investigator Ralph Riley, Ph.D.
Teams of six to eight award winners will spend up to three weeks on one of 11 research projects. The research and other project activities expose students to scientific questions and methodologies. The program aims to expand the potential of high-school students through hands-on learning and to stimulate their curiosity about science and technology.
The Loudoun County Long & Foster $1,000 scholarship recipients are Mackenzie Dickson, a senior at Broad Run High School and Christine Dang, a senior at Parkville High School. In the fall, Dickson plans to attend Brigham Young University where she will major in psychology. Dang, will attend the College of William and Mary where she will pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.
Guillermo A. Meneses of Ashburn was appointed by Gov. Tim Kaine (D) to serve as a member of the Virginia Workforce Council. Meneses is vice president of communications for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
J.D. Mitchell of the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development has been elected president of the Virginia Fire Prevention Association (VFPA). Mitchell is field supervisor of the fire protection inspection section of the department's Code Enforcement Division.
The VFPA is a statewide organization of fire inspectors, fire marshals and building inspectors.
Mitchell has been with the Loudoun County government for seven years. Prior to becoming the fire protection inspection field supervisor, Mitchell was a fire protection inspector and fire protection plan reviewer.
Prior to being elected president of the VFPA, Mitchell served on the group's board of directors for three years and helped develop the association's Web site. He has also been active in code development on the state level.
Air Force Airman Monica Garcia has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.
In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
She is the daughter of David R. Rodgers of Leesburg and Madeline Garcia-Rodgers of Reno, Nev.
Rachel Brown, daughter of Sheri and Matthew Brown of Sterling, received an undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO., May 19. Brown graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in architecture with a minor in structures from the College of Arts and Sciences. Brown, a 2002 graduate of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and technology, was also recognized as a recipient of the Philip Richardson Shepley Memorial Scholarship.
The George C. Marshall International Center announces the appointment of Kirsten Hammer Dueck as executive director effective immediately. Dueck has joined the centerÕs staff offices at Dodona Manor, the restored home of General George C. Marshall, which now serves as a museum dedicated to MarshallÕs life in Leesburg and his career accomplishments as a military leader, international diplomat and U.S. statesman.
Dueck is a former vice president of SothebyÕs Inc. where she served as director of Latin American Art from 2001 to 2005. She comes to the Marshall Center from the University of Colorado Law School, where she served as director of communications and alumni relations.
The Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Station 13 in Leesburg, won second and third place at the 58th Annual International Rescue and Emergency Care Association Conference and Competition June 21-24, 2006 in Puyallup, Wash. The Loudoun Rescue team consisted of coach Denise Alt, captain Marie Powell, David Beatty, Michelle Beatty and James Cromer, who placed second in the Advanced Life Support competition and third in the Basic Life Support competition. Beatty also won the "Good Spirit" award at the conference.
The Loudoun Rescue Team was first-place winners of the EMT contest at the 2005 Virginia Association of Volunteers Rescue Squads 71st Annual Competition.
Loudoun Volunteer Services announces new memebrs to its board of directors and executive officers. New members joined the board at the annual board retreat, sponsored by and held at America Online, June 1, and include Ralph Baird, Loudoun County Parks, Recreation & Community Services, Franklin Park; Carol Barbe, American Red Cross, Loudoun Chapter; Kevin Chroninger, The Sterling Foundation Inc.; Maureen Hempenius, volunteer; Stephen Hood, Leesburg Police Citizen Support Team Inc.; Karen Krei, Piedmont Community Foundation; Karen McQuaid, Loudoun County Fire & Rescue; Mary Novotny, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum; Jonathan Whitbey, Hamilton Volunteer Rescue Squad and Amy
Wilcox, PRCS Adaptive Recreation.
The mission of LVS is to engage more people in volunteer
service to help solve community problems.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has appointed Nancy Doane to serve as the Catoctin District representative on the Loudoun County Planning Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of John D. Herbert.
Doane will complete Herbert's four-year term, which expires Dec. 31, 2007. Herbert resigned in June because he was moving to Tennessee. He had served on the Planning Commission since 2000, when he was appointed to his first term.
Doane, of Lovettsville, has served as a staff assistant to Catoctin District Supervisor Sally Kurtz since 2001. She previously worked for The Nature Conservancy in Leesburg and the U.S. General Services Administration in Washington, D.C.
Nicole Shyti, an incoming freshmen from Ashburn, has received the Pamplin Merit Scholarship from the Pamplin School of Business at Virginia Tech.
Recipients of the scholarship are chosen based on SAT scores and high-school GPA. The scholarship is $4,000, awarded in $1,000 installments for the students' first four semesters. Students must maintain a 3.0 overall GPA. Recipients were presented with a certificate and also recognized at their summer orientation program.
Allibeth Simpson from Sterling of Potomac High School will be one of more than 1,500 top high-school and college student leaders from around the world traveling to Indiana University for the 17th Annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference, July 21-24.
Simpson, chapter president of Potomac Falls School Best Buddies, demonstrated her leadership abilities in creating meaningful matches between members and participating in group events such as Homecoming, Hurricane Relief and holiday events. At the conference, she will be given an opportunity to further enhance her knowledge and leadership skills for the good of Potomac Falls High Best Buddies and the community.