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The City of Fairfax Police Department recognized three officers with Distinguished Action Awards. Officer Robert Mignon, while training a new officer, noticed activity that led to an arrest for armed robbery. Master Police Officer Edward Ayoub broke up a street fight and gave chase to a suspect who was later charged with stealing the car he was driving at the time of the fight. Sgt. David Tucker was a primary investigator of a man accused of impersonating an officer.
The department also named three recipients for the 2007 Distinguished Service Award. Maj. William Klugh was recognized for a 24-year career that included leadership in investigation, special operations and administration. Lt. Bert Peacher’s 28-year career with the city has included evacuating people from a burning building and joining the Hostage Negotiation Team. Dispatcher Betty Powers, a 16-year veteran, was call crucial in implementing the department’s new dispatching and communications software.
The City of Fairfax Band elected its new managing director and newly expanded board of directors on May 14, during the Annual Membership Meeting. The new board members will take office on Aug. 1. The incoming officers are John Flahive, president; Penny Dimler, vice president; Ruth Bandler, secretary; Steve Apergis, treasurer; Jody Stein, public relations coordinator; Robert Pouliot, music director; Rick Parrell, associate conductor; Jean-Pierre Auffret, David Leahey, William L. Schmidt and Jane Woods, at-large directors.
The Fairfax County Park Foundation Board of Directors and Fairfax County Park Authority Board have named Paul L. Baldino at executive director of the Park Foundation. Baldino returns to the Park Authority after serving as the agency director and a member of the Foundation Board. Baldino will begin work on June 23.
The Fairfax County Park Authority was honored for three communication pieces. The International Academy of the Visual Arts and the Communicator Awards selected ResOURces, a quarterly newsletter dedicated to resource management in Fairfax County, as a 2008 Silver Communicator Award winner. ResOURces also won second place in the External Newsletter category of the 2008 Blue Pencil Awards. Park Authority video producer Mark Garrah received a 2008 Gold Screen Award of Excellence.
Kyle Gatesman of Fairfax has received the Temple Grandin Award. Gatesman received this honor for his musical successes, including his performance during the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Sonata Festival this past May.
Cadet 1st Lt. Edward Young Ho Lee, the son of James and Taessa Lee of Fairfax, graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy on May 31. While at Randolph-Macon, Edward was active on the varsity football, lacrosse, wrestling and track teams. Lee plans to attend Hampden-Sydney College in the fall.
Cadet Maj. Amandeep Bhuller, the daughter of Amarjit and Rajvinder Bhuller of Fairfax, graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy on May 31. At Randolph-Macon, Bhuller was member of the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society, played on the varsity tennis and softball teams and managed the boys’ basketball team. She was recognized during her junior year as the Most Improved Player for the tennis team and received the Coach’s Award for her contribution to the tennis team during her senior year. Amandeep was also a leader the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Academy, serving as the Charlie Flight Commander. Bhuller plans to attend Virginia Tech in the fall.
Cadet Staff Sgt. Hani Eid, the son of Maher and Sakha Eid of Fairfax, graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy on May 31. Eid was an active photographer who made contributions to the literary magazine, the school Web site and yearbook, and was recognized for his talent by winning the Randolph-Macon Literary Magazine photography award every year he attended the Academy. Eid plans to attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the fall.
Three local students have been selected to participate in the 25th annual Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: David Levonian of Fairfax, Christopher Olund of Springfield and Lily Hsiang of Oak Hill. During this six-week summer program, these high school students will participate in college-level classes under the guidance of leading scientists, conducting original research and presenting their findings. Levonian, Olund and Hsiang are three of 50 students selected from across the U.S. on the basis of test scores, grades, essays and teacher recommendations.
Michael and Laura Pierce of Fairfax have received the President’s Club Award for their performance as owners of a Comfort Keepers franchise. Comfort Keepers provides in-home care services, including companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and recreational activities. The Pierces were honored during the Comfort Keepers Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona, on May 31.
Brian Jilg has been appointed to the position of senior network engineer at Evolve Technologies. Jilg is a Microsoft Certified Professional with more than 15 years of information technology experience. As senior network engineer, Jilg will be responsible for team technical training, direct vendor support to onsite engineers and project planning.
The Leadership Fairfax Institute Program, built around community issues and skill development, and the Emerging Leaders Institute, focusing on skill building, mentoring, community service projects and community leadership service, have announced their 2008 graduates.
The Leadership Fairfax graduates include:
Lai P. Chan, Dreams in USA Team, Fairfax.
Tyler D. Corey, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax.
Laura M. Harrington, Balance Technology Group Inc., Burke.
Darryl R. Ladd, Cox Communications, Fairfax.
Heisung J. Lee, Korean Central Senior Center, Fairfax Station.
Thomas Roberts, Roberts Education Corporation, Fairfax.
Jeanne R. Sanders, Volunteer Fairfax, Fairfax.
Patricia M. Stevens, Fairfax County Department of Systems Management for Human Services, Burke.
Kathy D. Wheeler, Community Business Partnership, Lorton.
Alan D. Wooten, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Fairfax.
The Emerging Leaders Institute graduates include:
Chris Caldwell, BB&T Bank, Springfield.
Richard Eberhart, Online Resources Corp., Fairfax.
Meti Fekadu, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Burke.
Lesley Green, Girls On the Run of NOVA, Fairfax.
Laura Martin, New Hope Housing, Burke.
Claudia McDowell, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Springfield.
Jessica Pettry, Northrop Grumman, Fairfax.
Mark Sites, Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, Fairfax.
Melissa Smarr, Fairfax County Government, Fairfax.
Monita Sun, ManTech, Springfield.