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Midshipman Adam R. Wise, the son of David and Susan Wise of Oakhurst Court, Sterling, participated in Acceptance Day ceremonies at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., Sept. 6.
The annual event marks the official acceptance of the freshman, or plebe, class into the ranks of the academy’s Regiment of Midshipmen.
A 2008 graduate of Potomac Falls High School, Wise, with some 290 other plebes, were administered the academy oath by Rear Adm. Robert J. Reilly, USN, commander U.S. Military Sealift Command.
Wise was nominated to attend the academy by Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10).
The plebe class reported July 10 for a two-week indoctrination program. Since then, the Class of 2012 has been involved in academic and regional education and training. The academy is operated by the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Mikey T and Big Macette, members of the Hogettes of Washington Redskins fame, entertained Loudoun County's Resource Families at the recent annual picnic held by the Department of Family Services. The picnic offered the opportunity for foster children and their resource families to spend time together.
Area Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students were named to the list of 16,000 semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship. Jared Hallett and Kathleen Ferraren of Sterling and Amar Sahai of Potomac Falls will vie for one of 8,200 scholarships worth $35 million that will be awarded in the spring. More than 1.5 million high-school juniors were eligible for the award.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors has elected H.R. Crawford to chairman, Charles D. Snelling to vice chairman and Quince T. Brinkley Jr. to secretary. The 13-member board is appointed by the governors of Virginia and Maryland, the mayor of the District of Columbia and the president of the United States.
Loudoun resident Amina Rana was appointed by Gov. Timothy Kaine to the state's Council on the Status of Women.
Yusuf Abugideiri of Sterling, a senior at Virginia Tech majoring in finance, was chosen to be a student ambassador for the Pamplin College of Business. The focus of the Pamplin Ambassadors program is to assist with college information sessions, conduct special advising sessions and serve as a conduit for undergraduate issues in the Pamplin College of Business.
Air Force Airman Joshua L. Toms 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 in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Leigh Toms of Howard Place, Sterling. Toms graduated in 2002 from Potomac Falls High School.
The following Virginia Tech students have gained membership to the Marching Virginians at Virginia Tech. To qualify for the marching band students must audition one week before the beginning of classes each fall. Katie Charles of Sterling, junior majoring in wildlife science in the College of Natural Resources; Rebecca Clark of Sterling, freshman majoring in biology in the College of Science; Christopher Hoerauf of Sterling, freshman majoring in music in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; Kevin Mak of Sterling, freshman majoring in university studies at Virginia Tech; Jonathan Miller of Sterling, senior majoring in art in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies; Derek Ong of Potomac Falls, a freshman majoring in general engineering in the College of Engineering; and b of Sterling, a freshman majoring in university studies at Virginia Tech.