Air Force Cadet Andre D. Ball has entered Basic Cadet Training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in preparation to enter the first academic year at the academy. He is the son of Willie and Sherry Ball of Brentsmill Drive, Stafford. Ball is a 2008 graduate of Mount Vernon High School, Alexandria.

Alexander Ryjik, 16, of Alexandria won the gold medal against fencers of all ages (including adults) on Columbus Day weekend at the North American Cup in Des Moines, Iowa. The competition was sponsored by the United States Fencing Association.
Ryjik competed against 93 fencers to win the Cadet Men’s Sabre, age 16 and under event. He is a member of the U.S. national team and a two-time national champion. Two weeks ago, he won the silver medal at the World Cup competition in Poland. He will once again represent the U.S. in Hungary this weekend and in Canada later this month. He attends Hayfield Secondary School.
He trains at the Virginia Academy of Fencing, the world’s largest fencing school. The coach is Alexandre Ryjik, a Russian Fencing Master and a U.S. national team coach. He is also a professor of fencing at American University and George Mason University.

David A. Hollowich of Fort Belvoir was named to the Columbia College dean's list for the March to May 2009 award period.

Annie Trimber, a flutist and a senior at West Potomac High School, was awarded the Rotary Club of Alexandria’s Gold performance award and will now move on to compete in the Regional competition for the $5,000 in music scholarships awarded each year by Rotary District 7610.
While Trimber took the top Gold honors, Silver performance awards went to three students at St. Stephens & St. Agnes School: Kelly Bragg, a vocalist; Will Jakes, a cello player, and Ian McLeod, a pianist. Bragg and McLeod are seniors and Jakes is a junior. Bronze performance awards went to Tia Norris-Towler, a junior at T.C. Williams and to Dorothea Kamara, a senior at West Potomac High School.
Vocal musicians from 12 Fairfax County public schools have been named to the Virginia Honors Choir for 2009. The 45 students will perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) convention Nov. 19-21 at the Homestead. These local students were selected for the 2009 VMEA Honors Choir:
* West Potomac High School: Joseph Benitez, Chris Tyson, Catherine Mullen, and alternate Sally Henrehan.