Three Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have been named winners in the America’s First Freedom Student Competition, sponsored by the First Freedom Center. Jacqueline Bello, a student at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, won first place and a $1,000 cash prize for her essay. Arwa Badri, a student at Edison High School, won second place and a $500 prize in the poster competition and West Springfield High student Christie Pedder received a citation for excellence for her poster entry. The theme of the 2003-04 competition was “Religious Freedom — An Inalienable Right.” The competition was open to students in grades 9 through 12 who attend public or private schools or who are home-schooled. The students received their awards on Friday, Jan. 9, in Williamsburg.
Lisa Bloomquist was promoted from teacher to assistant principal at Frost Middle School.