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.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
JoshuaÕs Hands has established a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a Loudoun County high-school senior based on an essay contest. The scholarship will be awarded in the spring at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Applicants must submit an essay Ñ fiction or nonfiction; 1,000 words or less Ñ on the theme ÒA ServantÕs Heart: Choosing to Serve.Ó
The official entry form can be found at http://joshuashands.org/entryform.html must be completed and submitted with the essay as a separate attachment.ÊÊ Each essay must be supported by at least one but not more than two letters of recommendation Ñ 500 words or less Ñ from community service organizations testifying to the applicantÕs volunteerism/service. Letters should not be written by the studentÕs parents or immediate relatives.
Essays and entry forms Ñ as well as letters of reference Ñ must be submitted by e-mail as Word or Rich Text attachments, not in the body of the e-mail. ApplicantÕs essay and supporting documents must be received by March 31. Essays and entry forms should be sent to JoshuasHands@aol.com with the subject line ÒA ServantÕs Heart Scholarship Entry.Ó For a complete list of rules, visit http://joshuashands.org/scholarshiprules.html.
The first Cowpie bingo at Sully Elementary School, 300 Circle Drive, includes a real live cow at Sully and players will have the opportunity to indicate where they think that the cow will "plop."
Deeds are available for each of approximately 100 possible squares for $10 each. The cow will have two hours to "plop" on a spot.
First prize will be $100 cash or a Nintendo GameCube. There will also be a second and third prize. Drawings will be held in the event of an unproductive cow.
Also includes a square dancing demonstration by the children, a cookout. Free food to all who wear their Discovery Park T-shirt.
This event will take place starting at 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 4. The cow will be released to the grid for two hours starting at 5:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit Discovery Park. Contact Valerie Petrey at 703-787-8931, valerie@sullypto.com or Peter Kronenberg at 703-444-9484, peter@sullypto.com.
Young writers in Loudoun County are being encouraged to continue using their writing skills by entering writing contests created by Community Voice Media, LLC.
The contests are as follows: March, personal essay; April, pet or wildlife article, nonfiction; May, essay " is my hero because É;" June, poem on any topic and July, summer humor essay. Information on additional contests will be added to the Web site regularly. The deadline for each contest is the end of that month. Each poem requires an entry fee and has certain requirements. There will be cash prizes awarded for the first-, second- and third-place entries.
All students from grades kindergarten-12 including Loudoun County Public Schools, private schools or home-schooled children are eligible to enter the contest. Submission Guidelines are available on the Community Voice Media Web site www.communityvoicemedia.com.
For the third straight year, high school seniors have received a financial boost towards fulfilling their higher-educational dreams by entering the 2006 Legacy of Life Scholarship, endowed by the Leslie Ebert Memorial Fund.
The scholarships are awarded by Washington Regional Transplant Consortium (WRTC), the federally-designated nonprofit organ and tissue recovery agency for the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan service area.
A total of nine scholarships will be awarded: three each in the District of Columbia and in the areas serviced by WRTC in both Maryland and Virginia. Each jurisdiction will have a first-place winner receiving a $3,000 scholarship and two runners-up receiving $1,000 each.
A project of WRTCÕs Donor Family Council, the scholarship challenges students to learn about the benefits of organ and tissue donation and to write a fictional or non-fictional essay persuading someone to give the ÔGift of LifeÕ by saying yes to donation. For more information, a list of rules and an entry form, visit www.BeADonor.org and follow the link to the essay page.
Society of Professional Journalists-Virginia Pro Chapter and its Richmond SPJ, SDX Educational Foundation invite applications for two cash scholarships of $2,000 each to awarded to students presently attending a college or university in Virginia.
Applicants must be sophomores or juniors, demonstrate intent to pursue journalism careers and need not be journalism majors. Applications must be postmarked by April 1. Forms and instructions can be obtained online at www.spj.org/virginia or requested by e-mail beckert@richmond.edu or phone 804-287-6659.
The chapter and foundation have together awarded 66 scholarships since 1971. Past winners have gone on to careers as award-winning writers and editors at news organizations around the commonwealth and the country.
Shenandoah UniversityÕs Northern Virginia Campus in Leesburg is seeking nominations for its Teacher of the Year award, which recognizes quality teaching in Loudoun County. The nomination process concludes April 19. All finalists will be recognized at a reception and the winner will be announced at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in May.
To be eligible, nominees must be full-time teachers in Loudoun County in a specialized area, such as special education, art, music, physical education, drama, English as a Second Language or gifted and talented. Nominees may work at any grade level, but must have at least five years of teaching experience in Loudoun County.
A screening committee from Shenandoah will select the winner based on his or her commitment to students and teaching, subject knowledge and teaching philosophy, ability to manage and monitor student learning as well as service to the community. The screening committee is looking for nominations that demonstrate the teacherÕs impact on students. Letters of recommendation from peers, parents and students will be of particular importance in the selection process.
For information or application forms, contact RT Good, dean of the School of Continuing Education, at 540-665-1290 or Kelly Burk, chair of the Northern Virginia Advisory Council, at 703-779-0037.
Potomac Falls High School will open its doors to the community Saturday, April 22, 6-11 p.m., for its second annual "A Night at the Falls." This family-oriented event will highlight the many dimensions of PFHS and will support academic programs that directly benefit its students.
Features a donated dinner from Outback Steakhouse and a silent auction, Texas Hold ÔEm tournament, 3x3 basketball, drama and music performances by students, cake walk and the Mr. Potomac Falls pageant. A medieval theme this year brings new activities, including tricycle jousting, tug-of-war, a KnightÕs Quest and more.
Admission to the dinner and all evening activities is $25 for adults and $20 for students, seniors and children 5 and older. General admission, which does not include dinner, is $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and children age 5 and older.
The ticket request form will be on the Web site. To contribute or make a donation to the silent auction, contact Cheryl Marin at cynthia.c.marin@lmco.com or Doreen Hinnant at 703-450-9212. Visit the event Web site at www.nightatthefalls.com.
Dates for SAT and ACT testing for 2005-2006 have been established for Loudoun County Public Schools. The tests are administered on nationally standardized dates and require advanced registration.
Students may register online or may obtain paper registration materials from the guidance office of each high school. Registration and study information is available at www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and at www.act.org for the ACT. Students should register at least six weeks in advance of the tests.
Most colleges require SAT or ACT for college admissions. Some colleges also require certain SAT II subject tests for admissions or placement. Students should check with all of the colleges to which they plan to apply to determine which tests are required and preferred.
Students usually register for the SAT or ACT in their junior year and repeat the test in the senior year. Some students elect to take both the SAT and ACT.
The SAT test dates are:
* April 1: SAT only, Loudoun County High School.
* May 6: SAT and SAT II subject tests, Broad Run High School.
* June 3: SAT and SAT II subject tests, Park View High School.
The ACT test date is April 8, Broad Run High School.
In recognition of student volunteerism in Loudoun County, the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board has established scholarships for graduating seniors from each Loudoun County public and private high school and from the home-school community.
In support of the Student Volunteer Program, the scholarships recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the Loudoun County community through their volunteer efforts. Different from traditional scholarships, the Loudoun Volunteer Services' Student Scholarships place more emphasis on a demonstrated interest in and service to the community than on academic or athletic excellence.
It is the goal of the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board to provide opportunities and to encourage students to become active in their community through volunteer service. The Loudoun Volunteer Services' Student Scholarships are funded each year through contributions from county businesses and civic groups.
Students should submit the scholarship applications to Loudoun Volunteer Services, 1 Harrison St., S.E., P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, by the close of business May 1. Applications are available at each school, by visiting www.loudoun.gov/pio/student.htm or by calling 703-777-0113.
Sponsorship opportunities and tee times remain for the inaugural Dominion Titan Golf Classic, May 17, at Lowe's Island Country Club. The fund-raising event, presented by ATLAS (Association of Titan Leaders Assisting Students) to support student and faculty activities at Dominion High School, will tee off on the River Course, at 9:30 a.m.
The tournament field will be limited to 84 golfers. Participants will receive a tournament gift bag and will have access to practice facilities prior to the shotgun start. There will be a continental breakfast, boxed lunch and post-tournament awards reception.
To register for the tournament or to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities, contact Eric Holmberg at 703-720-8058 or eric.holmberg@hklaw.com.
Dominion High School's second annual Project Graduation, a night-long celebration of the Class of 2006, will take place June 17, at the high school from 11 p.m.-5 a.m.
This alcohol- and drug-free event, following that morning's graduation exercises, is sponsored by ATLAS and being organized by the parents of underclassmen to provide an exciting, fun-filled, and safe celebration.
The theme will be "A Day at the Beach" and will feature a disc jockey, dancing, games and giveaways. Food is expected to include submarines sandwiches, ice slushies and a chocolate fountain. Door prizes will be drawn all night. A grand prize will be awarded at breakfast.
Many businesses and community organizations have already contributed to make this a truly memorable night for students. Businesses, organizations or individuals that would like to donate items or make a monetary donation are encouraged to contact Jane Lettmann at 703-444-5139 or e-mail Lett10s@aol.com.
The 1976 gradating class of Broad Run High School in Ashburn is holding its 30-year reunion July 22, at the Holiday Inn at Carradoc Hall in Leesburg. The class is looking for classmates and need help from friends and family of alumni. Call Ana Mallory (Miranda) at 847-797-9043 or e-mail BRHS76@comcast.net.
Rising high-school seniors with leadership experience and an interest in government issues can apply for the 2006 Leadership Loudoun Scholarship. All high-school juniors residing in Loudoun County are eligible to apply for $1,500 to attend a summer conference for youth leaders. Homeschool, private school, magnet school and county public school students can apply.
Requirements include a minimum 2.5 grade point average with high-school junior status, an essay Ñ not to exceed 1,000 words Ñ on how attendance at a conference will assist the student in developing leadership abilities, recommendations from school officials and industry members and an interview with the Government Issues Scholarship Committee. After attending the conference, the student will report on his or her experiences and benefits.
Eligible applicants may obtain the packet from high-school counselors or at www.leadershiploudoun.org. Approved conferences and alternative qualifying criteria for homeschooled students are included in the brochure and online.
Those already accepted for student conferences are encouraged to apply for this scholarship.
The Patriots have shown once again that Park View High School has a spirited student body. During the week of Feb. 6-10, the SCA sponsored its annual Spirit Link competition between the classes. The fund-raiser benefited the Loudoun Chapter of the United Way. The freshman class was able to raise $828, the junior class raised $1,104, the senior class raised $822, and raising the highest total overall was the sophomore class with $1,364. Red, white and blue links were sold during homeroom for 10 cents each. The links were then connected together to form long chains that were used to decorate the school for Spirit Week. The grand total for the Park View student body was $4,450 in three days. The check was presented to United Way representative, Gina Gleeson, at the Spirit Week Pep Rally by the student body president, Jessica Koss. This was the 13th year Park View donated its Spirit Link money to the Loudoun United Way.
The not-for-profit Classroom of Discovery preschool has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.
Classroom of Discovery is in its third full year of operation. One of its first goals as a school was to receive this acknowledgment of its quality program. More than 11,000 early childhood programs are currently accredited by NAEYC.