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.
Air Force Airman Sean M. Jenkins 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 degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Sherry Jenkins of Sterling and grandson of Kenny and Mary Jenkins of Winchester, Va. Jenkins is a 2004 graduate of Park View High School, Sterling.
More than 190 volunteers attended the 2006 Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Recognition Luncheon Friday, Sept. 15, at the Belmont Country Club in Ashburn. Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director, Diane Ryburn, presented Supervisors Stephen Snow and Jim Clem a mock check for $940,859 to show the value of the effort of Loudoun County’s 301 RSVP volunteers' 46,996 service hours.
Geraline Johnson, Hilda Marcus, Ernestine Ridgway and Sue Ulland were inducted into the RSVP Hall of Stars, since they contribute more than 5,000 lifetime volunteer hours. Betsy Reed earned the Rising Star award for accumulating 343 hours during her first year of service and Roseann Vecchio accepted the SuperStar award for volunteering 1,991 hours during the fiscal year. In addition, Doc Ashby, Shobha Gadhok, Irwin Bibro, Ludell Sweeney and Doris Vaughn were nominated by their volunteer station and selected by RSVP Advisory Council members for the Shining Star award.
Keep Loudoun Beautiful held a litter cleanup recently along a portion of the Potomac River in Loudoun County, covering several miles. Thirty-six volunteers removed 66 tires and 40 bags of assorted trash totaling 2,820 pounds.
The cleanup was sponsored by the Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management with funding from the Virginia Litter Prevention and Recycling Grant Program.
Shenandoah University graduated 160 students in a ceremony in the Smith Library Plaza, Saturday, Aug. 26. This is the first year August graduation was held outside.
The guest speaker is Jaime de Ojeda, Shenandoah University’s ambassador-in-residence since 1997. Honorary degrees will be presented to pharmacist R. David Anderson, physical therapist Phillip B. Donley and pianist John O’Conor.
Members of The Islamic Society of North America elected Imam Mohamed Magid as the organization' s vice president. Magid is the executive director and imam of The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS). He is the chair of Fairfax Faith Communities in Action, a member of The Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Assembly, and board member of the Fairfax Youth Partnership. In addition, he serves as a member of the Arab, Muslim, Sikh Advisory Committee to the FBI Washington Field Office. Magid lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and five children.
The Leesburg Economic Development Commission elected new officers at its Aug. 23 meeting in Leesburg. Ara Bagdasarian will serve in the role as the commission chair with Karen Jones serving as vice chair.
Mark Duffell of Aldie has been elected as a delegate to the 123rd Annual American Angus Association Convention of Delegates, Nov. 13 in Louisville, Ky.
Duffell, a member of the American Angus Association, is one of 389 Angus breeders who have been elected by fellow members in their state to serve as a representative at the annual meeting. Representing 46 states, the District of Columbia and Canada, the delegates will participate in the business meeting and elect new officers and five directors to the American Angus Association board.
George W. Lemm, also of Aldie, is one of 362 association members to be selected as an alternate delegate.
James F. McGuirk II of Loudoun County, president of AKLM Consulting Inc., was appointed by Gov. Tim Kaine (D) to the Council on Virginia's Future.
The Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad has been awarded EMS Magazine’s 2006 Gold Standard Award as the premier, all-volunteer EMS agency in the United States. Representatives from Sterling Rescue will be recognized at a special awards ceremony at the EMS Expo 2006, Sept. 25-29, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The award has two separate categories: paid and volunteer service. Each honors an agency that demonstrates a high level of dedication, teamwork and commitment to EMS.
The first annual Algonkian Classic Miniature Golf tournament was held Sept. 16 at Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling with 32 golfers competing in the team and individual tournaments.
Winners of the team tournament were brothers, Chris and Taylor McGough and their friend Kyle McCrane of Sterling. Calvin Owens, a landscaping business owner from Washington, D.C., came in 5 under par to win the individual event at Algonkian. The individual tournament was a qualifier for the US Professional Miniature Golf Association sanctioned “Harris Cup” Tournament, which is an annual event sponsored by the miniature golf course design firm, Harris Miniature Golf. Owens will compete in the Harris Cup tournament later this month in Allentown, Pa.
The event at Algonkian Regional Park was a fund-raiser for the Loudoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Kyle Dacuyan of Sterling, 17, was honored in Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, where he will receive a Davidson Fellows Award scholarship from the Davidson Institute for Talent Development. Dacuyan is one of this year's 16 Davidson Fellows.
Dacuyan is receiving a $25,000 scholarship for his achievement in literature for his portfolio, "What Have You Been, Where Have You Gone." Comprised of short stories, poems and nonfiction, his work examines familial relationships, complexities and oddities.
John Hutchins from Broad Run won an 18-foot 7-inch Tracker Nitro 591 motorboat and trailer from Bass Pro Shops at the 2nd Annual Maryland $1,000,000 Fishing Challenge: The Return of Diamond Jim. Hutchins caught a tagged largemouth bass at Brian’s Cove in the Potomac River.
Clement Irons (85-89 age group), from Sterling, won a gold medal in men's bowling Sept. 18 in the 2006 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.
The 2006 Summer Reading (Feed Your Mind) poster contest winners are: Ashburn Library, Amaar Farooq, 3-5 age group; Mia Allen, 6-10 age group; and Rachel Zaragoza, 11 and older. Cascades Library, Trenton Hess, 3-5 age group; Kathryn DuHadway, 6-10 age group; and Abha Arora, 11 and older. Rust Library, Mariana Smith, 3-5 age group; Kelsea Champ, 6-10 age group; and Andy Millett, 11 and older. Sterling Library, Danielle Holsinger, 3-5 age group; Emily Holsinger, 6-10 age group; and Adam Kelly, 11 and older.
Winning designs will be made into a framed poster and displayed at the winning branch. The framed poster is then given to the winner.
The following incoming freshmen from Ashburn have been selected as members of the University Honors program at Virginia Tech. John Edstrom, general engineering; Sahil Khanna, biological sciences; Gabriel Martinez, general engineering; George Riedel, general engineering; and Daniel Stalcup, general engineering.
The following incoming freshmen from Chantilly have been selected as members of the University Honors program at Virginia Tech. Janet De Mena, animal and poultry science; Natalie Fuentes, music; Jennifer Kim, finance; Evan Luzi, university studies; Robert Palmer, psychology; and Lauren Waddell, university studies.
Matthew Stoll, biochemistry, an incoming freshmen from Dulles has been selected as a member of the University Honors program at Virginia Tech.
Charles Stahle, general engineering, an incoming freshman from Leesburg, has been selected as a member of the University Honors program at Virginia Tech.
The following incoming freshmen from Potomac Falls have been selected as members of the University Honors program at Virginia Tech. Nicole Shyti, marketing; John Salamone, finance; and Carolyn Meckus, psychology.
Roger Cobb, general engineering, an incoming freshman from South Riding has been selected as a member of the University Honors program at Virginia Tech.
The following incoming freshmen from Sterling have been selected as members of the University Honors program at Virginia Tech. Lindsay Berg, psychology; Lauren Butt, general engineering; Katherine Jones, animal and poultry sciences; and Nathan Milaszewski, general engineering.
The Penderbrook Golf Club, Fairfax, hosted the 2006 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics golf competition Sept. 20. Gold medals were awarded to Frank Licord (90-94 age group), Sterling and Lazell Hunigan (75-79 age group), Sterling. William Keller and Jan Treadwell, members of the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, participated in the miniature golf portion of the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics. Keller took home the gold medal while Treadwell took home the bronze.
Larry M. Fairchild and David M. Skelly have 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. The six-week, two-phased orientation program must be successfully completed by the cadets prior to entering their freshman year.
Phase one involves personal in-processing, orientation and training in the fundamentals of being a cadet. Cadet trainees are prepared to adjust from civilian to military life and disciplines, and learn proper wear of the uniform, saluting policies and procedures, drill and ceremony, marching and living quarters standards.
During phase two, cadets train outdoors living in tents while learning to function in field conditions. Cadets apply and practice team work, cohesion and learn to deal with physically and mentally demanding situations. They complete the obstacle, confidence, assault, and leadership reaction courses and participate in a rescue mission termed Operation Warrior.
Fairchild is the son of Larry and Jacqueline Fairchild of Ashburn. He is a 2003 graduate of Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn.
Skelly is the son of Elizabeth and Michael Skelly of Sterling.
The Piedmont Arts Foundation, formerly know as the Tony and Nik Foundation, has announced the 2006-07 Student Board. The mission of the foundation is to serve the performing arts in Loudoun County secondary schools, focusing primarily on theater arts and Drama Department supplemental funding. The secondary mission is to support performing arts throughout Loudoun County as a whole.
More than 20 students actively participate on the student board. This year’s board includes president, Sabrina Ripperger, a senior at Stone Bridge High School; vice president, Katie Bahr, a junior at Heritage High School; secretary, Emily Waffle, a sophomore at Potomac Falls High School and sergeant at arms, Tali Custer, of Potomac Falls.