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Dean Jagusiak, a 13-year old St. Mary's School student from Old Mill Road, recently attained the level of first degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. After six years of preparation at the Jhoon Rhee School on Telegraph Road, he was presented his belt by Grand Master Jhoon Rhee at a formal ceremony. Dean is currently studying at Carl Runk’s World Total Martial Arts with a goal of a second Black Belt.
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) announced the election of new officers to the NVRPA Board. William C. (Bill) Dickinson of Alexandria was reelected as the Board chairman and will begin his third one year term in that position.
The Mount Vernon Genealogical Society annually recognizes its members who have made significant contributions to the operation of the society during the previous year. The 2006 awards were made at the January meeting of the society. The awards included the President's Award which was given to Raymond Bailey and Linda MacLachlan, the Award of Merit which was given to Harold McClendon, Allan Knoch, Kay Torpey, Gail Gardner, Linda Jonas, Sigrid Smith, Gwen Aliferis, Ann Hanley, and Chuck Mason, and the Sustained Service Award which was given to Homer “Ed” Schott.
Five outstanding young City employees were honored at a special reception and ceremony at City Hall on January 23, 2007. The Alexandria Jaycees annually honor five City employees based on exceptional achievement or contribution in their chosen field or fields, organization, or community. The five honorees are as follows:
* William G. Truesdale Award- Alexandria Office of the Sheriff: DeSha Winstead
* Charles W. Hill Award- Alexandria Police Department: Stafford Farmer-Lee
* James E. Shortt Award- Alexandria Fire Department: Patrick Evans
* George Talmadge Webber Award- Alexandria Public Schools: Elizabeth Riddle, Ph.D.
* E.Judith Krasnow Award- City Manager's Office: Michael Mackey
Elizabeth Macon Riddle, Ph.D., received the 2007 George Talmadge Webber Outstanding Public Service Award during the Alexandria Jaycees’ annual Community Appreciation Night held on Jan. 23. Riddle is one of five outstanding young City employees honored by the Jaycees for exceptional achievement or contribution in their chosen field or fields, organization or community. Riddle is the instructional technology coordinator for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), where she has worked for six years. Riddle also is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional honorary society of women educators providing scholarships for women who want to advance their professional interests in education.
Community Lodgings has named Thomas Sosa "Volunteer of the Year" for 2006. From the time he was in the fifth grade, Thomas participated in Community Lodgings' youth programs. When he became too old for the program, he trained as a volunteer. He now spends five afternoons a week at the Learning Center, working with both elementary and middle school students. Thomas lives with his family in the Community Lodgings neighborhood. Thomas currently attends the Minnie Howard 9th Grade Center and will attend T.C . Williams High School next year. Thomas has plans of going to college on a scholarship to study architecture.
John F. Scruggs of Alexandria, has been appointed by Robin Tallon to the Medical University of South Carolina Board of Visitors. Members are nominated by the trustees of the university and serve as ambassadors in their respective regions. Scruggs, the vice president of government affairs for Altria Group, Inc., received his undergraduate degree from Briola University and his Juris Doctor degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. Scruggs and his wife Nancy have two children, Heather and Sarah.
Joseph Cerutti, a music educator and conductor from the Greater Boston area, has been appointed as Musical Director of the Alexandria Harmonizers.