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Army Spec. Jonell L. Conger has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
She is the daughter of Bonnie A. Dean of Sterling and granddaughter of Connie Hargreaves of Centreville. Conger graduated in 2001 from Chantilly High School, and received a bachelor's degree in 2005 from Ferrum College, Va.
One-hundred-eighty-three Senior Girl Scouts from the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital were awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award Sunday, May 13, at the council's annual "In Your Honor" ceremony at Trinity University in Washington, D.C. Of those, more than 120 are from Virginia. The Gold Award is the highest award achievable in Girl
The following are Gold Award winners from Loudoun:
Kasey Blackburn, Leesburg, redecorated three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a hallway for a shelter for women and children. She painted each room, provided new bedding, shower curtains, valences and blinds.
Dana Buckley, Leesburg, visited homeless shelters to teach the residents how to use computers. She also created a booklet of her lessons to leave with the residents.
Michelle Bunney, Sterling, redesigned the Ruritan kitchen to make it brighter and more appealing to the groups who use it.
Rachel Gottlieb, Leesburg, worked with children ages 5-13 in a local shelter. She taught them how to succeed in the future and had guest speakers talk about their jobs, training and skills.
Jennifer Mabee, South Riding, built and maintained a flower garden near the Alzheimer’s unit at Heritage Hall. The garden was in memory of Virginia Clough and was designed to help spark memories for the patients.
Keeley Mitchell, Sterling, offered weeklong child-care sessions for volunteers who were working to create a park, and were in need of child care in the evenings.
Anna Nielsen, Potomac Falls, helped educate children about how their actions can affect the environment. She presented six lessons at YMCA summer camps.
Katherine Peterson, Ashburn, gathered oral histories from long-time residents of Ashburn. The compiled stories were donated to the Thomas Balch Historical and Genealogical Library in Leesburg.
Meagan Tyding, Ashburn, restored a butterfly garden at a nature preserve. She replaced overgrown vegetation with native plants and installed a solar powered fountain.
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office was recognized for its role in the 2006 Virginia Law Enforcement Challenge for traffic-safety enforcement. The Loudoun Sheriff's Office took first place in the category of Virginia Sheriff's agencies whose total number of deputies falls between 451 and 700. As the largest full-service Sheriff's Office in the state, the Loudoun Sheriff's Office stands alone in this category. The agency must still however, receive a minimum number of points to receive an award.
The National Capital Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society announces that the 25th Anniversary MS Bike Ride has raised more than $500,000 to date for the fight against MS. The event, which was held in Northern Virginia May 19 and 20, welcomed more than 650 cyclists.
The MS Bike Ride started and finished at Franklin Park in Purcellville, with a route through Loudoun and Fauquier counties.
Members of the Loudoun Sheriff's Office Auxiliary were honored during a banquet held at the Lakes Recreation Center in Ashburn. At the banquet, 14 members of the unit were recognized for achievements in the areas of team leadership, field training, information technology, special projects, and overall commitment in the area of volunteering.
The Loudoun Chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association received an Award of Merit from the Virginia State Bar's Conference of Local Bar Associations.
The award recognizes the association's Adoption Day ceremony and fair in Loudoun. The ceremony honored seven families and the fair provided information about the Loudoun County Department of Family Services and five local adoption agencies.
Claire Elisabeth Grubbs of Sterling made the Seattle Pacific University winter quarter Dean's List. Student on the Dean's List have completed at least 12 credits and attained a 3/50 or higher grade point average.
Lisa Mathey, an adoption educator with Adoption Educators and former foster parent, won third place in the Virginia Department of Social Services creative writing contest, foster parent category, which was held for National Foster Care Month in May.
Mathey received a framed copy of her writing entry and was a featured speaker at the Foster Parents Appreciation Celebration.
Air Force Airman Connie E. Medina 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.
She is the daughter of Alejandro Medina of Gala Circle and niece of Patricia Medina of Ferncliff Terrace, both of Ashburn. Medina is a 2006 graduate of Broad Run High School, Ashburn.
Air Force Airman James R. Martin 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 Patricia Martin of Silver Fox Court, Lithia Springs, Ga., and Roderick Smith of Wallace Drive, Leesburg.
Martin is a 2006 graduate of Broad Run High School, Ashburn.
Margaret Redling, an international studies major and Spanish and sociology double minor from Sterling, graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. Saturday, June 2. While at Randolph-Macon, Redling was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and was its new member coordinator and vice president of scholarship. She was also a member of Sigma Delta Pi, Alpha Kappa Delta and Pi Sigma Alpha. After graduation, Redling will be employed by Northrop Grumman. She is a 2003 graduate of Potomac Falls High School in Sterling and is the daughter of Matthew and Ellen Redling.
Twenty-nine leaders who make up the Leadership Loudoun Class of 2007 have graduated from the program. The Leadership Loudoun board of directors celebrated with the class at the graduation festivities held at River Creek Club in Leesburg June 8. The graduates are: W. Keith Brower Jr., chief fire marshal, Loudoun County; Michelle Burke, director of development, Loudoun Healthcare Foundation; Lisa Capraro, downtown coordinator, Town of Leesburg Economic Development; Yvette Castro-Green, outreach director, Loudoun County Department of Health; Louis Cironi, Realtor; Lorna Clarke, marketing and communications manager, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce; Jeff Dube, lieutenant, Leesburg Police Department; Kirsten Hammer Dueck, executive director, George C. Marshall International Center at Dodona Manor; Gary Filak, broker, Edward Jones Investments; Rick Frye, captain/assistant division commander, Loudoun County Sheriff's Office; Bruce Gemmill, president, Campbell Associates Inc.; Melissa Gonzalez, senior financial analyst, AOL; Liz Heagy, president, Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest; Beth Howsare, controller, Reston Limousine; Pam Joseph, process consultant manager, Freddie Mac; Jey Jeyanathan, principal/manager, Stonewall Lane LLC; Lyda Kiser, grants analyst, Loudoun County Management and Financial Services; Kevin Knight, new business development manager, Rehau Inc.; James Kurtzke, director, speech management, Freddie Mac; Lovely Lall, owner/principal, Business Vardaan Inc.; Catherine Hogan Lewis, external affairs/government relations, Verizon; Mark Matthews, budget analyst, Fairfax County; Kelly Marrocco, program manager, Loudoun County Family Services; Amy Nolasco, senior business analyst, The College Board; Janet Olsen, director of human resources, EIT Inc.; Tom Simmons, owner/principal, Thomas Simmons Agency; Kristi Stilen-Lare, Program Development Manager, Loudoun Cares; Mikell Weatherton, senior treasury analyst, Freddie Mac; Fred Wright, director of services, Northrop Grumman.
Lafayette College awarded 556 degrees to 538 graduating seniors and honorary doctorates to five distinguished leaders, including historian Michael Beschloss, at the College's 172nd Commencement May 19. Stephanie Elizabeth Volk of Ashburn earned her B.S., mechanical engineering.
The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Earth Force and the Audubon Naturalist Society joined in partnership this year to sponsor the first Environmental Teacher Recognition Awards. A reception was held Wednesday, May 9, at Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg. Fifteen science teachers from Loudoun County Public Schools were recognized for their outstanding efforts in leading students in environmental studies. Odette Scovel, head of the science department, represented Loudoun County Public Schools. Each teacher received a certificate and a field microscope. Teachers include: Brad George, Dominion High School; Mary Young-Lutz, Dominion High School; Jenifer Phipps, Park View High School; Renee Whitmire, Stone Bridge High School; Janet Cascio, Stone Bridge High School; Joyce Zupko, Sterling Middle School; and Rick Peck, Seneca Ridge Middle School.
Victoria Wilson of Sterling, majoring in curriculum and instruction, in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa National Arts and Sciences Honor Society.
Christine Donovan of Lansdowne a junior music, marketing management and management major at Virginia Tech, has received the Dean's Rising Junior Scholarship, which is awarded to an outstanding rising junior that demonstrates strong academic achievement, leadership and service to others.
Vladimir Smirov, of Sterling, a senior music major at Virginia Tech, has been awarded the Undergraduate Research Institute Grant Recipient, which is awarded to students whose research is exceptional.