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Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner presented Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy with the 2007 Governor's Gold Award for Best Practices in Nutrition and Fitness during a student assembly. Lyles-Crouch is one of only two schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive this year’s Gold Award, and is the first school to earn a Governor’s Award at a progressively higher level during each of the program’s three years. The school received a Silver Award in 2006 and a Bronze Award in 2005.
Five T.C. Williams Career and Technical Education (CTE) students received awards during the 43rd annual Skills USA competition, held recently in Richmond, Va. Alex Fithian won first place in Technical Drafting and will represent the state in the national Skills USA competition in Kansas in June. Other winners include Tyler DeCourt, Taylor Pearson and John Wilson IV, second place in T.V. Productions; and Jamal Berry, fifth place in Graphic Communications. Other T.C. Williams students who participated in the competition include Vamsee Gunduboina in Architectural Drafting, Janae McLemore in Customer Service; and Brooks Eaton, Reid Scholar and Will Shankles in TV Productions. Cosmetology student Amber Mills joined the group as a voting delegate representing T.C. Williams.
Drew Smith received the second place award in the 8th Congressional District Art Competition for her photography image titled "Sunset of the Soul" and Nora Dickert received Honorable Mention for her photo titled "The Red Stairs."
The Francis C. Hammond Middle School Admirals Band, directed by Sean Kirchhoff, received the Best Overall Band award in the Middle/Junior High division at the "Music In The Parks Festival" at Kings Dominion on Friday, June 1. The band also received first place in its band division, as well as a rating of "Excellent" from a panel of judges. Hammond’s Symphonic Choir, directed by Brittney Wolff, and Symphonic Orchestra, directed by Barbara Morrow, also received "Excellent" ratings. The choir also received a trophy for fourth place. Each group performed three musical selections.
Stefan Allicock, a T.C. Williams High School advanced marketing student, won four awards in Quick Serve Restaurant Management at the DECA (an association of marketing students) International Career Development Conference (ICDC). The event took place April 28 through May 1 in Orlando, Fla. Allicock was one of 20 students to be recognized internationally in Quick Serve Restaurant Management as an overall winner.
Brooke Wilson, a fourth-grade student at William Ramsay Elementary School, received the 2006-2007 Outstanding American Automobile Association (AAA) School Safety Patrol Award for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) during a recent luncheon ceremony held by the Mid-Atlantic Foundation For Safety and Education. She received a plaque, a savings bond and a certificate.
Alexandria City Public Schools, Food and Nutrition Services, will sponsor the USDA Summer Food Service Program at all of the summer school sites. Free breakfasts will be provided to all enrolled elementary summer school students weekdays from June 25 through July 20. Free breakfast and lunch will be provided to all enrolled secondary and high school summer school students on weekdays June 25 through July 27. Free breakfast and lunch will be provided to all enrolled Kindergarten Prep students weekdays Aug. 8 through 19.
Free breakfasts will be served to any child under age 18 in the community at the following elementary sites from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. Monday through Friday: James K. Polk, John Adams, Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology and William Ramsay. Free breakfasts will be offered to any child in the community at Minnie Howard School and George Washington Middle School between 9:40 and 10 a.m.; lunches will be offered from 12:35 to 12:50 p.m. daily.
Katherine Clark, a student at T.C. Williams High School, was selected to be a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. The society recognized the top scholars in the nation and invites only those students who have achieved superior academic excellence.
Four Bishop Ireton High School juniors were honored with awards presented at The 2007 Award for Excellence Ceremony by The National Society of Arts and Letters Washington Chapter in collaboration with The Kennedy Center. Andrew Ohlert, Certificate of Merit, Art; Charlotte Maalouf, Award for Excellence, Musical Theater; Giselle Spahr, Certificate of Merit, Creative Writing; and Audrey Hueg, Certificate of Merit, Music.
Alexandria Country Day School graduated its 23rd class of 8th grade students on June 7. As a class they accomplished much over the course of the year including raising funds for neurofibromatosis; participating in the exchange program with a sister school in Mexico; and traveling to the American Southwest to experience the cultural and geographic diversity of their own country. Also, this class boasts a first place speech at the Optimist Club (Peter Fanone), a second place speech in the Optimist Club (Kelly McGrath), a Virginia Senate intern (Max Blackman), and a recipient of an honorable mention from the Model UN program in Mexico City (Claire Neimann).
The Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities (ACPD) awarded Angelica Bravo, from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, its 2007 Gerry Bertier Scholarship. Bravo's persistence over challenges, academic accomplishments, and passion for learning made her a unanimous choice for this year's award. Bravo will attend George Mason University this fall. The Gerry Bertier Scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit to a student with a disability who is seeking post-secondary education.
This summer more than 30 students will serve around the world, working alongside Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions field personnel and Fellowship partners. Allison Lee-Villanueva, of Alexandria, will serve in Great Falls, Va. Lee-Villanueva will serve at Camp Fraser in Great Falls. Camp Fraser offers various outdoor activities such as rafting, camping and climbing for inner city children. Lee-Villanueva will work with youth, leading worship, devotion, serving meals and participating in many sport activities.
The Alexandria Human Rights Commission awarded the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association of T.C. Williams High School the Commission's 2007 Student Human Rights Award. The Commission established the Human Rights Awards six years ago to recognize students who have contributed significantly toward improving basic human rights and fairness for all in the City. The club participated in the 2000 Millennium Campaign with the Ethiopian/African 2000 Group, raising money for efforts to unite the people of Africa toward unity and peace. Michael Diggins is the teacher sponsor at T. C. Williams High School. Each year the group sponsors an Essence Night in Alexandria, showcasing fashion, dance and talent, while promoting diversity.