Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Nahed Najmyar of Potomac Falls, a student in Virginia Tech's College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, was recently presented with the Ora Goodwin Roop scholarship. The Ora Goodwin Roop scholarship is given to an undergraduate or graduate student who demonstrates academic achievement and provides leadership to the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
James P. Fisher, Esq. was appointed to one of two positions reserved for lawyers on the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission. The seven-member statewide commission is constituted from three Judges, two lawyers and two citizen members who must each be elected by both houses of the General Assembly. The commission adjudicates complaints and ethics related matters brought against Virginia judges and has statewide jurisdiction.
Fisher was a former town attorney for Warrenton and now serves as Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County.
La Voz of Loudoun, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, announces the recruitment of a new executive director, Yvette Castro-Green, a Leesburg resident of eight years and founding member of La Voz. A first-generation Latina born to Central American parents, she holds a M.P.A. in international management and is the first in her family to attend college.
Libraries for the Future (LFF) announced the selection of Beth Wiseman, Loudoun County Public Library’s programming specialist, as one of 19 Lifelong Access Fellows, who will join a national network of library staff committed to transforming library services for active older adults. The Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute is part of a multi-year national Lifelong Access Libraries Initiative that is aimed at transforming library services for older adults with opportunities for active learning, creative exploration, and meaningful civic engagement.
Nahed "Nikki" Najmyar, a senior political science and business (finance) major, has been selected to serve as an ambassador for the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech. Najmyar will serve as a representative of the college at various events and as a mentor to other Virginia Tech students. Najmyar is the daughter of Khalil Hajmyar and Nassima Maqsudi from Potomac Falls.
Renae Smith, a 2008 Grove City (Pa.) College graduate from Sterling, was inducted into Scroll and Key, the scholastic honorary for senior students. It is the highest academic award given by the college. Not more than one student may be selected for each 15 members of the senior class.
Dennis Khau of Sterling received a bachelor of arts with a major in environmental science from Roanoke College May 3. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lam Khau of Willowood Place.
Manu Shukia of Sterling was inducted into the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society for his academic achievement in studying computer science. Shukia, a graduate student in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, had to complete at least 64 hours of university courses, 18 hours in computer science and carry a minimum grade point average of 3.5 to be considered.
The Loudoun Literacy Council, a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to improving literacy for children and adults throughout Loudoun County, has moved into downtown Leesburg and hired a new executive director. The new office is at 204 South King St., in the historic district of Leesburg. Candace Olin Kroehl became executive director in May 2008. She has many years of experience in education and nonprofit organizations.
The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office took first place in the 2007 Virginia Law Enforcement Challenge for traffic safety enforcement 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.