People

Student Wins Contest for Literature Letter

Local eighth grader Christine Wang has won first place (for grades six through eight) in the Letters about Literature contest sponsored by the Library of Congress. She wrote her award-winning letter about the book, “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang. Christine, 13, even got to read her letter recently at the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville. The book’s a graphic novel in hardcover, comic-book form. It contains three connected stories that become one at the end, and they appealed to her on a personal level.

MVYAA All Stars: 18U Softball Champions

The Mount Vernon Youth Athletic Association’s 18U All Star team won the 2013 Northern Virginia House 18U All Star Tournament Championship that was held June 15 and 16, at Wakefield Park. The Mount Vernon All Star team, sponsored by MVYAA, was composed of girls ages 11-15. The team won all of its games in the 2013 All Star Tournament including the championship game, beating the Southwestern Youth Association All Stars 4-3.

TC Is Different

Good morning family, teachers, administrators, and fellow graduates of the T.C. Williams class of 2013! I’m honored and very nervous to be speaking to you all today. A little background: they don’t tell you that you’re going to officially be giving one of these speeches until about two days before graduation. To prepare for this speech, I did what any teenager would do — I searched “best high school graduation speeches” on YouTube, and procrastinated for an hour or so by watching other people’s speeches

Girls Fastpitch Champions Crowned

The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities' Sports Section held its Girl's Fastpitch Softball Championship games on Saturday, June 15 at the Witter Recreational Park Softball Field. The National League championship was won by the Gators with a 15 – 5 win over the Dolphins The Gators advanced to the championship defeating the Sunchasers 12 -8 while the Dolphins slipped by the Force 14 – 13 in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the American League championship, the Hurricanes defeated the Terps 12 – 5. This season there were over 185 girls participating the Rookie, National and American Leagues. The league’s sponsors for the were the Giant Food Stores on Edsell Road, First Street and Monroe Avenue and the Sports Authority at Potomac Yard.

Poetry: 'I know'

I know what it feels like to move again and again, I know what it’s like to see the brown cardboard boxes never end. I know what it’s like to have to adapt to a new environment, and I know what it’s like to see loved ones dream of retirement. I know what it’s like to have to make new friends, just so you can leave them before the year even ends.

Mount Vernon Sports Briefs

Rising U-16 Girls Teams Seek Players

The Lee Mount Vernon Sports Club Patriots seek players at all positions for two rising U-16 Girls teams. They play a possession style game.

Highlanders Encouraged to Do ‘Great Things’

Class of 2013 defines McLean High one last time.

The light above the original 13 colony nameplates in Constitution Hall changed from a gushing green to a Highlander red by late afternoon. Of the 521 McLean seniors who proceeded across the stage on Thursday, June 13, 21 percent of them did so with honors. Their keynote speaker, CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, gave the Class of 2013 key principles of how to live one’s life. He told two stories about Sept. 11, 2001: the two people’s stories were Father Mychal Judge and Lieutenant Kevin P. Shaeffer.

Teen Electrocuted on Fox Mill Elementary School Grounds

Shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, police and fire were called to Fox Mill Elementary School at 2611 Viking Drive in Herndon. First responders arrived and located four juvenile males: three 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old. One of the 14-year-olds had inadvertently come into contact with a live electrical wire and was electrocuted. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Operation: Ladybug at Herndon Science Center

The Children's Science Center of Herndon, at 485 Spring Park Place, Suite 500, is providing some ideas for backyard science this summer, with a call to young scientists to identify various species of ladybugs in their backyard. The challenge is part of a project, Operation: Ladybug, a collaborative effort between Cornell University’s Lost Ladybug Project and the Children’s Science Center to gather data for entomologists.

South County Middle Celebrates First Anniversary

The new school praised as “cornerstone of the community.”

After just one year, the South County Middle School Mustangs are already charging ahead toward a bright future: On Sept. 4, 2012, the school opened, boasting long, shiny hallways and advanced technological equipment. It recently commemorated its one-year anniversary with a ceremony involving the staff, members of the student body, members of the superintendent’s office, and members of the Board of Supervisors. Staff members donned matching polos with the school’s logo on it, and speakers wore shirts that had the school’s name and “The Only Solution” printed on the back.

Sunrise Valley Teacher Honored

Katie Blomquist named the 2013 Virginia History Teacher of the Year.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has named Katie Blomquist, a fourth grade teacher at Sunrise Valley Elementary School, the 2013 Virginia History Teacher of the Year.

Viewpoints

Madison Graduates: Where are they going next and where do they see themselves in 10 years?

Promoting Recycling in Herndon Neighborhoods

The Four Seasons and Hunters Creek neighborhoods, both located in the Town of Herndon, will square off in a “Battle of the Bottles” to determine which neighborhood increases its percentage of recycled material throughout the month of July.

Wolf Announces Appointments to the Nation’s Service Academies

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) announced the 10th District’s Class of 2017 appointments to the nation’s service academies, as well as those selected for academy prep schools. Those appointed to the United States Air Force Academy from our area include: Katherine Fitzgerald, Great Falls, Langley; United States Marine Merchant Academy: Rachel Wehlburg, Herndon, Chantilly; United States Military Academy: Phillip Grant, Herndon, Westfield; Patrick Kearney, McLean, Langley; United States Naval Academy: Lucia Lee, Herndon, Thomas Jefferson; Catherine Macklin, McLean, Langley; United States Coast Guard Academy: Alex LaBelle, Great Falls, Langley; Sierra Webb, Great Falls, Langley.

Levey’s Washington Revisited in Vienna

Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna hosts Bob Levey at luncheon.

Bob Levey’s 37-year career with the Washington Post spanned the eras of Watergate, Desert Storm and the rise of Internet news reporting. For 23 years, Levey wrote Bob Levey’s Washington, a personal look at the region he loves. He shared his experiences on June 10 with guests of Shepherd Center of Oakton-Vienna’s Lunch ‘n’ Life, drawing on anecdotes and perspectives.

The Connection