Shannon Freeman, an art teacher at Dominion High School proposed a challenge of growing their hair out then donating it. Part of the Beautiful Lengths Event with Pantene and the American Cancer Society, more than 50 students partook in the challenge to cut their hair March 30.

Each year, the Loudoun Times-Mirror celebrates some of the county’s most outstanding senior students, chosen from a spectrum of scholastic pursuits, such as civil outreach, sports, arts, science and leadership. For details on the future leaders, click here.

This year, a Times-Mirror community panel selected 15 Future Leaders from more than 80 nominations.

Eric Penka, history teacher at Harper Park Middle transforms his classroom into the trenches of World War I.

The month of March has officially been designated by the National Association for Music Education as Music in Our Schools Month - when music education becomes the focus of schools nationwide. This year’s theme is “Music Lasts a Lifetime.”

Performing in honor of Music In Our Schools Month during the March 27 School Board meeting were the Stone Bridge High School Jazz Choir and Loudoun County High School’s Guitar Quartet.

Purcellville’s Carver Center for seniors has launched 10-week class for adults aged 50 and over called Technology for Baby Boomers.

Dozens of wrestlers suited up with pink shirts, socks and shoelaces for the first Battle of Ashburn charity event, held Jan. 25 at Broad Run High School. Freedom High School pinned down three victories in the round-robin style event, and proceeds benefitted the Chris Cooley Foundation.

Sixth graders at J. Michael Lunsford Middle School received a special treat Jan. 5-6, when a famous president visited to teach them about our nation’s War on Independence.

For sixth graders at Blue Ridge Middle School in Purcellville, Nov. 16 was just another day at their school – until they received a special visit from a well known book and movie franchise.

The Ashburn-based Silver Eagle Group, or SEG, is dusting off the cobwebs just in time for Halloween, unveiling its newly renovated facility to members of the media on Oct. 27.  The public will have a chance to start honing their firearm, martial arts and even pool skills at the facility’s grand opening event on Oct. 29.

The circus, with its colorfully vibrant costumes, performances and music, naturally lends itself as a vehicle to stimulate the senses. For children with hearing or sight impairments, that experience may never happen.

Andy Catsakis got the most out of his hobby for collecting vehicles — he helped save his neighbor’s life using a 2.5-ton truck.

Del Cowsette had the good fortune of playing his entire football career in the D.C. Metro area. Now, he’s giving back to it.

Aurelio Kamosso wanted his 5-year-old daughter, Amber, to put her best foot forward when she started to learn to play soccer.

Teachers from Loudoun County Public Schools fly fighter jet simulators at Lockheed Martin July 22 as part of annual George Washington University Teachers in Industry Project.

The streets of Leesburg were alive the night of June 14 with the magic of Harry Potter fans eagerly awaiting the final segment of the Potter films to be released.

Talk about population control ... Hillsboro Elementary School Principal Dave Michener rewards his students for reaching their reading goal by eating stink bug tacos.

Catoctin Elementary School students make an ice cream sundae out of their principal as a reward for collecting 18,478 BoxTops for Education, far surpassing their goal. Each BoxTop earns the school ten cents, which will go toward student planners.

From the first pitch, something felt different. Perhaps it was the play that ensued — a swing of the bat put the stitched ball into the air with a sharp tailspin, landing the ball in fair territory near the first base line before it careened backwards with a vengeance and worked its way into foul grounds. Foul ball? Not in 1864. No player hesitated, as the pitcher for the Potomac Nine sprinted, slid towards the ball, scooped it cleanly with his bare hand and made the throw to first. Now this was base ball.

Loudoun County’s new roller derby team, the Backwoods Rollers, formed in April and are ready to push, shove and skate their way past the opposition.

An 8-year-old Ashburn boy died Monday after he and his mother were struck by a vehicle while crossing a busy Ashburn intersection.