Honors and kudos
By Shannon Sollinger
Loudoun teens Sarasi Jayaratne, Cori Goodwin and Andrew Livingstone were selected by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards as Virginia State Honorees for 2008. Each received a silver medallion, and Jayaratne and Goodwin will receive $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., in May where they will join honorees from across the country. America's top 10 youth volunteers for 2008 will be named there.Jayaratne, 18, a senior at Potomac Falls High School, collected more than 6,000 books for schools in Sri Lanka that were devastated by the 2004 tsunami.
Goodwin, 13, an eighth grader at Harper Park Middle school, raised nearly $700 to buy a cow, a sheep and a goat for a poor farming family in the third-world country.
Livingstone, 18, a senior at Dominion High School, founded the Athlete-to-Athlete club that hosts sports clinics for special needs athletes.
Prudential Financial sponsors the awards in partnership with the National Association of Secondary S.chool Principals.
High school scholar: Paige Sigmon, a sophomore at Loudoun County High School, has been selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars. Membership in the society opens scholarship opportunities, and can be an avenue to academic competitions, online forums and free events.
Reading the past: Loudoun Country Day School eighth-grade students came home with five top awards from the Feb. 23 National History Day Competitition at George Mason University:
Meredith Burkle and Caroline Woods were first in Group Performances with "Women's Rights and Abolitionism: Conflicting Priorities."
Matt Hill took first in the Individual Exhibit with his "World War I: The Consequences of Failure to Compromise."
Brandon Blackwood was second in the Individual Documentary with his "The Salt Treaties: Compromises That Kept the Peace."
Laura Hollister won honorable mention in Individual Documentary with her "The Civil Rights Movement: Conflicts Leading to Victory."
First and second place winners will compete in April at the state competition.
Volunteers: Philip Biever, a junior at Park View High School, is the Janaury Student Volunteer of the month. Philip volunteers with the Ruritan Circle Club, and participates in cleanup efforts in his neighborhood and helps with the Sterling Middle School Beautification Project. He also umpires for the "Challengers" program of the Lower Loudoun Baseball League.
For February, the top student volunteer recognition went to Marco Cunicellil, a freshman at Heritage High School. During his 8th grade yeer at Harper Park Middle School, Cunicelli led the effort to get permanent trash receptacles placed outside each of the school's academic houses. He assembled bins, dug holes, poured concrete and set the receptacles. He also assisted measuring for the quarter-, half-, three-quarter- and one-mile marks on the new track.
He also mentors younger students at Tolbert Elementary School, serves as a tour guide at the middle school for new students and helps the music department during performances.
Both teens will name a nonprofit to receive $100. To nominate a student for this monthly recognition, call Loudoun Volunteer Servcies at 703-737-8424, or e-mail pivs@loudoun.gov .
Academic achievers: Megan M. McElligott, Lovettsville, is on the Dean's List with a GPA of 3.4 or better for the fall 2007 semester at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. McElligott is a junior majoring in English.
Rhyan Johnson, Leesburg, is on the Dean's List, GPA of 3.5 or better, at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. Johnson graduated from the Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology in Alexandria and is studying in the university's Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. Jaime Elizabeth Allinson, Leesburg, is also on the Dean's List at Washington University. She is enrolled in the school's College of Arts and Sciences.
Terry McGovern, Leesburg, is on the Dean's List for the 5th consecutive semester at Boston University at Boston, Mass. McGovern will graduate in May with a degree in biomedical engineering.
Kathryn Lee Stephens, Leesburg, is on the Honors List at Mary Baldwin College with a 4.0 GPA.
Kasey Heather Blackburn is on the Dean's List, with a GPA of 3.5 or better, at Roanoke College.
Kathleen Grandfield, Purcellville, is on the Dean's List at the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, with a GPA of 3.5 or better. Grandfield is a junior majoring in history.
Krystal Campbell, Sterilng, and Andrew Johnson, Ashburn, are on the Dean's List (GPA 3.5 or better) at Murray State Univeristy in Murray, Ky., for the fall 2007 semester.
Brittani Benedict, Lovetssville, is on the fall 2007 Dean's List (3.6 GPA or better) at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. Benedict is a senior majoring in early childhood education.
Best foot forward: Loudoun's own Sophia Martinese competed over Thanksgiving week 2007 in the National American Miss pageant in Los Angeles, Calif.
Carla had earlier been named Miss Loudoun County Junior Pre-Teen, and won the right to go the California pageant at the state competition.
In eight days of competition and interviews, Carla won five trophies and was ranked in the top five in the National Spokesmodel (pre-teen division) category. Carla exhibited her talents and training in dance, singing, acting and public speaking.
Her week included an exclusive Disneyland tour, a Thanksgiving dinner ball, theme parties and meetings with Hollywood stars.
Serivce: Laura Marie Dean, Sterling, is a member of the Student Judicial Board at Lynchburg College. Dean is a senior majoring in human development and learning.
Board members help students, staff and faculty learn about student rights and ressponsibilities, and serve as peer advisors on hearing panels that determine responses to misconduct.
New graduates: Aftab Khalid, Sterling, earned a Master's in Science in Dec. 2007 from Central Michigan University.