- Kennesaw State University: Paige Durst of Woodbridge has been honored for academic achievement, making the Fall 2023 Dean’s List.
- Coastal Carolina University: A notable achievement, with more than 3,000 undergraduate students recognized for their excellence, including Amara Codd of Stafford, Alyssa Deguzman of Manassas, and others. Additionally, Andrew Cheripka of Woodbridge, Sofia Nowicki of Stafford, and others achieved the prestigious President’s List.
- Emerson College: Several local students have been named to the Dean’s List for their outstanding performance, including Harley Novy of Dumfries, Yuxin Tao of Shanghai, Ezekiel Manry of Stafford, and Daniel Golub of Gainesville.
Community Involvement
- Andrew Luisa’s Volunteerism: Andrew Luisa of Woodbridge participated in the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine event, emphasizing community engagement and support for individuals with special needs.
Academic Honors and Achievements
- Phi Kappa Phi Inductees:** Emily Houtz of Stafford at Brigham Young University and Vincent Smith of Woodbridge at East Carolina University were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, recognizing their academic excellence.
- Shenandoah University Field Hockey:** The university’s field hockey program received accolades for academic excellence, with 22 student-athletes, including Claudia Lenahan of Bristow and Elizabeth Ranberger of Stafford, named to the NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad.
- University of Maryland Global Campus:** Over 11,900 students from the area were named to the Dean’s List, including Osei Damte-Dapaah of Stafford and Joshua Baptist of Woodbridge.
Dean’s List Acknowledgements
Assumption University: Vincent Bosire of Woodbridge, Class of 2026, achieved Dean’s List recognition for the fall 2023 semester.
Tufts University: Sophie Novitsky, Class of 2025, from Woodbridge, earned a spot on the Dean’s List for the Fall 2023 semester.
These achievements highlight local students’ dedication and hard work in pursuing academic excellence. Potomac Local congratulates these high achievers. Send us your local news
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Recent Stories
ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Green, ranked as Northern Virginia’s top nursing home by Newsweek Magazine, announced Duane Smith as its new Nursing Home Administrator, effective December 30, 2024. Smith brings extensive experience from senior living leadership roles across multiple states and holds several professional qualifications. Birmingham Green continues its 90-year mission of providing quality long-term care to Northern Virginians in need.
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Should Virginia ditch the longstanding practice of electing the General Assembly and the governor in odd year elections?
The first odd year election in Virginia was in 1851, after a new state Constitution was approved and members of the House were elected to a two-year term. Before that, members of the House had one-year terms, and voters selected members every single year.
Now, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says modern day voters are sick and tired of voting every year.
A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.
According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
