Here are the businesses that opened their doors in October:
Dumfries
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The 31 graduates completed 30 weeks of academic and physical training at the Nokesville Public Safety Training Center. According to a press release, each graduate completed more than 1,500 hours of training to become fire and rescue technicians. The training consisted of health, nutrition and functional fitness; emergency medical training; fire training; specialized training and administrative training.
The ceremony was held at Grace Life Community Church in Bristow. It was presided over by Battalion Chief Scott Arft.
Congratulations to the following graduates on completing your training!
- Luis Ayala
- Christian Jackson
- Robert Pena-Alea
- Corbin Barb
- Lawrence Jenkins
- Christopher Peters
- Liam Bayfield
- Joseph Knighten
- Ian Ross
- Daniel Burgess
- Autumn Kramer
- Elijah Settle
- Xavier Castro
- Malik Lewis
- Matthew Shuck
- Tanner Crews
- Jonnathan Lizama-Parada
- Ryan Sinclair
- Kylan Dagstani
- Thomas Mackow
- Harish Sundaram
- Yvette Godinez-Delgado
- Daniel Madison
- Briar Thomas
- Evan Hamilton
- Charlie McCoy
- Collin Thomas
- Tyren Hinton
- Tyler Orefice
- Phillip Hodge
- Byron Payne
DST is one of the Divine Nine organizations, a group of historically African American fraternities and sororities that the National Pan-Hellenic Council governs. PWCAC-DST has been hosting this oratorical event for 40 years, which predates the first national celebration of the holiday in 1986.
Middle and high school students throughout the Prince William County area, including the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, will display their oratorical skills. According to a press release from the organization, this year’s six regional competitors must center their speeches on “Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy: My Voice, My Choice, My Future.”
There’s also a one- to two-page writing contest for fourth and fifth graders about democracy and using one’s voice to make an important decision. Judges will select two to three essays per grade level and the winners will be recognized during the Jan. 18 event. Submissions were due on Nov. 22.
A press release states that children of all ages from the MLK Youth Community Choir will sing “songs of celebration.” The choir has been practicing since November for the performance.
Those interested in attending can also bring ready-to-eat items or microwaveable food items to support the work of Northern Virginia Food Rescue.
- When: Jan. 18 starting at 11 a.m. (Doors open at 10 a.m.)
- Where: Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 18410 Chapel St. in Triangle
- Snow date: Jan. 25
At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Manassas City School Board heard from Craig Gfeller, deputy superintendent, about the potential partnership and what it means for the district.
University Instructors was founded in 1994 in Richmond to provide one-on-one private mentoring by connecting students to tutors from local universities. The program expanded later in the 1990s once state test scores improved in Richmond City Public Schools, the company's website states. Now, UI works in 56 districts across the Commonwealth, including Loudoun County.
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According to a presentation given at the Dec. 4 PWCS School Board meeting, 15.4% of students are considered chronically absent as of Oct. 31, which marked the end of the first quarter. In the 2023-24 school year at the same time, only 14.7% of students were considered chronically absent.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more or 18 days of school for an enrolled student by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Excused and unexcused absences count toward the chronic absenteeism rate.
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"This is a game-changer for MWES! It allows us to enhance our security system, which will make our school a safer place for everyone," Danna Johnson, the MWES principal, said. "This investment will give our entire school community peace of mind and continue to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing not only a nurturing environment for our students, but a safe and secure one as well."
This grant is part of a statewide initiative from the VDOE to increase school safety. The VDOE has allocated $12 million in grant funding to 472 schools across the Commonwealth. In late November, two Manassas City Public Schools (Round and Haydon Elementary) received $250,000 — the highest amount of grant money possible for one school district, according to a VDOE release.
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Bollino has been in music education for more than 20 years, the majority of which has been with Stafford County Public Schools. According to her LinkedIn page, she joined PWCS in February.
"I am honored to be recognized for my leadership. Music and the arts are intricately woven into the very fabric of who I am and how I lead; they have profoundly shaped my identity, and I draw on these deep-rooted passions to ensure that our PWCS students have access to the same enriching opportunities and transformative experiences that have molded me into the person I am today," she said.
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Michael Carter, a plumbing teacher at Woodbridge's Gar-Field High School, was recently named the 2024 Plumbing Instructor of the Year by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC).
PHCC was founded in 1883 and has more than 125 state and local affiliates across the country. In Virginia, there is one state association and two local, one of which is based in Northern Virginia.
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The internship is an eight-week-long program for students enrolled in higher education institutions and are interested in local government. According to a county press release, the program provides students the opportunity to go through training, mentoring, networking with executive leadership, field excursions, short-term projects and hands-on experience. The program will run from May 27 through July 18.
“Public service is one of the most meaningful ways to make a lasting impact on the lives of others, and our internship program is an incredible opportunity for students to step into that role,” County Executive Chris Shorter said. “This program is about more than just gaining experience; it’s about inspiring the next generation of public servants who will shape our communities and lead us into the future.”
Interns will also be responsible for a collaborative capstone project to be presented at the program’s commencement ceremony. Interns are also expected to work on-site for 37.5 hours a week and will be paid $18 per hour.
Students must be 16 years old or older at the time of application, be able to provide their own transportation, have a legal right to work in the United States and commit to all of the program dates excluding Juneteenth and the Fourth of July holidays.
All applications, the county’s page for the internship states, must be submitted through the county’s job application portal.
“This program not only equips students with valuable skills and professional development but also provides a glimpse into the impactful and rewarding careers available in local government,” said Veronica Marquez, human resources business services analyst who runs the intern program. “It’s a chance to grow, learn and make meaningful contributions that can shape their future and the future of our community.”
![Michael Carter Michael Carter was recognized nationally as a plumbing teacher. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-high-plumbing-2-1260x840.jpeg){kind=link}
![Michael Carter is the first high school teacher to receive this award. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-plumbing-3-1260x840.jpeg){kind=link}
![Michael Carter with his students at Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-high-plumbing-4.jpeg){kind=link}
![Michael Carter was recognized nationally as a plumbing teacher. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-high-plumbing-1260x840.jpeg){kind=link}