At a recent dinner meeting hosted by the Park West Lions Club, fourteen outstanding local students were honored with scholarships in recognition of their academic achievements and community service. The recipients, listed from left to right, include:
Front row: (l-r)
– Ella Nhek, Gainesville High School
– Allison Lockhart, Battlefield High School
– Kelsey Buckman, Battlefield High School
– Alana Cadoff, Battlefield High School
– Isabella Rivera-Maldonado, Gainesville High School
– Kearstin Safford, Gainesville High School
Back row: (l-r)
– Marina Buskey, Battlefield High School
– Cameron Turner, Patriot High School
– Grant Johnson, Patriot High School
– Sierra Shingler, Battlefield High School
– Joy Park, Gainesville High School
– Kate Firehammer
Two recipients were unable to attend the event: Vijay Bruot from Battlefield High School and Matthew Guo from Gainesville High School.
Presentations were made by Park West Lions Club President Rose Bielec, who congratulated the students on their hard work and dedication. Jim Williams, the Scholarship Chairperson, emphasized the competitiveness of the selection process due to the numerous applications received. He noted that while Grade Point Averages and transcripts were important, the Scholarship Committee also placed significant weight on the quantity and quality of service and volunteer hours contributed by the applicants to the community. Each recipient had dedicated a substantial amount of time to various projects, demonstrating their commitment to making a positive impact.
One special award, the Joe Lipomi Memorial Scholarship, was presented to Kate Firehammer by the Virginia Lions Eye Institute. This scholarship honors the memory of Joe Lipomi and recognizes exceptional service and academic achievement.
The Park West Lions Club, as part of the largest volunteer non-profit organization globally, continues to support and invest in the future of the community by recognizing and rewarding the efforts of these young scholars.

Incoming students have enrolled at McDaniel College as members of the Class of 2028. This list includes students who have deposited as of May 3, 2024. Micah Hagander and Sydney Turner of Stafford.
The following people were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines: Yanyna Yaich of Woodbridge at the University of West Alabama and Nina Buckley of Montclair at George Mason University.
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- Peyton Davitch of Manassas at James Madison University, Aaron Drew of Woodbridge at University of Maryland Global Campus, Stephanie Evers of Gainesville at Marymount University, Ashley Skinner of Woodbridge at University of North Florida and Jack Stang of Dumfries at University of Maryland Global Campus.
- Albright College students are competing as members of the Lions' NCAA Division III varsity athletic teams this spring.
- Caelainn Morrison of Woodbridge is a member of the women's lacrosse team at Albright College this spring. A graduate of Forest Park Senior High School, Morrison is studying Business Administration at Albright.
- McKenna Morrison of Woodbridge is a women's lacrosse team member at Albright College this spring. A graduate of Charles J Colgan Sr High School, Morrison is studying Biology at Albright.
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- 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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Joseph Lombardi, a resident of Dumfries, has been recognized for his outstanding academic achievement. Lombardi made the Dean’s List in the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology at Georgia College & State University.
University of Delaware Recognizes Local Achievers
Several local students have been named to the University of Delaware Fall 2023 Dean’s List. Among them are:
- Andrew Bean of Manassas
- Emily Buckley of Gainesville
- Evan Martin of Bristow
- Maya Vydareny of Woodbridge
McDaniel College Student Explores Greece
Jacqueline Kuzma, a senior Mathematics major from Stafford attending McDaniel College, had the opportunity to participate in a study tour to Greece during Jan Term, enriching her academic experience.
Claude Moore Charitable Foundation Grants Over $2.5 Million
The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation recently distributed $2,553,570 in grants to nonprofit organizations primarily serving Loudoun County. These grants aim to support under-resourced populations and individuals living with disabilities, as well as fund nursing scholarships, literacy, and youth leadership programs.
The 2024 grants were initiated by invitation from The Foundation and include support for various organizations such as A Place to Be, Loudoun Literacy Council, Loudoun Youth, Inc., and many more.
Academic Achievements from Various Institutions
- SUNY Cortland: Over 2,800 students earned recognition for academic excellence.
- WPI: 2,299 undergraduate students achieved Dean’s List status, including James Kuhn, Keira Schoolcraft, and Tristin Youtz from Woodbridge.
- University of Hartford: Campbell Pagel of Dumfries was named to the President’s and Dean’s List.
- Shenandoah University: Alexandra Reid of Manassas was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society.
- Emerson College: Harley Novy from Dumfries participated in a comedic production at Emerson Stage.
- Georgia Institute of Technology: Several local students graduated and earned academic honors, including Joshua Boisvert who made the Dean’s List.
Dean’s List and Academic Achievements at Various Universities
- Eastern Mennonite University: Tatiana Ayala and Hailey Smith of Stafford were named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List.
- The University of Tampa: Ryan Kindel of Gainesville earned dean’s list honors.
- York College of Pennsylvania: Several local students were recognized for academic achievement.
- Albion College: Ellen Chown of Stafford made the Dean’s List.
- Muhlenberg College: Shelby Mejia of Manassas achieved Dean’s List status.
- Frostburg State University: Jessica Howie of Manassas received a Bachelor of Science degree.
- Augustana College: Abigail Tegtmeyer of Manassas was named to the fall semester Dean’s List.
- Hollins University: Several local students earned Dean’s List honors 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
If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!
- Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
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Ernesto Febus Appointed to Young Marines Board of Directors
- The Young Marines, a national youth organization headquartered in Dumfries, has appointed USMC (ret) Ernesto Febus of Dale City to its board of directors.
- With over 44 years of military and Defense Department contracting experience, Febus brings a wealth of expertise to the organization.
- Febus, a retired Marine Corps First Sergeant, currently supports the US Space Force Headquarters Installation and Mission office at LMI government consulting.
Academic Excellence
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Natalie Allan of Dale City has been named to the Dean's List at John Carroll University for the Spring 2023 semester.
The following students from the area have been named to the dean's list at Frostburg State University in recognition of outstanding academic achievement for the spring 2023 semester.
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More than 4,000 students graduated from Georgia State University during the spring 2023 semester at the associate's, bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral levels:
Ruby Ford, of Woodbridge, earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Management & Policy.
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Some 5,885 degrees will be awarded during The University of Alabama's spring 2023 commencement at Coleman Coliseum:
Austin Anderson of Bristow received the following degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration