News of the achievements of local students and members of the Armed Forces.
** Carolyn Gardner, the daughter of Christopher Gardner and Rev. Elizabeth Gardner of McLean, and Morgan Howat, the daughter of David and Carrie Howat of Oakton have been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of the South.
** Eleven Northern Virginia Community College students have been named semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.
The foundation annually supports high-achieving community college students with a demonstrated financial need who are seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at selective four-year institutions.
This year’s 440 semifinalists were chosen from a nationwide pool of more than 1,200 applicants attending 180 community colleges in 35 states. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) students represent nearly two-thirds of Virginia semifinalists this year and, in the past 13 years, 19 NOVA students have received the scholarship.
Semifinalists include Jenna Aylward, Menwa Besheer, Junior de la Iglesia, Anastasia Duenas, Aanya Hasan, Anum Khan, Subin Kim, Kerri Langhorne, Mariah Salazar-Solorzano, Kayla Sherman and Meelod Waheed.
Scholarship recipients will be announced in May. They will receive funding for tuition, room and board, as well as required fees and books for the remainder (up to three years) of the scholar’s undergraduate degree.
In addition to financial support, selected scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising from the foundation to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year school and preparing for their careers.
** A number of students from the Sun Gazette coverage area are among 553 nationally selected for All-National Honor Ensembles by the National Association for Music Education (NafME).
Ensembles include the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Mixed Choir, Guitar Ensemble and Modern Band.
Students engaged in “virtual” sessions with composers and conductors Jan. 22-24, and each ensemble created a final, recorded performance that will premiere online during the 37th NAfME Music in Our Schools Month.
Students from the Sun Gazette coverage area who were named to various ensembles included:
Concert Band: James Barker, bass clarinet, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology; Kian Choi, clarinet, McLean High School.
Orchestra: Jayden Liu, clarinet, Oakton High School; Eshan Parkash, violin, McLean High School.
Mixed Choir: A.J. Cantrell, tenor, Langley High School.
** Three Fairfax County public schools, including two in the Sun Gazette coverage area, are among 18 schools nationwide selected as recipients of the 2022 First Amendment Press Freedom Award.
The award recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content.
McLean High School garnered the accolade for the fifth consecutive year, while George C. Marshall High School was a first-time recipient. Chantilly High School also was honored, and has received the nod for eight consecutive years.
The schools will be honored at the JEA/NSPA (Journalism Education Association-National Scholastic Press Association) Spring National High School Journalism Convention during an awards ceremony on April 7.