Oakcrest School Graduates 26 Young Women
Oakcrest School in McLean will graduate 26 young women this Saturday, June 6, at 10 a.m. 
Oakcrest School Graduates 26 Young Women
Oakcrest School in McLean will graduate 26 young women this Saturday, June 6, at 10 a.m. in the G. Lloyd Bunting Sr. Theatre at Oakcrest School (850 Balls Hill Rd., McLean). The Baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated at the school by Fr. Ron Gillis, Oakcrest School chaplain, on Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Anna Halpine, founder of the World Youth Alliance (WYA), will be the commencement speaker. At the age of 21, Halpine founded the WYA in 1999 at the U.N. to train young people to work at regional and international levels to impact policy and culture and to provide a global coalition of young people who are committed to promoting the dignity of the person and building solidarity among youth from developed and developing nations.
The members of the class of 2009 include: Karina Noelle, Dar Juan, Samantha Margaret Devers, Danielle Brigitte Douez, Nicole Paulette Francisco, Tracy Ann Frelk, Grace Ellen Gilday, Theresa Daez Herbert, Monica Theresa Herman, Sally Angeles Horton, Maria de los Angeles Kaufmann, Mary Eileen Kelly, Elizabeth Foran Kenis, Elizabeth Hayes Lent, Melissa Catherine Longano, Gina Catherine Maggio, Lucia Katherine Maher, Therese Eileen McCabe, Ann Marie McPherson, Jeanmarie Subia Melchert, Kathleen Chenya Ouyang, Kelly Elizabeth Riordan, Maria-Alessandra Catalina Roa, Mariah Jae Rollins, Veronika Pauline Staré, Grace Anne Samson Tatlonghari and Claire Kathleen Yenson.
Marshall’s Berndt Takes ‘Commonwealth ChalleNGe’
Raymond Berndt of George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church was one of six Northern Virginia students who recently attained the Gold Phase at Commonwealth ChalleNGe, the free statewide program that focuses on preparing at-risk teens for the General Education Degree (GED) and future employment, military or higher education opportunities.
Gold Phase at Commonwealth ChalleNGe is the program’s highest reward for performance, focusing on continuing cadet growth in all curricular areas. Cadets are entrusted with special liberties and are expected to uphold the established standards of conduct. Failure to do so will result in the cadet returning to Silver Phase. Berndt is expected to graduate June 20.
H.S. Students Awarded National Merit Scholarships
The following Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJHSST) students are nine of 14 Fairfax County Public School students to be named winners of Merit Scholarship awards by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Awardees included Pavithra Anand, National Merit Washington University in St. Louis Scholarship; Michael Kuprenas, National Merit University of South Carolina Scholarship; Ashley Lewis, National Merit Virginia Tech Scholarship; Kristin Nguyen, National Merit University of Central Florida Scholarship; David Ramish, National Merit Vanderbilt University Scholarship; Samantha Sharp, National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship; Alexa Silverman, National Merit University of Chicago Scholarship; Jeanmarie Stewart, National Merit Brigham Young University Scholarship; and John Walsh, National Merit Hillsdale College Scholarship.
In addition, George C. Marshall High School’s Carlyle Blomme was awarded the National Merit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Scholarship.
Annandale High’s Keller Feeds At-risk Students
Annandale High School junior Cassady Keller recently partnered with the Annandale Neighborhood Center and the Alternative House to provide meals to students and their families who are experiencing hardships.
On Sunday, May 31, Keller’s project kicked off at the Let’s Dish store at Pinecrest Center. The event provided healthful, ready-to-cook meals for at-risk students – including those who are homeless, abused or runaways – and their families.
Keller’s project runs throughout the month of June. Donations are welcome from those wishing to contribute. Donors can assemble their donated meals themselves, or a student volunteer can assemble the dish for them. For more information, contact Keller at ippolitomk@aol.com or Shelli Wayland at shelliwayland@msn.com.
Hayfield Elementary Presents Year in ‘Revue’
Kindergarten students at Hayfield Elementary School in Alexandria will present a revue of what they have learned throughout the year on Friday, June 5. The aim of the revue is to not just perform, but to inform the audience about all the things they have learned during the 2008-09 school year. Included will be songs, poems and readings on the following topics: letters, the life cycle of a pumpkin, families, traditions, squirrels, money, holidays, Martin Luther King, Jr., the world, maps, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, how a flower grows, weather, recycling, senses and ants.
Artsy Statesmen Work on Collaborative Project
Art 1 students at George C. Marshall High School are working on a collaborative project to understanding different forms of sculpture and the meaning of an installation and the process to complete one through Installation Art. To do this, they first explored the works of contemporary artists George Segal, Sandy Skoglund and Duane Hanson. There are a total of 14 groups, so eventually, 14 installation projects will be around the school.
