After a long review process, the following institutions were awarded grants:

· George Mason University ($145,500)

· James Madison University ($228,000)

· Longwood University ($86,000)

· Virginia State University ($140,000)

Administered by the Office of the Secretary of Education, the planning grants are designed to enhance teacher education and training as part of the Governor’s “Opportunity to Learn” agenda to improve K-12 education and will provide more flexibility, innovation and autonomy outside the traditional public school system. In addition, the grants will serve ultimately to expand educational options for Virginia students.

NOVA President Robert G. Templin Jr. congratulates David Liendo on receiving a scholarship. Submitted photo

David Liendo of Falls Church has been selected to receive a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. He just graduated from Northern Virginia Community College with an associate degree in science and a 4.0 GPA.

Liendo is one of 60 scholars selected this year to receive the award. The scholarship provides up to $30,000 per year and is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses, including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees, for the final two to three years necessary to achieve a bachelor’s degree.

NOVA President Robert G. Templin Jr. congratulated Liendo on behalf of the College. “David is well known and respected among faculty and NOVA administrators for his hard work, creativity, enthusiasm and determination to make a difference. We are delighted that the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will support David as he continues on his career path to become a medical doctor.”

“I am so grateful to NOVA and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation for opening the door of my American Dream. Every time I complete or accomplish something that gets me closer to achieving my dream, I know that it is due to the support of NOVA and the Pathway Program,” Liendo said.

Originally from Bolivia, Liendo won second place in the South American Karate International Competition at age 16 and that presented an opportunity to come to the United States. He knew only one English word when he arrived but decided to stay, leaving his family behind and living with relatives. Since that time he has worked numerous jobs to pay all his expenses.

Liendo graduated from Falls Church High School in 2010, the first in his family to complete high school. He is a participant in NOVA’s Pathway to the Baccalaureate Program, which provides support for at-risk students starting in high school, through NOVA and on to a four-year institution.

In addition to working full-time and completing a heavy academic load that included advanced math and laboratory sciences, Liendo found time to serve as president or vice president of several student organizations. His volunteer work includes tutoring at Falls Church High School, working with at-risk high school students in a local community center, and delivering food to homeless people in Washington, D.C.

He has been accepted by Cornell University, Virginia Tech, University of California at Los Angeles and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is waiting to hear from other colleges. He wants to become a doctor or scientist in the field of cancer research because several of his family members have been touched by cancer.

One of his recommendations said: “David is truly destined to be a change agent on this planet and we will be better for his contributions. There is no doubt he will succeed in his chosen career direction. His personal motivation and his inability to take anything for granted will propel him on to the next phase of his journey.”

Liendo is the sixth NOVA student in the last seven years to receive the scholarship. Previous recipients are Dan F. Nechita (2006), Jean-Blaise Ognong (2007), Edward Sawyer (2009), Karima Ben Ayed (2010) and Kyle Stevenson (2011).

Governor Bob McDonnell has announced winners of the 2012 Volunteerism and Community Services Awards. These awards recognize individuals and organizations for their extraordinary volunteer efforts, which contribute to the life and welfare of citizens, throughout the Commonwealth.

“This year’s recipients reflect the tremendous difference individuals, families, businesses and non-profits can make in their communities through volunteerism,” said Governor McDonnell. “Each honoree’s contribution began with one word, ‘yes,’ and as we recognize their vision and accomplishments, we encourage all Virginians to follow their examples by engaging in their communities.”

Honorees were recognized on May 3, during an awards ceremony at SunTrust Bank, located downtown Richmond.

“Volunteerism strengthens outcomes for individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth,” said Martin D. Brown, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Social Services. “We’re honored to thank these award recipients for empowering those in need to live safer, more fulfilling lives.”

The award ceremony is sponsored by MeadWestvaco in partnership with VDSS’ Office on Volunteerism and Community Service, and the Governor’s Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service.

Winners of the 2012 Volunteerism and Community Services Award are:

· Genworth Financial in Richmond is the recipient of the Outstanding Business Award. Recognized for their creativity and resourcefulness in support of a community need through their donation of 372 rooms of furnishings from a distressed hotel property they acquired to the CARITAS Furniture Bank. This donation will furnish more than 450 at-risk households transitioning out of homelessness and on to the path of restored, stable, and more productive lives.

· The Volunteer Money Management Program at Senior Connections, a Richmond 501(c) 3 organization, is the recipient of the Outstanding Community Organization Award. Genworth Financial’s reputation for helping those where they live and work cannot be any more perfectly represented than by their recent donation to the CARITAS Furniture Bank. Through the focused and visionary efforts of their real estate division, Genworth Financial successfully negotiated acquisition, including the entire contents of a distressed property, which will soon be the Ramada Plaza Hotel on West Broad Street. In 2011, Genworth associates contributed 23,700 volunteer hours helping those in need at more than 190 nonprofit organizations across the globe. The size and scope of this donation has created many opportunities for collaboration and volunteer engagement that goes beyond CARITAS and Genworth.

· The Campus Kitchen at the College of William and Mary is the recipient of the Outstanding Educational Institution Award. The Campus Kitchen at The College of William and Mary, a student run organization, uses existing food resources in the Williamsburg area to address the hunger and nutritional needs of individuals in the community. Over 150 students volunteer each academic year, making Campus Kitchen one of the most popular student volunteer opportunities.

· Richmond Outreach Center, Inc. is the recipient of the Outstanding Faith-Based Volunteer Service Award. When it comes to helping impoverished families in the Central Virginia region, the Richmond Outreach Center (The ROC) is a household name. With a staff of over 150 and a congregation of over 2,000, this non-traditional, boundary-breaking church led and inspired by founder and Pastor Geronimo Aguilar, has mobilized enough volunteers to serve more than 11,000 people a week. These efforts are done through the emergency and human service ministries, dedicated to helping the most at-risk citizens. The ROC’s motto “Changing Lives and Making Life-Changers” is being fulfilled every day. The ROC’s uniquely effective community service model has been replicated by other nonprofits up and down the East Coast, and as far away as Costa Rica.

· Kathleen “Khaki” and Stacey LaRivere of Chesterfield are this year’s recipients of the Outstanding Family Award. These identical twins share an identical goal: to open up leadership training and opportunities to all public high school students in the Commonwealth. Their vision is backed by a deep belief that young people should have fair and equal access to leadership learning and civic engagement regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, skin tone, religious credo, physical ability, academic performance, age, or grade in school. In 2008, at the age of 15, Khaki and Stacey founded L.E.A.D Up! (Leadership, Education, Action and Development Up!), a youth leadership certificate program they developed. Today, six Chesterfield County Public high schools have L.E.A.D. Up! Programs and other schools are organizing chapters.

· Heidi W. Abbott, of Richmond is the recipient of the Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award. Heidi was nominated because of her work with another Governor’s Award winner, Richmond Outreach Center (The ROC), which among other things, aids young people at George Wythe High School and in the Creighton Court public housing community in Richmond. She also serves on the state Board for Juvenile Justice. The horrific murder of a family in her neighborhood several years ago provoked her to assess her role in finding a solution to violence in the Richmond community. While the crime could have led many to work for harsher criminal penalties, Heidi saw it as an opportunity to work for and with young people to help them choose productive paths over destructive ones.

· Dr. Edward “Ted” Ruhnke, Jr. of Petersburg is the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award. In 1991, recognizing the need for safe and decent housing in the Petersburg area, Dr. Ted Ruhnke and a small group of individuals, established a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in South Central Virginia (Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity). In the early years when volunteers were few and far between, Ted not only worked to create the affiliate within Habitat guidelines, but also met with city and county officials to obtain land and permits, increased community awareness and support, worked with family selection by guiding the first several families throughout the application and compliance process, and ran the actual construction sites. He also coordinated volunteers on-site and arranged for lunches to be provided either by other volunteers or from his own pocket and made as many trips to the building supply stores as he did to the hospital (at that time, he was a full-time OB-GYN physician). At the “Habitation” of the first house, when the keys were given to the new homeowner, Ted said, “The thrill of delivering an affordable home to a deserving family is as gratifying as delivering babies!”

· Kathleen “Katie” R. Goodman of Ashland is the recipient of the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award. For a 12-year-old, Katie Goodman has been described as a “little dynamo.” Despite the fact that she was only 10 years old when she started her mission, she is doing more to feed the hungry than many adults. After seeing television commercials about hunger and its consequences, Katie was inspired to take action as part of her requirements for a public speaking contest for her 4-H club. Her research led her to local service organizations and a connection with the Central Virginia Food Bank; she set a goal to feed 1,100 hungry people. When the Ashland Farmer’s Market began its 2011 season, she asked producers to drop off their surplus at the Ashland Feed and Seed store so that she could deliver it to the Central Virginia Food Bank. She met her goal of feeding 1,100 people in just six months and then surpassed her new goal of serving “2011 people in 2011” just two months later. Despite her young age, Katie is motivated to serve and make a difference for others.

The Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards are presented by the Governor’s Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service and VDSS’ Office on Volunteerism and Community Service on behalf of the Office of the Governor. These awards have recognized exceptional volunteer service in Virginia for close to 20 years. Additional information about the program and this year’s recipients can be found online at http://www.vaservice.org/go/volunteer/gov_award.

The newest academic building at the Manassas campus of Northern Virginia Community College was recently dedicated to the late Harry J. Parrish. Parrish Hall contains more than 55,000 square feet of space for lecture rooms, computer, biology and engineering labs, art studio and offices. Photo by: Carlene Mackereth

Faculty, staff, students and guests gathered to officially open Harry J. Parrish Hall at the Manassas campus of Northern Virginia Community College on May 8. The building is named after Harry J. Parrish, the longtime Virginia delegate and former Manassas mayor.

Interim Provost Christine Holt got the celebration started with a warm welcome. “It is my pleasure to greet you on this happy occasion. We are gathered to dedicate the newest structure on the Manassas campus, and I know you’ll share my enthusiasm about the facility’s wonderful amenities,” she said.

NOVA Board Chair David Miller introduced special guests, including Parrish family members, senators Charles J. Colgan and Richard H. Black and delegates L. Scott Lingamfelter and Jackson H. Miller. The General Assembly members shared anecdotes about Harry Parrish and discussed how important education is for the future of the community.

NOVA President Robert G. Templin Jr. mentioned the STEM and art programs offered in the new building, and Manassas Mayor Harry J. Parrish II talked about the opportunities available to the community.

After a large ribbon was cut with supersized scissors to symbolize the formal opening, student ambassadors led tours around the building and guests enjoyed a reception featuring entertainment by Confirmation Quartet.

Parrish Hall contains lecture rooms, computer laboratories, biology labs, engineering lab, art studio and offices in 55,000 square feet of space. In addition, a large Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Café will provide expanded services and merchandise when it opens later this year.

Designed to meet LEED silver rating, the three-story structure incorporates many sustainable construction elements such as efficient heating and cooling, low-flow plumbing fixtures, recycled and regionally manufactured materials, and rain gardens for stormwater management. Moseley Architects designed the building, and Hess Construction and Engineering Services managed the construction project.

Dan Nechita

NOVA alumnus Dan Nechita will be the guest speaker at Northern Virginia Community College’s 46th Commencement on Saturday, May 12.

This year’s graduating class will be NOVA’s largest, with more than 7,700 degrees and certificates expected to be awarded.

The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. in George Mason University’s Patriot Center and is open to the public.

Originally from Romania, Nechita moved to the United States 10 years ago. He began his education at NOVA’s Alexandria Campus where he majored in psychology and computer science and earned a 4.0 GPA. In 2006, he was the first NOVA student to be selected for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a prestigious award that provides up to $30,000 per year to support outstanding community college students as they complete bachelor’s degrees. In 2010, Nechita was selected by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to receive an additional scholarship of up to $50,000 to support his graduate studies.

Nechita earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science at Columbia University where he wrote an honors thesis under the guidance of Professors Kenneth Waltz and Robert Jervis, two of the foremost scholars in the field of international relations. He is currently in the second year of a Ph.D. program in political science at George Washington University.

Nechita has worked or interned at ABC News, the Brookings Institution, the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, and the World Security Institute. He currently serves as chairman of the Jack Kent Cooke Scholar Association. He is also the CEO of the 7,000-members strong League of Romanian Students Abroad and co-founder and CEO of a Romanian think tank called CAESAR (Center for Accessing the Expertise of Students and Alumni from Romania).

Nechita and his wife, Cristina, live in Arlington with their 5-year-old son, Vlad.

One of the first things that many people notice about the Northern Virginia Community College community is the variety of different talents that the students possess. This is why it’s no surprise that students in Professor Chris Stallings’ PHT 130 (Video Production I) class on the Woodbridge campus would come together with other students to help create the first music video for the band WorstKase Scenario, fronted by former student Dave Bausch.

The band, which was recently signed to an independent label, needed to create a new music video to promote their song, “Dangerous Girl.” Bausch, a NOVA tutor, reached out to Stallings, who felt that it would be a perfect project for his students in his PHT 130 course. In addition to his students, Stallings worked with 522 Productions, based out of the Alexandria campus, and obtained an Educational Foundation grant to provide “an at-cost service favor for the students.”

The band was previously known as Worst Case Scenario but changed their name after being signed.

Using a short film script that Stallings had on hand, the students in the course worked to fit the script to the song, “Dangerous Girl,” which is a story on how beauty is from within, not what’s on the outside. In the video, a “dangerous girl,” uses her sex appeal in a position of a flower vendor on a boardwalk to get the attention of male passersby, taking away the attention that the beautiful and personable female fish vendor would be receiving. This video theme syncs up well with the meaning of the song, which speaks to the power women possess with their sex appeal, and how this can be dangerous.

The cast for the music video, along with Bausch and guitarist Ian Spencer, included both professionals and college students. Shea Davies, an actress based out of New York City, played the role of the fish vendor with a “heart of gold.” Kim Irwin, a NOVA student, played the role of the dangerous flower vendor girl, and was made up by Tiffany Roop of TDR Artistry, the on-set makeup expert. In supporting roles, America Twiggs, the daughter of NOVA student Kellee Twiggs, and Jack Mourand, a local boy who auditioned for the PHT 130 class, came together to form a symbiotic cast that worked well on set. In addition to these main characters, there were other students who played the role of extras on set, helping to complete the video, shot at Tim’s Rivershore Restaurant & Crabhouse.

With a great deal of patience and some much needed sunblock to battle the balmy and sunny spring day, the cast and crew completed the video shoot in one day. Stallings made sure to involve all of his film students in the various processes of planning and post-production editing.

Looking back on the experience Stallings commented, “The most memorable moment for me is not wanting to eat seafood for weeks after the shoot, after watching poor Shea gut a fish over and over again as the insides rotted away in the warm sun.” Another funny takeaway from the shoot involved Stallings’ students in the planning phase. “The first prop we secured months ago were numerous buckets that were meant to be used as trash cans for the fish residue. The buckets were kept in a student’s vehicle for months, and every time we secured another prop, we always joked, at least we have the buckets too. Well come time for the production day and every student that was responsible for bringing something fulfilled their task, except for the student with the buckets actually forgot to bring those darn buckets, and we had to improvise,” Stallings commented.

For all those interested in viewing the music video for WorstKase Scenario, the video, “Dangerous Girl,” will be premiering on the Woodbridge campus on Wednesday, April 25 at 3 p.m., at the Spring Fling event. There were will be a crab pickin’ hosted by Tim’s Rivershore Restaurant & Crabhouse, and the band will play a live show.

Stephanie Tipple and Dave Bausch both work as tutors at NOVA’s Woodbridge campus.

NOVA students take free swing dance lessons in the Alexandria campus cafeteria, taught by Professor Omar Saab and his assistant Nura Dean. Foreground: Serge and Linda Akwei, Background: Julia Solis and Ryan Mesch. Photo by Kama Storie

Photo by Kama Storie

During free swing dance lessons in the Alexandria campus cafeteria, Professor Omar Saab and his assistant Nura Dean demonstrate a dance move. Students in the background: Serge and Linda Akwei, Julia Solis, and Ryan Mesch. Photo by Kama Storie

The Washington Monument is framed by this year's Cherry Blossoms. Photo by Arch Scurlock

Jeff Dukat

By: Arch Scurlock
Sport Columnist

The college-wide student activities department welcomed Jeff Dukat in January as its Intramural and Recreation Specialist. He will work to improve intramural and recreational opportunities for Northern Virginia Community College students. Previously, each campus administered its own intramural sports activities with varying success.

Dukat stated that his intramural planning and implementation is a work “in process.” The Alexandria campus recently hosted a five-person soccer team competition with 12 teams competing. A three-on-three team basketball competition will soon take place at Annandale campus.

Dukat is a native of Buffalo, N.Y. He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in recreation and leisure management at the State University of New York College at Brockport. He worked first at Seton Hall University as an administrator in the athletic department and then was with the Boys Club of Buffalo as an assistant site director.

Fatma Rekik - Alexandria's new SGA President

Alexandria campus Announces new President and Vice-President of it’s Student Government Association.

Samuel Guyidde-Bisase, Alexandria's new SGA Vice-President