Scarton: It's my town

The Alpha Iota Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa recently conducted its fall induction at the Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

By: Bennie Scarton Jr. | Inside NoVA
Published: November 22, 2009

New members welcomed…

The Alpha Iota Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa recently conducted its fall induction at the Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

During the ceremony, assistant professor of history Rebecca Haynes reflected on her experience with Phi Theta Kappa.

"The scholarships, leadership skills and personal connections I gained from my membership in PTK really helped me when I transferred to a four-year university and even beyond to graduate schools," Hayes said.

She added, "I encourage our new members to use all of the resources available through PTK," and told them that that "they're part of an important family of scholars who reach out to fellow members when they need help."

Hayes and Ed Anderson, associate professor of mathematics, serve as co-advisors for the Phi Theta Kappa Manassas Campus chapter.

The following local students were inducted: Gregory Arnold Adam, Bristow; Adu Gyamfi Bandoh, Mark Michael Dunlap, Rachel Elena Gradia, Mary Louise Lombardi, Kristen Nicole Thomas and Waseem Ullah, Gainesville; Nathaniel Wade Barrett, Natasa Jeremic, Fritz Olan Reese and Tram T. N. Vo, Haymarket; Ruksana Khan Lodi and Roger Eduardo Mejia, Manassas Park; Christian D'Ann Andes, Kerstin Bulcroft, Rebecca Lynn Burton, Joseph Walter Diaz, Mark Andre Ehrlich, Diane Ramsey Hayes, Hong Hur, Hyert Hwang, Matthew D. Ingram, Kelly Elizabeth Nicholson, Olga Lorena Ruiz, Tracy Jillov Smathers, Crystal Lee Sutphin, Elizabeth Hilleary Turner and Ana Raquel Zambrano, Manassas.

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in higher education, with more than 2 million members and 1,200 chambers in the United States, U.S. territories, British Virgin Islands, Germany, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, United Arab Emirates and Palau.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7589 and its Ladies Auxiliary have announced the Manassas area winners of their educational excellence competition for 2009-2010. More than 100 students and teachers from seven schools took part in this year's contest. The winners will be honored at an awards night on Feb. 1.

Voice of Democracy speech/ essay contest winners on the subject, "Does America Still Have Heroes," were: first place, Abi N. Zadnick, grade 12, Seton School, Manassas; second place, Eileen R. Corkery, grade 12, Seton; and third place, Kelsey T. Turner, grade 11, Battlefield High School, Haymarket.

Patriot's Pen essay contests winners on the subject, "When Is the Right To Honor Our Military Heroes," were: first place, Nathan Dass, grade eight, Manassas Christian School, Manassas Park; second place, Connor Daniel Sutherland, grade six, Mayfield Intermediate School, Manassas; and third place, Colby Newson, grade eight, Manassas Christian School.

The Teachers of the Year were: for grades kindergarten through fifth, Mary Delia Stokely, first grade, Haydon Elementary School; for grades sixth through eighth, Janice Melander, society studies teacher, Mayfield; and grades nine through 12, Robin Albrecht, computer keyboard skills teacher, Osbourn High School, Manassas.

… it's a chance to make your holiday shopping experience a pleasant one.