More News

Juckett cruises to Galapagos Islands with 'Jeopardy!' host

Karen Juckett of Springfield was one of 25 lucky sweepstakes winners who recently returned from a cruise with "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek to the Galápagos Islands, the "Land of Darwin."

In the first-ever such expedition with Trebek, sweepstakes winners and their guests traveled aboard the National Geographic Endeavour from Oct. 16 to Oct. 25, touring one of the most scientifically important and biologically unique areas on Earth.

Juckett was selected from more than 2.5 million entries. She traveled with her sister Sarah Juckett, a lead test engineer from Arlington. Trebek said in a release, "I had a lot of fun sharing the incredible natural wonders of the Galápagos with some die-hard 'Jeopardy!' fans. This was the kind of adventure that most people never get to experience, and I was glad to be a part of it."

The "Win a Galápagos Adventure With Alex Trebek" sweepstakes was created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "Jeopardy!" and is a partnership with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.

Wood, Jacobowitz receive nursing scholarships

Jason Wood of Herndon and Norman Jacobowitz of Fairfax were among Marymount University scholarship recipients recognized at an Inova Nursing Scholars reception on Oct. 29.

Wood received a $7,500 BB&T/Inova Scholarship for his last semester of the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. He has graduated from Marymount and is working full time in the emergency room at Inova Fairfax Hospital. As part of the scholarship agreement, Wood will work for Inova for at least two years.

Before turning to nursing, Wood was a combat medic in the army, earned an Emergency Health Services degree and worked with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to improve conditions for first responders. At the reception, he spoke about how he once felt that "a piece was still missing" from his life.

"As an emergency medic, who do you turn your patient over to?" Wood said. "A nurse."

Jacobowitz received a $5,000 Inova Advanced Practice scholarship. He is enrolled in Marymount's Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner program and is working as a psychiatry liaison at Inova Fairfax Hospital while completing his degree.

In 2007, BB&T, Inova Health System and Marymount University joined forces to encourage men and women to earn a second bachelor's degree -- this time in nursing.

Fisher named Teacher of the Year

Chesterbrook Academy in Chantilly recently announced that its parent organization, Nobel Learning Communities Inc., and its National Educational Advisory Board named first-grade teacher Jennifer Fisher Teacher of the Year. She was nominated by parents, the school's principal, teachers and staff members. The award was formally presented at Nobel Learning's national principal conference in Las Vegas.

Fisher was recognized for her dedication inside and outside the classroom, as well as her ability to adapt to the learning needs of her students. The award acknowledges Fisher's leadership skills and her determination to better herself, her students and the school as a whole.

"Jennifer's ability to master curriculum integration and tailor it to meet the needs of each student make her an excellent teacher and very deserving of this award," said Katie Luther, principal of Chesterbrook Academy.

Along with the title, Fisher received $2,000 in cash, stock options, a round-trip airline ticket to anywhere in the United States and an all-expense paid trip to the Las Vegas conference.

"As a teacher who has the pleasure of working with young children every day, I strive to open their eyes to the love of learning," said Fisher of Haymarket.

Eagle Scout candidate cleans up at Bull Run

Tom Marotta of Clifton, a member of Boy Scout Troop 577, organized a September clean-up in Bull Run Regional Park for his Eagle Scout project. His goal was to remove a 50-year-old dump site and a commercial portable toilet that had been eyesores for years. Thirty-four volunteers, Scouts, siblings and parents completed the project in six hours, totaling 146 person-hours.

The dump site yielded 95 bags of trash, one tire and a pile of recyclable metal. The trash's total weight, including the portable toilet, was 4,045 pounds, most of it left for the Park Authority to remove. The metal was taken to the Ox Road landfill.

The portable toilet was in a vernal pond at the base of a cliff, just upstream from Little Rocky Run. It had presumably washed downstream from soccer fields during the flood of 2006. The only way to remove the unit, since it was lodged in the bottom of the pool and partially buried in stream clay, was to cut it into chunks with a portable reciprocating saw and yank it out.

Volunteers were David Chung, Andrew Shaw, Andrew Pan, Parth Desai, Kristie Taylor, Mari Marotta, Paris Marotta, Andrew Marotta Jr., JoAnn Costello, Andrew Marotta, Tom Marotta, George Bolash, Ben Bolash, Alex Alvarado, Wilmer Alvarado, Timothy Kim, John Bowden, Kyle Burrell, Christopher Helme, Michael Helme, Chip Helme, Nick Carroll, Drew Boland, Daniel Clements, Nick Zempolich, Chris Zempolich, Logan Hillman, Bill Hillman, Alex Aquilera, Ricardo Aquilera, Ryan Buzzy, Keegan Collins, Vinnie Caporale and Ned Foster.

Chip Hunter, whose property borders Bull Run Regional Park, let the group use his property as the take-out point. Without his cooperation, the project would have been almost impossible to complete.

Bertoia steps up to Army band

Jill Bertoia, a senior at Herndon High School, has been selected as a member of the third-annual U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. Bertoia will join a group of elite marching musicians selected to perform in the half-time show during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9, 2010, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Bertoia plays clarinet in the high school's Pride of Herndon marching band and the wind ensemble.

The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band recognizes the top 97 high school senior marching musicians from across the country and showcases their talents during the largest celebration of high school football in America.

"The U.S. Army has a long musical history with more than 34 musical and performing groups," said U.S. Army spokesman Col. Derik Crotts. "Being an Army musician is just one option the All-American Bowl showcases to young Americans."

Military news

Air Force Airman 1st Class Jarrell M. Jackson, son of Thomas and Montrell Jackson of Lorton, has deployed overseas in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Jackson, a radio combat communicator with one year of military service, is normally assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners.

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Rubbelle B. Pineda, daughter of Arabela Pineda of Falls Church; Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Kyle J. Lacek, son of James Lacek Jr. of Falls Church and Bonnie Lacek of Yorktown; and Air Force Airmen Karl G. Bockting, son of Rhonda Bockting of Springfield, Eric S. Wojcik, son of Richard Wojcik of Springfield, and Osmin H. Gallardo, son of Hugo Gallardo of Alexandria, have graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Airmen who complete the eight-week basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Bockting and Gallardo are 2009 graduates of Robert E. Lee High School. Wojcik graduated from Lake Braddock High School in 2006.

Scholarship recipient

Paul B. Scarcella, son of Tomas A. and Deborah J. Scarcella of Chantilly, has received an Army ROTC four-year college scholarship to the Virginia Military Institute. Scarcella is a 2009 graduate of Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock.

The scholarships are awarded through a highly competitive selection process, and pay up to $16,000 a year for tuition and education fees, a $600 book allowance and a monthly subsistence allowance of $300 to $500 for up to 10 months during the scholarship period. ROTC scholarship graduates incur an eight-year military service obligation in the Army, which can be served on active duty or in the Reserve Components.

Calling all brides and grooms: If you have wedding or engagement news to share, e-mail Lorin Buck at lbuck@fairfaxtimes.com by noon Friday.