• Kathryn E. Dillon graduated cum laude with a B.S. degree in psychology.
• Keith C. Gatzke graduated with a B.S. degree in economics and English.
• Benjamin A. Harmon graduated with a B.A. degree in international affairs and French.
• Kylie E.C. Kerr graduated with a B.S. degree in mathematics.
• Jessica W. Oliver graduated with a B.S. degree in psychology.
• Taylor A. Poindexter graduated cum laude with a B.A. degree in religion and sociology.
• Katherine Preseren graduated with a B.A. degree in music from the University of Mary Washington. She received the Mu Phi Epsilon Sterling Achievement Award in Music.

The university awarded 85 Master of Business Administration degrees, 111 Master of Education degrees, 15 Master of Science in Management Information Systems, 34 Master of Science in Elementary Education Degrees, 418 Bachelor of Arts degrees, 61 Bachelor of Liberal Studies degrees, 63 Bachelor of Professional Studies degrees and 484 Bachelor of Science degrees. Two graduates received both the MBA and the MSMIS in a dual-degree program.

The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of more than 5,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Va., a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Va., which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers. In recent years, the university has seen its academic reputation garner national recognition in numerous selective guidebooks, including Forbes, the Fiske Guide to Colleges and the Princeton Review’s 2012 edition of 150 “Best Value Colleges” and the 2013 edition of “The Best 377 Colleges.”

– Submitted by University of Mary Washington

She always knew what she wanted to do…. And she got it. Becky Brittain, originally of Southwest County, always dreamed of working in the news, but not just at any news station. Her ultimate goal was to cover news for the White House and that’s exactly what she’s doing. She is a CNN White House Producer, where she covers the daily movements and events of the White House and the entire administration as well as traveling alongside the President in motorcades and Air Force One. She was named to the position in August 2005 but has worked at CNN since 1998. “I knew what I wanted to do early in life. I know that’s not the norm, but it happened in my life,” said Becky.

Becky graduated from Cave Spring High School in 1994, attended Virginia Tech and graduated in 1997 with a double major in Communications and Political Science. Since graduating, Becky has accomplished a lot, but back in February, Becky was asked to do something she’d never done before. She was asked to be the commencement speaker for the Communications Department at Virginia Tech for their graduation on Friday, May 17.  “I’m really honored to go back there and give the speech. I’m looking forward to it… it’s definitely an honor,” said Becky.

I was able to speak to Becky over the phone on Thursday, May 16 before the commencement. I asked her several questions pertaining to her career. You can read the questions and answers below:

Q: Tell me a little bit about how you got started in your career:

A: I interned at CNN while I was in college, my junior year. After college, I moved up here without a job, but then the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. I was at Fox for six weeks or so and worked as a freelancer. Then, I was given the opportunity to work at CNN. I worked with Larry King as a production assistant and then moved on from there. I worked as an associate producer for Inside Politics. Then started working at the White House in 2005.

Q: What are your various responsibilities in your position as a producer?

A: I follow the President wherever he goes. We are responsible for coordinating the network’s coverage of President Obama by reporting behind the scenes, giving CNN editorial guidance, and coordinating live video shots for CNN’s White House correspondents.

Q: What is it like working alongside the President?

A: It’s a high pressure situation. I’ve done it long enough now that the intensity isn’t as overwhelming. It’s definitely high pressure but I’m used to it now. It’s just kind of normal. It’s certainly a lot of hours and a lot of travel… my life just goes along with what’s going on in the news.

Becky Brittain lives in Alexandria and in her spare time, she is active in her church at First Baptist Church of Alexandria where she serves in various capacities in leadership. She also served as a mentor and tutor through the program Community Club to a DC public school student throughout his high school career from 2001-2007. She was named “Outstanding Recent Alumni” for 2007-2008 from the College of Liberal Arts and Science at Virginia Tech.

Alex Merritt and Ms. Lewis.

Joanna Merritt sent in this photo from the 1st grade assembly at Green Valley Elementary School.

Cave Spring Knights Drill Team Presents Summer Dance Camp 2013

Featuring the UVA DANCE TEAM

Open to rising 9th – 12th grade girls

Friday June 21, 2013 9 am-4 pm

Penn Forest Worship Center Gym

3735 Chaparral Dr

Price per dancer $75

Bring a sack Lunch!

Drinks provided!

Learn dance technique with the UVA DANCE TEAM!

For more information and to register email: csdrillteam@yahoo.com or call: 892-1179

Submitted by Prina McTigue 

The purpose of PTK is to recognize and encourage scholarship, to provide opportunities for leadership and service, and to foster an intellectual climate for the exchange of ideas. Members must be enrolled in a degree program at the college, have accumulated at least 12 credits in a curricula program, and have achieved a grade-point average of at least 3.5 with 12 credits or 3.2 with 24 credits. Members must have also established academic excellence as judged by the faculty and be of good moral character with recognized qualities of citizenship. Active membership is by invitation.

Deacon was invited to join the Psi Phi Chapter, which was charted at PHCC in 1972. Those who join hold a lifetime membership.

During the April 26, 2013 induction ceremony, PHCC President Dr. Angeline Godwin was the guest speaker. A reception was catered by the PHCC dual enrollment culinary students.

– Submitted by Patrick Henry Community College

• Anna P. Carson of Roanoke
• Laura B. Lemon of Roanoke

“The quality and caliber of our student profile continues to improve and the academic accomplishments of the first year class are very impressive. Many of these students will obtain further academic accolades and even prestigious graduate fellowships as they progress through their undergraduate years at Washington and Lee,” said Jason Rodocker, assistant dean for first-year experience, and adviser to the W&L chapter of Phi Eta Sigma.

– Submitted by Washington & Lee University

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

This summer four FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) students from the Roanoke Valley will be traveling to the National FBLA conference in Anaheim, California. In addition to the competitions, students will also visit some popular sites including Disneyland. The students, three of whom are Cave Spring High School and Burton Center students, will be competing for top spots amongst tough competition as the top two from each state is represented. There will be around 7000 students from across the Nation in attendance. Each event is sponsored and monetary prizes in the amount of $1000.00 are given to 1st place winners. We wish all the students the best of luck.

1st Place-Networking Concepts-Ben Culkin (Northside and Burton Center for Arts and Technology)

2nd Place-Management Decision Making Team-Dylan Brucki, Adam Foutz, Evan Gill (Cave Spring High School and Burton Center for Arts and Technology)

From the FBLA website, here is a more information about the organization:

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education association with a quarter million students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The association has four divisions:

1.Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for high school students;

2.FBLA-Middle Level for junior high, middle, and intermediate school students;

3.Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) for postsecondary students; and

4.Professional Division for businesspeople, FBLA-PBL alumni, educators, and parents who support the goals of the association.

You can read more here.

Information from Ginger Cromer

Submitted by Deborah Ruffin

On April 25th the awards ceremony for The Young Writers and Haiku 2013 Contest sponsored by Roanoke Valley Reading Council was held at the South County Library. Hidden Valley Middle School had five students place in the Short Story Contest. Left to right: 8th grader Matthew Rodgers, 3rd place; 8th grader Morgan Buzzo, 1st place; 8th grader Sierra Bowen, 2nd place; 7th grader Amaya Oswald, 1st place; and 6th grader Sawyer Freeland, 3rd place.

Submitted by Cindy Curbow

• Anna Carson, of Roanoke, a member of the class of 2016
• Hillary Cooper, of Roanoke, a member of the class of 2014
• Lucian Grove, of Roanoke, a member of the class of 2013
• Spencer Moore, of Roanoke, a member of the class of 2013
• Elizabeth Parrott, of Roanoke, a member of the class of 2014

Honor roll status at W&L represents a term grade-average of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale.

– Submitted by Washington & Lee University