Milestones

Two Glen Allen students recently were recognized as Virginia’s top youth volunteers of 2018 by winning The Prudential Spirit of Community Award. The winners are Jocelyn Marencik, a junior at Deep Run High School, and Gretchen Gregory, a seventh-grader at Holman Middle School. The awards, conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, represent the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. Two State Honorees—one middle and one high school student—plus a select number of Distinguished Finalists from each state and the District of Columbia were selected based on criteria such as personal initiative, effort, impact and personal growth. Marencik has delivered nearly $22,000 worth of technology equipment to 60 classrooms in more than 28 underserved schools in the Richmond area, and offered computer coding instruction to students in six of those schools. Gregor conducted collection drives to provide 450 new blankets to the homeless at Christmastime in Richmond, and to provide school supplies to a school in a low-income part of her community. As state honorees, both students received $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C.

The following area students were named to the dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester at Northeastern University: Shreya Shetty, of Glen Allen; and Jackson Steilberg and Henry Choisser, of Henrico. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a 3.5 quality point average for the semester.

Christian William Taylor, of Henrico, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must earn a grade point average of 3.75 or greater for the semester.

Olivia Laskin, of Henrico, was named to the president’s honor roll for the spring 2018 semester at Oklahoma City University. To qualify for the president’s honor roll, students must earn a 3.9 or greater grade point average for the semester.

The following area students were named to the dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester at the College of William & Mary: Julia Brooks, Andrew Bui, Romy Chu, Austin Cook, John Cornett, Julia Dahl, Kaitlyn Depew, Caroline Fagan, Sarah Farney, Ryan Hansen, Madhavi Kapadia, Julia Lantzy, Lauren Mayer, Evelyn Mazloom, Kathryn Murphy, Erin Paasch, Thomas Palazzo, Shree Patel, Akshata Pisharody, Maya Ravindran, Rosalea Rodriguez, Prakrit Shukla, Elizabeth Snyder, Rachel Vallejo, Patrick Wachter, Ryan Walter, Cameron Whitehurst, Carson Whitehurst, Sarah Williams, Ashley Witmer and Ian Wolff, of Glen Allen; Kayla Aaron, John Ames, Kristin Anderson, Margaret Armstrong, Zachary Beigel, Chase Binns, Helen Brodersen, Virginia Byrd, Samantha Cohodas, Leah Dillard, Caroline Failon, Emily Finto, John Fleming, Duncan Goodrich, Rachel Gottschalk, Jonathan Lawton, Evan Leibowitz, Eleanor Manspile, Molly McCue, Edward Millman, William Moeller, Barham Nardo, Meredith Polk, James Quagliano, Benjamin Schenck, Sara Schmieder, John Sims, Catherine Smith, Alexandra Tolleson, Suzanna Woods, Olivia Yang, Mary Young, Jonathan Beigel, Alexander Gilliam, Ka'myia Gunn, Katherine Muehlbauer, Emily Pilc, Lyla Rossi and Aaron Spitler, of Henrico; and Robin Thady, of Sandston. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must earn a quality point average of 3.6 for the semester.

Victoria Johnson, of Henrico, graduated May 13 from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. Johnson earned a doctor of physical therapy degree.

Two Mary Baldwin University students from Henrico County were honored May 10 for the creativity, challenge and execution of their senior projects. Kimberly Fennell, of Sandston, earned top honors in Analyzing Professional Practice (multimedia presentation) for the project “Hormone Replacement Therapy and Depression: A Review of Treatment During Postpartum and Postmenopausal Periods.” Haley Shows, of Henrico, earned top honors in Equity and Context (written paper/multimedia presentation) for the project “Uncanny Houses of Patriarchy in Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle.”

The following local students graduated May 5 from Emory & Henry College: William Vliet, of Glen Allen; and Christian Tripp, Albert Kirtland, Emily Lancaster, Elizabeth Rankin and Achille Wangam, of Henrico.

Tonia Contelmo, of Glen Allen, graduated May 12 from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrorgate, Tenn. She received a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. Prior to graduation, Contelmo received the Obstetrics/Gynecology Award, recognizing the student who has displayed an outstanding commitment to assisting women to achieve and maintain health and wellness. She is also a member of Gold Humanism Honor Society, which recognizes the top ten percent of students in their class who exemplify humanism in medicine. She is the daughter of Richard A. and AnnMarie Contelmo, and wife to Kevin H. Black.

Colin McGarry, of Glen Allen, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester at Ohio Wesleyan University. To earn dean’s list recognition, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better for the semester.

Kristopher Pickens, of Glen Allen, recently graduated from Troy University in Alabama. Pickens received a bachelor of science degree from the College of Education.

Gov. Ralph Northam recently announced additional appointments to his Administration. Lou Brown Ali, of Henrico, was reappointed to the Board of Social Services. Ali is council chief of staff for the City of Richmond.

Calan Pillow, of Glen Allen, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke. Pillow earned the recognition twice – once for his health and exercise major and the other for his occupational therapy assistant major.

Michael C. Russell, of Henrico, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2018 semester at the University of Rhode Island. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must earn a minimum 3.30 quality point average for the semester.