Milestones: Dec. 5, 2023

of Henrico recently received a partial scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology in New York to pursue performing arts in instrumental music. Thompson, a graduate of Highland Springs High School, is a first-year student in the Mechanical Engineering BS program. Performing arts scholarships are renewable for up to five years, as long as the students stay involved in performing arts. The students come from each of RIT's nine colleges, with the majority from engineering and computer sciences. A School of Performing Arts opened last year at RIT to offer non-majors in performing arts more opportunities to continue their performing passions in college.

Alan Cary of Glen Allen was one of six winners of the 2023-24 Student Soloists Competition (SSC) at Shenandoah Conservatory at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. Cary was a winner in Category I—Undergraduate, piano, Keyboard Division. He is a member of the Class of 2026 and is pursuing a bachelor of music in Performance. The winners of this year's competition will be featured in a performance with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra Feb. 17.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced additional key administration and board appointments: State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind and Vision Impaired – Rebecca Ceja of Henrico, transition specialist with Virginia Department of Education; Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board – Angela Phelon of Henrico, director of business and service development at Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging.

The leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa recently initiated the following local students: Jonathan Allarassem (Grove City College) and Matthew Kleinschuster (Virginia Military Institute), of Henrico; and Finlay Lee (Hampden-Sydney College), of Glen Allen. Students initiated into the society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class. Students must demonstrate leadership experience and embrace ODK ideals.