And the Trophy Goes To...

Celebrating student excellence and promise at the annual Academy Awards!

Awards are listed with the Academy Excellence Award and Leadership Light Award at the top and followed by program specific awards with teacher quotes about the students. 

The Academy Excellence Award is selected by the entire Academy faculty and staff. The award given to a student who regularly and consistently shows extraordinary enthusiasm for the Academy, and acts on that enthusiasm by volunteering inside AND outside of class to assist wherever and whenever needed - and in doing so, this student makes a real impact on the life of the Academy.

The Leadership Light Award is our newest accolade and is awarded to the Academy Ambassador that has gone above and beyond the expectations of a student leader, volunteering their time, talents, and energy to promoting and supporting all Academy programs. 

2024 Academy Award Winners:

ACADEMY EXCELLENCE AWARD: Rafi Omari, Professional Photography Studio, 12th Grade

Academy Excellence Nominees: Allison Dyer, TV & Media Production and ASL,  12th Grade; Greg Hurley, TV & Media Production and ASL, 12th Grade

ACADEMY LEADERSHIP LIGHT AWARD: Naomi Bautista, MTAS, 10th Grade

SCHOLARSHIPS

  • The Spotlight on the Arts Mason and Woods Memorial Scholarship is in honor of John Mason and Jane Woods and is a one-time $1,000 award to a high school senior attending either Fairfax Academy or Fairfax High School, studying the arts and planning to continue pursuing the arts in either higher education or a program after graduation. This year's winner is MCT senior, Maya Sachdev.
  • Signature Theatre Overtures Scholarship: Through a partnership with the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre, we are able to offer one graduating senior from the Musical Theatre and Actor's Studio program a scholarship to Overtures, a two-week professional training program where students work side-by-side with Broadway and industry professionals. This year's winner is Alejandro Cahoon.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

  • ASL Program Award: Riana Jaber
    • Riana comes to us from Chantilly as a freshman. During Riana’s first year of ASL, she quickly began to pick up skills requiring respect of Deaf culture. She consistently signs throughout class even though she’s in an introductory level of ASL. Riana shows enthusiasm for the subject of ASL by engaging in conversation in ASL with her teacher and during class. She is inquisitive about the subject of ASL and asks many questions during class.
  • Rising Star Award: Lucia Carlson
    • Lucia comes to us from Madison high school as a sophomore. Since the beginning of the year, Lucia has come into the classroom ready to sign. She is always respectful of Deaf culture norms by signing throughout her time at the Academy. Lucia has been a strong role model for students by modeling appropriate behaviors associated with Deaf culture. She uses eye contact, voice off strategies, and signing at all times. Lucia is consistently showing her ASL skills throughout the duration of class. In addition, she approaches her Deaf ASL teacher to chat in ASL and ask questions about the course.
  • Shooting Star Award: Thanh Nguyen
    • Thanh came to us in ASL 3 after taking ASL 1 and 2 with Falls Church Academy. He's finishing up his senior year at Annandale and will be attending George Mason University where he received several scholarships. Thanh has been taking both ASL and Game Design here at Fairfax Academy. Thanh consistently attends Deaf events and continues to improve his ASL skills outside of class. His attendance at Deaf events contributed to his grade of 100% on his receptive skills end of the year test. His developing friendships and interactions with the Deaf community through silent Deaf events have helped him increase his ASL skills tremendously. Thanh will be a strong advocate for the Deaf community in the future.

ARABIC

  • Rising Star Award: Hytham Al Hussieni
    • Hytham effectively communicates his ideas clearly and persuasively, whether in writing, speaking, or interpersonal interactions. He, also, possesses a drive to excel, a knack for innovative thinking, and a genuine concern for the well-being of others, making them a dynamic force for positive change. Very proud of you Hytham!
  • Outstanding Achievement Award: August Tang
    • August goes above and beyond in his academic endeavors. He brings an energetic approach to learning, a curiosity that drives exploration, and a talent for finding solutions even in the face of challenges, making them a versatile and invaluable member of any academic or social setting. Way to go August! 
  • Shooting Star Award: Rzan Almoaibeed
    • Rzan upholds strong moral values and integrity in all her actions. She embraces new experiences with enthusiasm, faces obstacles with unwavering resolve, and extends a helping hand to those in need, embodying a spirit of exploration, perseverance, and kindness in all their endeavors. Rzan, you’ll be missed in the Arabic class. Congratulations on graduation!

CHINESE

  • Rising Star Award: Yaw Ansong
    • Yaw is a junior at Woodson High School, and is currently taking Chinese 3 class. Yaw shows a deep interest of learning the Chinese language and culture. Yaw consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic throughout the year. He is also not afraid to take risks in using new words and structures in various situations. Because of his diligence, active participation, fearless exploration of new knowledge, and exceptional self-discipline, Yaw is selected by his teacher to receive the Shooting Star award.  
  • Shooting Star Award: Abigail Borgeson
    • Abigail Borgeson is a senior at Woodson High School. She skipped Chinese 4 and is currently taking AP Chinese. Abby consistently demonstrates respect for her classmates by listening attentively and treating everyone with kindness. Academically, Abby always strives to do her best. Whether it’s mastering complicated Chinese structures or making connections between different cultures, Abby approaches each challenge with her passion and a growth mindset. For the outstanding academic achievement, Abby is selected by her teacher to receive the Rising Star award. 
  • Ambassador of Languages: Desireih Dallas
    • Desireih Dallas is a senior at Westfield High School. She has been learning Chinese at Fairfax Academy for two years. One of Desireih’s most remarkable talents lies in her exceptional aptitude for languages. During class time, Desireih engages in every aspect of the lesson. She eagerly participates in class discussions and offering insightful contributions that demonstrate her language skills. Despite her talent for learning a new language, Desireih remains humble. Her positive attitude to support her peers and eagerness to learn from others are rare traits among high school students. Because of her passion, dedication, and positivity, Desireih is selected by her teacher to receive the Ambassador of Languages award. 

DANCE

  • Shooting Star Award: Melissa Torres
    • This award is given to a student who has shown genuine passion and enthusiasm for the Academy's Dance program. Melissa has been dedicated and open to learning, pushing her own boundaries, and adapting to new people and situations, all while maintaining the highest level of professionalism. She is eager to explore and try new things. Melissa has been in the program for her entire 4-year high school career. She has been a pleasure to teach and watch grow into the amazing dancer she is today, performing in our Elite Company as well as the FHS dance team. Melissa hopes to continue to dance after graduation. Once a dancer, always a dancer!
  • Rising Star Award: Robson Barnett 
    • The award is presented to a student who surpasses their dance goals. This year, the award goes to Robson Barnett, a dedicated dancer with a promising future. Robson has been part of the Academy's dance program throughout high school and is currently in Dance 3. His enthusiasm and hard work have led to remarkable improvement, and we look forward to seeing his continued growth in Dance 4 next year.
  • Outstanding Artist Award: Aleshanee Collado
    • This award goes to a student who shows great enthusiasm and skill for their craft. This is someone who showed exceptional creativity, dedication, and talent in all of their artistic endeavors. Aleshanee is taking Dance 4 and Hip Hop this year, she is also in the Elite Dance Company. Aleshanee has grown as a dancer and choreographer, with her choreography being featured in our Dance For Change end-of-the-year showcase. We are so excited to see her continue her dancing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia after graduation.

FASHION  CAREERS

  • Rising Fashion Star Award: Annaliese Gonzalez
    • Annaliese is lighting up the fashion program with contagious enthusiasm and a hunger to absorb everything about the industry. Since day one, she's been all in, sharing her positive vibes and lending a hand to her classmates. And talk about talent – she rocked the fashion show with four killer original looks! 
  • Designer of the Year: Grace Wevley
    • Grace Wevley has truly blossomed during her time in Fashion Careers 1 and 2. She's deeply passionate about honing her skills in advanced sewing and patternmaking. Known for her creative approach, Grace isn't afraid to push the boundaries of fashion. Plus, she's always there for her classmates, offering support, encouragement, and laughs whenever needed. 
  • Powerhouse Producer: Tegan Riley
    • Tegan found her calling in fashion show and production management during her first year in Fashion Careers 1, and she hasn't looked back since. Stepping up as the Event Producer for Fashion in Motion 2024, she dove in headfirst and worked tirelessly to lead her fellow Fashion Careers students to a successful show. Her dedication and hard work truly paid off! 

GAME DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

  • Rising Star Award: Yve Leiker
    • Yve has demonstrated a profound passion for learning and a natural talent for Game Design & Development. Throughout the year, they have consistently exceeded expectations, producing unique and impressive projects. As a collaborative team member, Yve enhances the work of the entire group. Yve is poised to excel as they continue on their journey. 
  • Shooting Star Award: Evelyn Yang
    • Evelyn  has demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm and a deep passion for Game Design and Development. Her work shines with creativity and technical ability. She consistently pushes the boundaries of what is possible with a tireless drive to explore new ideas and innovate. Evelyn shows exceptional initiative and her contributions are a testament to her potential as a trailblazer in the gaming industry. Congratulations on your exceptional work and bright future ahead!
  • Game-Changer Award: Harrison Lugo
    • Harrison exemplifies brilliance, creativity, and talent in Game Design & Development. His innovative projects consistently surpass expectations, showcasing his unique vision and skill. With a natural flair for game design, Harrison crafts experiences that are both engaging and sophisticated. As he continues to develop his talents, there's no doubt that Harrison will make a significant impact in the gaming industry. 

KOREAN 

  • Academic Excellence Award: Siilen Orkhon
    • Siilen is a Fairfax senior President of the Korean Student Association. 
      Since joining the Korean Club as a freshman, Sillen has exemplified extraordinary leadership. Her organizational skills, flexibility, competence, and prompt communication were pivotal in the resounding success of this year’s Cultural Festival. She made sure that every event ran smoothly and showcased the best of Korean culture. Sillen's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, leadership, and passion.  As Siilen graduates, she carries with her a legacy of victories and cherished memories. She is poised to tackle and overcome any of life’s unexpected difficulties with the same tenacity and strength that have defined her high school career. Siilen's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, leadership, and passion.
  • Consistent Achievement Award: Lana Zakharova
    • Lana, a junior at McLean High School, is deeply immersed in the exploration of Korean language and culture. Throughout the school year, she exhibits an admirable work ethic, fully committing herself to her academic pursuits. Lana fearlessly embraces challenges, exploring new territory in various classroom situations. Her steadfast determination, active participation in discussions, and relentless pursuit of knowledge set her apart from her peers. In recognition of her exceptional dedication and achievements, Lana is awarded the prestigious Consistent Achievement Award.
  • Linguistic Scholar Award: Shahd Mohamed Eltaher
    • Shahd, senior at Fairfax High School is the icon of diligence and humility, a person of noble character who leads with gentleness. Her remarkable achievements in the Han Bowl, Korean Language and Culture Competition have set her apart, as she outshone native speakers to claim the top prize in both the speaking and writing contests. Beyond her linguistic ability, Shahd is an amazing dancer and athlete. Currently, she is in Fairfax High School Dance Team and track team. Shahd's talent and passion for dance were evident in her group's victory at the 2023 K-pop dance competition. Shahd's artistic flair and exemplary character will make her a standout individual, whose talents promise to shine brightly in any endeavor she pursues. 

 MUSIC & COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

  • Music Production Development: J.T. Martenz
    • Throughout the course, J.T. has infused the classroom with a remarkable blend of energy and expertise. His dedication to music production is genuinely inspiring. J.T. has been a beacon of support for his peers, generously offering his knowledge and lending a helping hand whenever needed. His insightful feedback and innovative ideas have elevated his projects and enriched the learning experience for countless others in the class. Beyond the classroom, J.T. has ventured into numerous recording and composition projects, showcasing his immense talent and passion. Notably, he orchestrated a captivating Jazz composition, collaborating with school and community musicians, and recorded a live big band performance at a church. J.T. has also begun developing his career working with producers and artists worldwide. In recognition of his outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to the art of music production, it is our honor to present J.T. with this well-deserved award. 
  • MCT Leadership Award: Alanna Bell
    • Alanna has been the essence of camaraderie and support in our class, which is the glue that binds us all together. Her unwavering encouragement and positive reinforcement have uplifted every student, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. But Alanna's contributions extend far beyond mere words of encouragement. As one of the managers for this year's MCT Fest, she displayed remarkable dedication and leadership, maintaining constant communication with her peers and tirelessly promoting the event. Her commitment to excellence is further exemplified by her consistent presence in the MCT room before, during, and after class in Lion Time, where she diligently honed her skills and shared her knowledge with others. Alanna's infectious positivity and genuine desire to help others have left an indelible mark on our class. As she embarks on her journey to Drexel University next year, there is no doubt that she will continue to inspire and lead wherever she goes. 
  • Most Prolific Composer Award: Ryan Dure
    • Ryan has been more than just a standout student; he's been a beacon of inspiration for everyone in class. Whenever Ryan steps up to present a project, the room electrifies with anticipation because we know we're about to witness something truly extraordinary. His innate ability to create and challenge himself has been evident from day one, setting a standard we all strive to reach. This year, Ryan took the stage at MCT Fest with his band "Back Pocket," delivering a performance that left audiences spellbound. His versatility as a musician knows no bounds, seamlessly blending different technologies and resources to push the boundaries of his craft. Yet, amidst his undeniable talent, Ryan remains remarkably humble. Even when correcting me, he does so gracefully and respectfully, a testament to his character and integrity. As Ryan prepares to embark on the next chapter of his journey at USC, I do not doubt that he will continue to scale new heights and carve out a path of unparalleled success in music. Congratulations, Ryan, on this well-deserved honor, and here's to the beginning of what promises to be a remarkable career.

MUSICAL THEATRE ACTOR’S STUDIO:

  • Rising Star Award: Allie Blanchet
    • Allie Blanchet is a rising sophomore from Herndon High School, whose talents span far beyond her years, making her one to watch! She approaches her work with strong commitment and exhibits a daily desire to dive more deeply into understanding her craft and building her skills. One culture code reminds us that “every day is an audition”. If that is the case, then Allie Blanchet lands the role and books the gig every time. She approaches both her artistic craft and her personal relationships with a humble humility and an innocuous energy that proves her stardom is, indeed, on the rise! We cannot wait to see where the next three years take her, and we’re excited to witness the journey. 
  • Triple Threat Award: Sammy Lee Hayes
    • The Triple Threat Award is given to a student with equal talents across the disciplines of singing, dancing, and acting. Such gifts rarely come naturally, but instead with a 100% deliberate dedication to one’s craft…and the maturity to match. Sammy Leigh Hayes possesses these characteristics and more, which were easy to witness if you saw her portray the role of Allison Vernon Williams in the Academy’s production of Cry-Baby: the Musical! A powerhouse singer, dancer, and actress, Sammy led her cast with grace and exhibited what it means to be a triple threat. Add in her kindness and modesty, and we’re up to quintuple. New York University, where Sammy will be pursuing her BFA in Musical Theatre, is lucky to welcome such a well-rounded performer into its studios and onto its stages! 
  • Outstanding Breakthrough Award: Gary Valdivieso 
    • The Outstanding Breakthrough Award is given to a student who has consistently shown great progress and artistic growth. Gary Valdivieso has exhibited both in spades. His artistic progression proves the accuracy of another culture code: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Rather than relying solely on his natural gifts, Gary has purposefully taken risks and challenged himself to fast track his growth and increase his skills. Every day, Gary arrives to class having gone far above the bare minimum. It’s this passion and commitment to his craft that is not only admirable but has been a surefire recipe for success…like his admittance to Emmerson College where he’ll pursue his degree in Theatre Performance this fall. 

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Outstanding Light Writer Award: Daniel Pascual 
    • Daniel is an amazing photographer in the level one class who is hardly 
      ever seen without his camera. He has photographed many collaborative projects while creating a strong base of followers on social media- which has led to his photography business growing at a rapid pace. Daniel is also studying to be an electrician; therefore, he is unable to return next year. However, Mr. Smith has known Daniel since he was about 5 years old and will continue to work with him on his business. You can often catch them together on the sidelines at a sporting event!
  • Rising Star Award: Elliott Erredge
    • Elliott is a talented photographer in level one Pro Photo who is often collaborating with others. This year Elliott helped teach middle schoolers about compositional rules at the National Air and Space Museum in a Smithsonian educational series, STEM in 30. Elliott always conducts himself in a professional manner and is more than willing to help a classmate.  Elliott will be returning to Academy next year to take Professional Photography Level 2.
  • Shooting Star Award: Rafi Omari
    • Rafi is a very passionate photographer in Pro Photo Level 2.  He takes advantage of any photography opportunity that comes his way.  Rafi also worked on the Air and Space Museum project as well as photographing Ms. Virginia here in the studio when she came in to model the dress designed by Academy Fashion students. Rafi photographed MCT Fest, the Fashion show, and countless other events. After graduation, he plans to pursue his photography career and get his Real Estate license.  

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

  • Rising Star Award: Fatih Eren
    • Fatih has been an integral part of Social Media Marketing and DECA this year; he comes to every class with a smile and has volunteered his time at countless Fairfax & Academy Events, even though he is a student at Centreville. He competed and received recognition at States for his Professional Selling Event, and applies his knowledge of Digital & Social Media Marketing to help his family's business. We are excited to watch him grow in Business & Marketing as a junior next year. Congrats! 
  • Shooting Star Award: Jenna Launey
    • Though Jenna comes to us from West Springfield, she has become an integral part of our Fairfax Academy & Fairfax Family. Her enthusiasm and passion for learning is infectious; she makes all students feel welcomed and has made a name for herself as a leader inside & outside the classroom. Jenna recently competed in a Hospitality Team Decision-Making event at the National Competition in Anaheim, California against more than twenty thousand students from around the world!
  • Social Media and Marketing Program Award: Alejandro Prudencio-Lara
    • Alejandro is this year's Social Media Award recipient. Alejandro is in his 2nd year of Marketing here at Fairfax High School and has continued his leadership in our program. He has volunteered at countless recruitment events working with local middle schools in our community. He is a warm face and so welcoming to students attending class from across the county. Alejandro was recently voted as Marketing & DECA's Vice President of Competition for 24-25, and will work to lead over 300+ students to prepare for District, State, and International Competition. 

TELEVISION AND MEDIA PRODUCTION

  • Associate Producer Award: Allison Dyer
    • Allison consistently worked on projects that have shown organization and talent.  She herself has helped move forward these projects, making herself available as much as possible to assist in different roles when she's not actively leading them.  She's proactively asked for guidance on multiple facets of the process and has produced consistently strong work with various types of groups over the entire school year. 
  • Executive Producer Award: William Robertson
    • William has been in the program for 3 years and I have been immensely impressed and proud of how he's grown. He brings a technical knowledge of the production process that is unmatched for someone his age and is always interested in helping other projects. He sometimes will even let other people help on setting up and using the gear during those projects. He's going to be disappointed that the award isn't manufactured by his favorite camera company Arri (that’s a hysterical industry joke) but I hope he at least appreciates the award as much as I appreciate his presence in our class.
  • Executive Producer Award: Ian Conner
    • Ian has talent without ego. He is inquisitive and excited about the process and produces the type of professional work without pretension that is needed to truly succeed in the industry. He has an eye for and an ability to work in so many different departments delivering exceptional results. He's produced professional work for paying clients that I would put up against experienced agencies in the field. I can't wait to see the work that he produces next.

2023 Academy Award winners:

ACADEMY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Imogen Moore: Imogen had attended almost every recruitment event the Academy participated in across the county, completed the “Teachers for Tomorrow” program and student taught in an ASL 1 class at Fairfax Academy in addition to stage managing with the FX players, being a peer-to-peer mentor, and serving on various student panels. She has proven that she is not only dependable and eager - BUT is also truly passionate about the Academy as a whole. She spent countless hours recruiting and representing the student voice at Fairfax Academy. During her time at the Academy, she has spoken to numerous parents, students and staff members about her experience taking classes at the Academy. She took the initiative to be involved in the Academy in its entirety, and fostered relationships with faculty and students alike.

Academy Excellence Nominees:

Isabella Jackson: Isabella has presented to the Fairfax County Public Schools’ School Board, as well as the City of Fairfax’s City Council, serving as a student advocate for arts education. Last year, she volunteered as a Student Director for a local middle school’s production of Legally Blonde. And, with the Traveling Players Ensemble Summer Internship, she assisted directors in youth groups and activities. Isabella Jackson is a standout leader amongst her peers!

Faith Hoyle: Fath was nominated as a dedicated leader, a frequent volunteer & big supporter of Academy events. Faith is always encouraging, kind, & enthusiastic, a genuine role model & leads by example!

SCHOLARSHIPS

  • ArtsFairfax & Spotlight on the Arts Scholarships were selected from rising seniors and graduating seniors who attended Fairfax Academy and are pursuing further education in their respective fields next year. A panel of industry professionals selected this year's winners from a pool of applicants.
    • Music: Karsci Pentek
      • Karsci Pentek is an incredible musician with a promising future in music production. Based at Fairfax High School, Karcsi has participated in many facets of the music program. He presently takes MCT with Mr. Carlin. He is talented multi-instrumentalist, Karcsi has performed in band, jazz ensemble, and marching band as a percussionist. As a pianist, Karcsi performed in the pit orchestra for the school show "Sister Act". Karcsi is all about building community and bringing people together through music. He attended the FHS Music Club through the 22-23 school year and helped students learn to play piano. Karcsi is kind, optimistic, generous towards others, and a pursuer of knowledge. He is a collaborator that values others' perspectives and insight into his work. Next year Karcsi will be attending Belmont University in Nashville to pursue a degree in music production.
    • Dance: Mira Bowen
      • Mira is a junior at McLean High School. She is an outstanding artist and fantastic leader. She is always working to stretch herself. Fairfax Academy is excited to have her return next year. This summer Mira will be attending Dance Camp at UVA.
  • Signature Theatre Overtures Scholarship: Through a partnership with the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre, we were able to offer one graduating senior from the Musical Theatre and Actor's Studio program a scholarship to Overtures, a two-week professional training program where students work side-by-side with Broadway and industry professionals. This year's winner is Ela Howard.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

  • Commitment to Deaf Culture Award
    • Chloe Talbot and Katie West

      • Chloe, an ASL 2 student and junior at James Madison High School, has shown great respect for Deaf culture by engaging in full signing conversation with her Deaf ASL teacher. She commits to using ASL in class at all times and respects the voice off environment. She loves to support and help other students with their acquisition of ASL. She volunteers with ValiDeaf, an organization that focuses on ASL language acquisition and development of ASL for deaf and hard of hearing children, their siblings, and parents. 

        Katie West, an ASL 3 student and junior at Fairfax High School, initiated a project to support deaf and hard of hearing students at Woodson High School. The deaf and hard of hearing students participated at a national academic bowl at Gallaudet University, competing against other programs for the deaf and hard of hearing across the United States. In conjunction with Katie’s project, the ASL students at Fairfax Academy created a video in ASL sending congratulations and well wishes for the competition. The deaf and hard of hearing students were honored and remarked, “This is the nicest thing anyone has done for us!” 

  • Most Outstanding ASL Student Award
    • Zoey Miller
      • Zoey, an ASL 2 student and junior at James Madison High school, is conscientious and hard working. She continually practices her sign skills and is committed to producing her best work. She picks up signing skills quickly and always uses new ASL conversational skills and concepts with her Deaf ASL teacher. She’s been in all the mainstage theatrical productions with James Madison High School and has choreographed for the last two years and serves as a Cappies critic where she has been published three times. She also participates in her school’s top choir, the Madison Madrigals.
    • Imogen Moore
      • Imogen is an ASL 3 student and senior at Fairfax High School, has completed over fifty hours of community service within the Deaf community. Her area of focus within the Deaf community is language acquisition for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students. Over the summer, she interned as a swim instructor for deaf and hearing students with AquaNOVA teaching, while encouraging ASL language development with other hearing students in the sessions. In addition, she interned in a classroom for students with autism, using ASL to teach reading lessons to nonverbal students. This year, she volunteered for ValiDeaf, an organization that focuses on ASL language development for deaf and hard of hearing children, their siblings, and parents. She’s also completed the “Teachers for Tomorrow” program and has student taught in an ASL 1 class at Fairfax Academy. Imogen will be attending Gallaudet University, the only university geared towards deaf and hard of hearing students- there, she will study to become a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing early childhood students.

ARABIC

  • Rising Star Award 
    • Yasmin Torabi
      • Yasmin is a highly motivated student who has made significant progress in Modern Standard Arabic. She does not hesitate to share her knowledge of Kuwaiti Arabic and culture. It was Yasmin’s desire to improve her knowledge of formal Arabic that motivated her to take Arabic 1. She loves to travel with her family and wants to improve her knowledge of the language so she can be a fully fluent speaker, capable of communication in any Arabic-speaking country and beyond. Someday, Yasmin hopes to travel the world. Next year, she will continue with her Arabic studies here at Fairfax Academy.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Hani Moudarres
      • Hani, who was in Arabic 2 this year, is an exceptional, engaged, self-driven learner. He never hesitates to ask good questions about the material. He considers Arabic to be his own language, and he is motivated by his desire to master it and to eventually learn everything that he can about his own Syrian culture. Hani has always wanted to be a businessman, and he hopes that his ventures will extend all the way to the Middle East. He believes being fluent in the language will help him achieve his career goals. Hani plans to continue studying Arabic next year at Fairfax Academy.
  • Outstanding Scholar Award
    • William Read
      • William is a hardworking and gifted linguist. He studies several languages, and loves Arabic, which he has studied for the past three years at Academy. William has achieved strong proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in the language and intends to continue to study Arabic in college. William is certain that it will benefit him as he works toward achieving his dream of becoming a US Foreign Service officer and eventually, an ambassador. William was selected to participate in an scholarship program funded by the US Department of State. This summer, William will travel to Jordan to study Arabic in an immersive setting. William is excited to continue to build his knowledge in formal Arabic and to begin learning the Jordanian dialect. We wish William the best of luck this summer as he embarks on this adventure.

CHINESE

  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Faith Hoyle
      • Faith is a senior at Fairfax High School and is currently enrolled in AP Chinese class. She serves as the President of the National Chinese Honor Society, demonstrating her dedication, organizational skills, and passion for Chinese culture. Faith proactively communicates with the officers and members to motivate and inspire them to get involved and work towards developing and hosting fun and meaningful activities. Next year, Faith will be attending James Madison University to pursue her interest in Criminal Justice. Faith, your hard work and contributions are greatly appreciated, and we wish you the best in your future endeavors at JMU!
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Eva Pruett
      • Eva is a senior at Fairfax High School, and is currently enrolled in Chinese 4. Eva always strives to do her best and is not afraid to seek out help when needed. Outside the classroom, Eva serves as the Treasurer of the National Chinese Honor Society. She actively assists other officers in planning various activities and events. After graduation, Eva will attend George Mason University to pursue her interest in Engineering. Eva, we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Kathryn Depasse
      • Kathryn is a sophomore at Fairfax High School. She shows a deep interest in learning the Chinese language and culture. She consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic. During class, Kathryn actively participates in discussions and asks thoughtful questions. She is not afraid to take risks in using new words and structures in various situations. Kathryn plans to continue her Chinese learning next year and would eventually like to study Chinese in college. Kathryn, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and love of learning.

DANCE

  • Heart & Soul Award 
    • Aleshanee Callado
      • Aleshanee is dedicated and teachable, pushing her own boundaries, and adapting to new people and situations, all while maintaining the utmost level of professionalism. She is eager to explore and try new things. This is Aleshanee’s first year at the Academy.  Her desire to become a great performer is evident in her work ethic in class. Her performance on and off the stage has made her a “star” at the Academy. Aleshanee will be attending the Joffrey summer program concentrating on the style of Hip Hop dance.
  • Rising Star Award 
    • Graham Glaze
      • Graham is committed to growing in both technique and artistry, displayed through her passion to perform- which is matched by few, and inspires many. She is a wonderful leader and is ready to help in all ways to make the class as a whole successful. Graham is a freshman in her first year at the Academy. Her desire and work ethic are any teacher’s dream. She comes prepared, ready, and eager to learn. She is a leader in the class. Her compassion for her classmates and positive attitude has been such an asset to the entire class. Graham will continue her dance studies at the Academy next year.
  • Outstanding Artist Award
    • Mira Bowen
      • Mira is a performer who has courage in and out of the studio and strives to “balance” the physical and mental demands of being a dancer. She is an outstanding artist who will go to great measures to “stretch” themselves to reach new areas and has a passion for growth. Mira is a junior at McLean High School and will be attending Dance Camp at UVA this summer. Mira will continue to grow as an artist next year as a senior at the Academy.

FASHION  CAREERS

  • Rising Fashion Star Award
    • Mary Voelkel
      • This honor acknowledges the exceptional aptitude of a junior Fashion Careers 1 student who has demonstrated a resolute drive, commendable work ethic, and notable progression. Mary’s unwavering commitment to triumph in the fashion industry as a designer, and her consistent delivery of excellent work has been highly impressive. It is evident that Mary will continue to excel in her pursuits as she advances to Fashion Careers II as a senior next year.
  • Fashion Insider Award
    • Tyler Thum
      • This award recognizes a Fashion student who has exhibited an exceptional understanding of the fashion world, particularly at an industry level. Tyler has consistently impressed since the beginning of the school year, through his profound insights into both mainstream and niche fashion designers, primarily in the European and Japanese markets. His unrelenting fervor for learning and absorbing every fashion-related lesson and for inspiring and motivating his fellow students has not gone unnoticed. It is with immense pleasure to share that Tyler will be pursuing Fashion Design at Drexel University in Philadelphia, which is an exciting next step in his promising career.
  • Designer of the Year Award
    • Lukas Shao
      • This award is presented to a remarkable Fashion Careers II senior who has demonstrated immense potential for success in the fashion industry.Lukas Shao has consistently displayed an impressive work ethic throughout the term. Lukas has exhibited exceptional flair and artistic expression, staying true to his unique style. He also displays an impressive highly professional and well-mannered attitude for a person of his age. It is evident that Lukas will emerge as a powerhouse in the industry. Lukas has been accepted to Parsons School of Design in New York City and was awarded a substantial Merit Scholarship of $25,000 annually, which is a remarkable accomplishment.

GAME DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Ella Rohr
      • Ella shows a love of learning and a natural affinity for Game Design and Development. Throughout the year Ella has always gone above and beyond what was required, creating unique and beautiful projects. She is a great collaborator who works well with her team to elevate their work as a whole. Ella will shine as she moves forward on her path.
    • Megan Lincicum
      • Megan has an enthusiasm and passion for Game Design that shines through their work. They help their classmates with their boundless knowledge and excitement for coding to take projects to the next level. They show initiative in seeking out opportunities and are sure to be an asset to the Gaming profession in the future.

KOREAN 

  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Twyla Montione
      • Twyla has made outstanding contributions to the Korean club. She has demonstrated exceptional talent in Korean dance through performances in multiple events, including the Fairfax Cultural Celebration, GMU, and the Hanbowl. Twyla's academic excellence and leadership abilities have been recognized through numerous scholarship and award programs. These honors highlight her contributions to the community and her commitment to success. As Twyla continues her academic journey in Art History at George Washington University, her membership in both the Korean Honor Society and the Korean Club showcase her appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions. Twyla’s talent, dedication, and leadership serve as an inspiration to all of us, and we wish her continued success in her future endeavors.
  • Consistent Achievement Award
    • Justin Kim
      • We are proud to recognize Justin for his consistent and outstanding achievements in academics and extracurricular activities as a recipient of this honor for the second year in a row! Justin's passion for the arts is truly inspiring. As a member of the Nanta and Kpop clubs, he has demonstrated his talent and commitment to Korean culture through performance. His dedication and hard work have earned him two merit scholarships, highlighting his academic excellence. Next year, Justin will attend George Mason University to pursue his passion for Graphic Design. His membership in the Korean Honor Society and the Korean Club showcase his appreciation for his heritage and his dedication to serving the community. We are proud to honor him today for his remarkable contributions to Fairfax Academy, and we wish him all the best as he continues his academic journey.
  • Academic Excellence Award
    • Chase Butia
      • Chase has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to academic excellence and a genuine love of learning. Chase has shown a remarkable ability to grasp complex concepts and apply them effectively. His exceptional academic achievement highlights his intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Chase has also participated in various extracurricular activities that showcase his leadership abilities and passion for community service. We are confident that he will continue to achieve great success in his academic and personal endeavors.
  • Linguistic Scholar Award
    • Lina Bondesson
      • Lina has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in language learning, showcasing her dedication to mastering languages and her passion for exploring different cultures. Lina has also earned the Civics Seal, demonstrating her deep understanding of civics education and engagement in civic activities. Lina has also shown a strong commitment to community service, having completed over 100 service hours. This selfless dedication to serving her community is a testament to her character and values. We are delighted to share that Lina will be attending George Mason University and will major in Peace Analysis and Conflict Resolution with a Global Concentration, with a minor in Korean.

 MUSIC & COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

  • Most Prolific Composer Award
    • Gavin Casey
      • The “Most Prolific Composer Award” is given each year to the MCT student who consistently demonstrates a high level and volume of artistic output in the field of composition. Gavin is a multi-talented composer and performer from Lake Braddock Secondary School. Throughout his year in MCT, Gavin has created considerable high-quality compositions at the Academy. He is a remarkably creative and prolific young artist with a bright future in music composition and performance. At MCT Fest, Gavin was present in many acts as a guitarist, drummer, and bassist. His classmates can depend on him and consistently ask for help. A self-sufficient musician, Gavin records himself playing multiple instruments and is releasing an album within the year. Next year, Gavin will study recording technology at Syracuse University.
  • Artistic Development Award 
    • Andy Richardson
      • The Artistic Development Award is given to the student who demonstrates the highest level of artistic development within the course of their time in the MCT program.  This award is given to a student who exemplifies creativity and artistic development in all of their work in the MCT program. A junior at Fairfax High School, Andy has a passion for Folk music and the study of luthiers (loo-thee-urz). Andy is an outstanding lyricist and has composed multiple pieces with versatile instrumentation, complex melodies, and textures. This year, Andy contributed to the lyrics of a new composition created for the Cappies organization. He performed at MCT Fest 2023, and other work will debut at the Kennedy Center. Andy will be moving forward to MCT II next year and plans to become a luthier as a profession.
  • Leadership Award
    • Lily Chopus
      • Each year, the MCT class produces a live concert event featuring original music performed by the students in the MCT program. “MCTFest” is a student managed event that involves auditions, programming, stage management, and PR coordination.  This year’s show was one of the largest ever, featuring 15 individual musical acts.  The 18th Annual MCT Fest was a monumental undertaking, involving hours of planning, coordination, and research. The “Leadership Award” recognizes a student for their exemplary work managing the Annual “MCT Fest”. Lily has taken both MCT I & II and was the head manager of the 2023 MCT Fest. As manager for MCT Fest, Lily assumed responsibility for numerous roles as leaders and performers. Her organizational skills, personable leadership style, musicality, and willingness to take on the many challenging tasks that were a part of the event made this year's MCT Fest particularly successful! Lily is an academy ambassador, on the tennis team, and sings in her school choir. She is a singer songwriter and will be continuing her passion by attending Berklee College of Music.

MUSICAL THEATRE ACTOR’S STUDIO:

  • Rising Star Award 
    • Jonah Uffelman
      • This award goes to a student who shows extraordinary potential and professional promise. Jonah is a rising senior from Madison High School, whose talents span far beyond his years, making him one to watch! Jonah approaches all his work with such commitment and lack of inhibition, that the characters themselves should be thanking him. Whether he is charming us through song or dazzling us with monologues, Jonah has equal capacities to make audiences hilariously roar with laughter or reflectively fight back tears. And his modern grasp on Shakespeare is uncanny! He approaches both his artistic craft and his personal relationships with a humble humility and an innocuous energy that if “everyday were an audition,” he’d be cast every time.
  • Triple Threat Award
    • Katie Wood
      • Our next award for the Musical Theatre and Actors Studio is "The Triple Threat Award." This accolade is given to a student with equal talents across the disciplines of singing, dancing, and acting. Such gifts rarely come naturally, but instead with a 100% deliberate dedication to one’s craft…and the maturity to match. Katie possesses these characteristics and more, which was easy to witness if you saw her portray the role of Elle Woods [no relation] in the Academy’s production of Legally Blonde! With over a dozen songs alone – and even more scenes in between – Katie led her cast with grace and exhibited what it means to be a triple threat. Add in her kindness and modesty, and we’re up to quintuple. Syracuse University, where Katie will be pursuing her BFA in Musical Theatre, is lucky to welcome such a well-rounded performer into its studios and onto its stages!
  • Outstanding Breakthrough Award 
    • Kate Townsend
      • Now, this year's "Outstanding Breakthrough Award" goes to the student who has consistently shown great progress and artistic growth. Think of it as baseball’s MVP. A current junior at Madison High School, Kate has quickly shed any rookie-year status. There’s a core culture code utilized in the Musical Theatre & Actors Studio: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Well, Kate’s fast-tracked progress is what happens when talent does work hard. Every day, Kate arrives to class having gone far above the bare minimum. If one song was asked for, she brought in three, saying: “Pick one.” It’s this passion and commitment to her craft that is not only admirable but has been a surefire recipe for success and undeniable progress.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Outstanding Light Writer Award 
    • Esha Shrestha
      • Esha is a very talented artist who consistently shows growth through photographic work. She is often collaborating with other students on projects. Esha has photographed many events for the Academy including recently producing headshots for the Academy Musical Theatre and Actor’s Studio Program. Next year she will be attending James Madison University. Esha’s work ethic and determination will make her successful in any professional path she takes.
  • Rising Star Award 
    • Ben Pennington
      • Ben is a level one student. He has amazing photographic skills in both film and digital, and is always researching new techniques and exploring new places to shoot. He has a strong desire for expanding his knowledge and has produced a strong body of work in just one year. Ben will be attending The University of Ohio for Photojournalism.
  • Level 2 Portfolio Award 
    • Regina Garcia Garcia
      • Regina is an extremely creative level two student. Regina uses her photography to bring awareness to issues such as eating disorders, depression and mental health. Regina won both Silver and Gold Keys in the Scholastics competition. She has a strong desire to become a professional photographer and we have no doubt that she will be successful. Regina will be a senior next year. She will continue to add to her portfolio so he can attend an art school for photography and pursue a career in photography.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

  • Brand Ambassador Award
    • Jasmin Lemus-Bautista
      • A Brand Ambassador is invaluable to customer-centric cultures, as they consistently deliver on customer expectations and expand the boundaries of quality service. Among other qualities, Brand Ambassadors tend to share three traits: they focus on people, they build relationships, and they create habits around customer service satisfaction. Jasmin is a rising senior at Falls Church High School. Jasmin currently participates in two Fairfax Academy Classes and has been an exceptional student in both Social Media Marketing and Fashion Careers. She is currently interning as a social media manager for ISAMEL, a luxury swimwear line and is utilizing classroom instruction in hands-on project based learning. She qualified with Marketing & DECA at states in Retail Merchandising Series Event, and manages to balance all of her accolades along with working a retail sales job.
  • Class Collaborator Award
    • Cyrus Sharafi
      • This award is given to a student who promotes cooperation, and values the sharing of resources and expertise to enhance problem solving and to reach common goals. Cyrus is a rising senior at Marshall High School. Cyrus was selected as a Fairfax Academy Ambassador and has enthusiastically volunteered his time to promote the Fairfax Academy around FCPS. He is currently interning as a social media manager for FCPS’ Social Media Team, and is applying instructional content in hands-on project based learning. He also qualified with Marketing & DECA at states in Travel & Tourism Team Decision Making, and is an active member of the Marshall Band and Swim Team. Most importantly, he always comes to class with a smile and makes everyone feel at home.

TELEVISION AND MEDIA PRODUCTION

  • Up and Coming Award
    • Chelsea Gramling
      • Chelsea almost immediately began producing strong work in the Level 1 class. They quickly implemented concepts and techniques taught in the class into their projects and additionally sought out further instruction separate of what was being taught in class to make sure they were well rounded throughout the filmmaking process.  They will return for the level 2 class next year.
  • Producer Award
    • Alyzae Nadeem
      • Chelsea almost immediately began producing strong work in the Level 1 class. They quickly implemented concepts and techniques taught in the class into their projects and additionally sought out further instruction separate of what was being taught in class to make sure they were well rounded throughout the filmmaking process.  They will return for the level 2 class next year.
  • Executive Producer Award
    • Julio Riano
      • Julio has shown a great deal of growth through their time in the production class. Their work has improved, their technique has greatly improved, and they've been driven to gain as much experience as possible working on their own and other's projects throughout the year. They plan to continue on to film school next year.

2022 Academy Award Winners

2022 Academy Award winners:

ACADEMY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Evelyn Izdepski: Evie is the epitome of what an Academy student should be. Her level of professionalism is unparalleled amongst her peers. Schoolwork and projects are completed with great skill, research, and care. Not only has this student excelled in her work inside the classroom, but she went above and beyond outside of the classroom as well. Whether it be during performances, productions, or community events, she served as a shining example of what it means to be a reliable student and a true professional. Always someone you can count on, and always ready to help wherever it is needed, she is a pleasure to teach and watch grow as an artist. With the plans to study Musical Theatre at Rider University this fall.

SCHOLARSHIPS

  • ArtsFairfax & Spotlight on the Arts Scholarship: 2021-2022 found the expansion of our scholarship offerings to include both music and dance. These scholarships were selected from graduation seniors who attended Fairfax Academy and are pursuing degrees in their respective fields next year. A panel of industry professionals selected this year's winners from a pool of applicants.
    • Music: William Heilbraun
      • Will is in his second year of the MCT program at Fairfax Academy. He has composed two original works for his Eagle Scout project (where were performed live and recorded), a very creative and unusual project format. He will be attending the world-renowned Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in the fall.
    • Dance: Alexis Evans
      • Alexis impressed the panel with her aspirations of working with people with special needs in addition to opening her own dance studio. It is exciting to hear about her leadership within with Academy dance program in addition to working so closely with her peers as an integral part of the ensemble. We know she will make a lasting impression on society through her dance.
  • Signature Theatre Overtures Scholarship: Through a partnership with the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre, we were able to offer one graduating senior from the Musical Theatre and Actor's Studio program a scholarship to Overtures, a two-week professional training program where students work side-by-side with Broadway and industry professionals. This year's winner is Evan Holt.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

  • Commitment to Deaf Culture Award
    • Imogen Moore and Katie Palmer
      • Imogen Moore and Katie Palmer, juniors at Fairfax High School, have represented a strong commitment to Deaf culture. These students worked together as a team to welcome our new Deaf American Sign Language teacher. They created a social emotional lesson to present to students on how to communicate with a Deaf person when someone doesn’t know American Sign Language. They also demonstrated ways our school community can be inclusive of Deaf staff members. Both Imogen and Katie expanded their efforts of inclusion by presenting Deaf culture topics at a staff meeting. During the meeting, both students presented to a staff of over 100 people. They discussed appropriate terms used for Deaf people and how we can enthusiastically welcome and include people from diverse backgrounds. These students connected with peers and staff to develop a more inclusive environment for Deaf and hard of hearing people.
  • Most Outstanding ASL Student Award
    • Lauren Farley
      • Lauren has shown a lot of dedication and hard work towards ASL class. She is always motiving to learn new sign languages. She loves to help other of her students in need. Not only she is helpful but caring as well. It is a privilege to know and have Lauren in class.
    • Jaden Hauptmann
      • Jaden is who always make sure she does her best. She is a hard worker and coming to ASL class ready to learn. She always came up with great questions. She is serious about her work she contributes to ASL class. It is a privilege to know and have Jaden in class.

ARABIC

  • Rising Star Award 
    • Isabella Dilber
      • Isabella has shown phenomenal engagement with the Arabic course material throughout the school year. Isabella often goes above and beyond. For example, Isabella really went above and beyond during a lesson on numbers and mathematical operations. Students were asked to roll dice and use this information to write out the word and Arabic-number forms a few mathematical expressions. Isabella went ahead and produced way more than the assignment required filling her paper on both sides with the word and number forms of mathematical expressions. This going above and beyond has been characteristic of Isabella’s classroom performance throughout the school year. Previously, Isabella lived in Saudi where she studied Arabic and developed a passion for learning it. Although she is only a freshman, she plans to continue to study the language in college.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Shaheera Kamin
      • Shaheera has demonstrated metalinguistic awareness and a deep understanding of what it takes to acquire a new language. Shaheera has done an amazing job organizing and collecting all her Arabic learning materials over the course of two years for reference and review. Her approach has paid off. Only in her second year, Shaheera is well on her way to developing strong Arabic proficiency. She is also committed to promoting Arabic language and culture and has expressed interest in playing a leadership role in the Arabic Honor Society next year.
  • Outstanding Scholar Award
    • Khalid Elsadig
      • Khalid continuously engaged in his Arabic learning and has a clear passion for the subject. Always inquisitive, Khalid asks important questions and never gives up when writing or reading a difficult text. Moreover, he is very involved in the school community and committed to promoting Arabic language and culture. He has expressed interest in playing a leadership role next year in the nearly established Arabic Honor Society.

CHINESE

  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Zhi Wen Xie
      • Zhi Wen is a rising senior and the co-president of the Chinese club at Fairfax High School and she takes AP Chinese this year. Zhi Wen is dedicated, hard-working, responsible, and constantly challenges herself to do her best in AP Chinese class and in leading the club and the ribbon dance. Zhi Wen works harmoniously with the other officers and is always willing to take challenging tasks to make sure the everything runs smoothly. We greatly appreciate her hard work this year!
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Lottie Parrish
      • Lottie, a rising senior at Fairfax High School, is currently taking Chinese 4. Lottie always demonstrates the highest level of respect and maturity when she interacts with her classmates and teachers. Lottie has fully engaged and immersed herself in all class activities and assignments by going above and beyond in completing her work. Her diligent efforts are an inspiration to other students in the class. Besides, Lottie is also a great dancer. She has participated in the ribbon dance for two years and has performed for the Cultural Celebrations in Fairfax High school.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Myles Burke
      • Myles is very passionate about learning Chinese language and culture. Myles is an active role model in the classroom and always comes to class prepared. He always initiates conversations in Chinese and makes insightful and intelligent contributions during class discussions. He seeks out more opportunities to learn Chinese in and outside of the classroom. Myles is part of the dragon dance group and has performed for the Cultural Celebrations in Fairfax High school. Myles will continue to take AP Chinese next year.

DANCE

  • Heart & Soul Award 
    • Maddie Tyler
      • Maddie has shown a passion and enthusiasm for the academy dance program. She has persevered through the challenges showing great “flexibility”, and pushing her own boundaries, and adapting to new people and situations, all while maintaining the utmost level of professionalism. She is willing to explore and try new things.
  • Rising Star Award 
    • Lacey Vailikit
      • Lacey goes above and beyond any goals that they could set for themselves in dance. She is committed to growing in both technique and artistry, and that is displayed in her passion to perform which is matched by few and inspires many.
  • Outstanding Artist Award
    • Sam Couture
      • Sam shows great enthusiasm for their craft. A performer who has courage in and out of the studio and strives to “balance” the physical and mental demands of being a dancer. An outstanding artist will go to great measures to “stretch” themselves to reach new areas and has passion for growth.

FASHION  CAREERS

  • Visionary Leadership Award
    • Parmida Ansaripour
      • The visionaries that shape the fashion industry include not only designers, but also photographers, stylists, forecasters, brand experts, and so much more. Among this wide array of creative work, the most powerful voices give us pause – pushing us to reflect on the cultural and generational shifts happening around us. They lead the conversations that shape the future of fashion. And no-one embodies this visionary leadership more than Parmida, a senior in Fashion Careers II. Without any formal training, Parmida uses photography and video to share fashion through her unique lens. Her work is raw, honest, and sensitive. Ultimately, what makes Parmida’s work deeply powerful is her empathy - her genuine respect for people, diversity and culture shine brightly in all that she does. Parmida will be moving on to FIT next year. We were lucky to have Parmida here at Fairfax Academy.
  • Designer of the Year Award
    • Tyler Murphy
      • We hear over and over again from college admission officers that they can teach the technical skills, but not the “design eye”. The Designer of the Year Award goes to Tyler, who can’t yet make a pattern or sew for the life of him, but who has in spades that “design sense” you cannot teach. Tyer has an eye for style, an uncanny ability to design product, and a boundless energy to create. He churns out new ideas like it’s easy. Tyler is a senior at Fashion Careers, and he will be attending SCAD next year. We will leave it to SCAD’s capable hands to teach Tyler the technical skills necessary to keep up with the pace of his overflowing ideas. We look forward to proudly claiming Tyler as Fairfax Academy’s very own when he launches his own iconic fashion brand.
  • The Fashion Powerhouse Award
    • Emily Brennan
      • This award goes to the most die-hard fashion student, the one most likely to succeed from sheer drive, passion, and love for fashion. It was a tough call as we had several students who were deserving of this award. Emily is only a junior at Fashion Careers 1, and yet she has already entered numerous fashion competitions and have sewn countless evening gowns. Emily is also quick to help fellow students and share with her classmates where the best fabrics and patterns can be found. As a rising senior, Emily already has her fashion career all mapped out, from the college she wants to attend, to the life of fashion she envisions for herself. Emily will move onto Fashion II next year. She is a fashion powerhouse that will surely have a successful career in fashion – because Emily definitely won’t have it any other way!

KOREAN 

  • Consistent Achievement Award
    • Justin Kim
      • Justin is a consistent worker. His consistent approach towards his academics earned him “all A’s” from Korean 1 through Korean 4. He is planning to take Korean 5 next year. Since the summer of his 10th grade, he has devoted his time to learning Korean traditional ‘Nanta’ drums and performed on numerous occasions for the school and the community. Besides his Korean language and drumming skills, Justin is also very artistic, possessing skills in the visual arts. During the Fairfax Academy Korean STARTALK 2021, Justin brought his art tools and taught students East Asian arts. In his senior year, he is planning to apply for University of Rhode Island and major in arts in college.
  • Academic Excellence Award
    • Jasara Goldsborough
      • Jasara is a level 2 Korean student and demonstrated excellent workmanship. Jasara promptly completes her work and asks questions for deeper understanding. Jasara is a proactive learner and has ownership in her academic journey. Jasara has shown great managing skill while she was organizing a surprise birthday party for her classmate. J Jasara not only has academic success but also a wonderful relationship with her peers. Jasara is going to Columbia College majoring in Arts Management and plans to study abroad for a year in Korea while in University. Her career goal is to be a manager at an entertainment company and an artist manager. I have no doubt that Jasara will have a bright future. 
    • Kathleen Ulanday
      • Kathleen learned Korean for 2 years and has gained competence in communication in Korean and her beautiful handwriting is a bonus. Kathleen led Kpop group and showed wonderful leadership. Also, Kathleen isn’t afraid to ask for help from her peers when needed and is always ready to give help in return. Kathleen deserves gratitude for her positive presence in our class. Kathleen is going to William & Mary on a full-ride scholarship and is a Posse scholar. She will be majoring in International Relations/Business Analytics and hopes to participate in a study abroad program in South Korea during her college career. She also plans to travel to Korea for her own leisure and learn more about Korea and Korean culture. Her dream is either to become a journalist or a lawyer. Kathleen, you can be anything you put your mind to.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Yamileth Hernandez-Becerra
      • Yami is in the 12th grade at Robinson HS and is currently taking Korean Level 2. Over the past two years, Yami has consistently demonstrated excellence in her linguistic abilities. Next year, Yami is going to attend George Mason and double major in Korean and political science. 
  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Siilen Orkhon
      • Siilen demonstrates an aptitude for language. She is a quick learner and a thorough worker. Since she learns languages very quickly, there have been numerous occasions in which I have asked her to assist struggling students during class. The students respond positively to her warm and personable approach and are better able to maintain their focus on learning. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Siilen is an active member in the Korean Honor Society, has devoted time to learning the art of Korean fan dancing and drums, and performed on numerous occasions for the school and the community. Sillen is currently in her 10th grade and plans to continue Korean at the Fairfax Academy next year.

 MUSIC & COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

  • Most Prolific Composer Award
    • Hunter Priest
      • A multi-talented composer, arranger and visual artist, Hunter has created numerous high-quality compositions during his year at the Academy. He is a remarkably creative and prolific young artist, equally adept in the musical and visual arts. Next year, Hunter will be studying Recording Arts Technology.
  • Artistic Development Award 
    • Erick Matute
      • Throughout the current academic year, Erick has developed tremendously as a composer, arranger, jazz saxophonist and recording artist. His compositions have been numerous and memorable, often featuring complex jazz harmonies and textures, as well as the unique and beautiful sound of Erick’s alto saxophone This year, Erick and his band, “Lost In Time“, were the final act in MCTFest 2022, receiving a standing ovation for their performance. A junior at Centreville High School, Erick plans to major in saxophone performance after graduation.
  • Leadership Award
    • Kylie Klimenko
      • As a manager for MCTFest 2021, Kylie was essential to the success of the event, as she assumed the mantle of numerous roles while also serving as a performer herself. Kylie provided vision and continuity of operations for the entire MCTFest family. Her ability to remain calm, focused and upbeat while coordinating the many complex tasks involved made this year’s MCTFest a tremendous success!
  • Leadership Award
    • Shritan Baswaraj, Blas Joaquin Catala, and Sebastian Ramirez
      • MCTFest is a three-hour live concert event that features original music by students in the MCT program. A part of Fairfax’s “Spotlight on the Arts”, MCTFest is a student-managed event and is the only event of its kind in Fairfax County. As mangers for MCTFest 2022, Blaise, Shri and Sebastian assumed responsibility for numerous leadership roles. Their organizational skills, personable leadership style, and willingness to take on the many challenging tasks that were a part of the event made this year’s MCTFest one for the books! We are proud to note that all of our mangers will be going on to study music after graduation, specifically at the Berklee College of Music and Full Sail University. 

MUSICAL THEATRE ACTOR’S STUDIO:

  • Rising Star Award 
    • Haley Kim
      • The Rising Star Award is given to a student who shows extraordinary potential and professional promise. Haley Kim is a rising junior from Woodson HS whose talent spans far beyond her years. With humble humility, she already behaves as a seasoned professional. If “kindness gets your cast”, then Haley will work forever! She has a unique ability to bring harmony to those around her. But it’s her work ethic combined with her immense talent that makes her one to watch!
  • Outstanding Breakthrough Award 
    • Emma Campbell
      • The Outstanding Breakthrough Award is given to a student who has consistently shown great progress and artistic growth. Emma Campbell approaches every performance prospect as an opportunity to improve. From the first risky step she took out of her own comfort zone during our initial Open Rep Day to the brave belter that hit Newsies Square, Emma has made unbelievable strides every step of the way. Many actors are their own worst enemy; not Emma. Filled with a growing talent and overflowing kindness, Emma’s journey is one for the record books – and as a rising senior – it’s only just beginning!
  • Triple Threat Award
    • Chloe Jornales
      • The Triple Threat Award is given to a student with equal talents across the disciplines of singing, dancing, and acting. Chloe Jornales is any director’s dream – the diamond in the rough with the rare ability to equally excel in singing, dancing, and acting. From tapping to belting, Chloe tackles every challenge head-on with a positive determination to improve. This lack of inhibition and devotion to self-expression is what makes Chloe not only easy to work with, but easy to cast…and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts agrees! Chloe will be heading to the Windy City to pursue a BFA in Acting.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Level 1 Portfolio Award 
    • Gideon DeMarco
      • Gideon DeMarco is a very creative and hard-working level one Professional Photography student. Gideon can often be found in the studio trying out new lighting techniques on anything from portraits to product photography. Gideon is also amazing classmate, who is always willing to help other students or collaborate or projects with others. Gideon will be returning to Fairfax High School for his senior year. Although Gideon does not have room in his schedule for level 2, I will continue to help Gideon add to his portfolio so he can get some work in our industry.
  • Outstanding Light Writer Award 
    • Tyler Johnson
      • Tyler Johnson is a very motivated level 2 Professional Photography student. Tyler owns his own landscaping company. Tyler is often working for his business on weekend or after school and still finds time to get all his assignments in on time. Tyler used his photography skills to help promote his landscaping business. He has been hammering social media with photographs of his worker in action. This hard work has been rewarding in the growth of the company. Tyler’s body of work show his knowledge in many different genres of photography. He will be graduating and continuing to grow his company.
  • Rising Star Award 
    • Regina Garcia
      • Regina is an extremely creative level one Professional Photography student. Regina uses her photography to bring awareness to issues such as eating disorders, depression and mental health. Regina won a Silver Key in the Scholastics competition this year. She has a strong desire to become a professional photography and if she keeps up her strong work ethics, I have no doubt that she will be successful. Regina will be returning next year as a level 2 Professional Photography student. She will continue to add to her amazing portfolio so he can attend an art school for photography and pursue a career in photography.
  • Signature Project Award 
    • Carson Owen
      • Carson is an amazing car photographer. Carson has captured a large audience through social media for his car photography. He has been asked to be the main photographer for one or more car clubs. Even though Carson loves to photography cars, I pushed him out of his comfort zone and explained how in todays market, photographers need to be versatile. With this in mind, Carson used this year to create amazing portraits, product and landscape photographs. With his new body of work, our judges picked his portfolio as the winner. Carson will continue to pursue his photographic career while attending VCU Arts.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

  • Brand Ambassador Award
    • Rosie Ramirez De Leon
      • A graduating senior at South Lakes High School, Rosie’s positive attitude and commitment to Social Media and the Academy has been commendable. She served as a representative at multiple Academy functions as an Academy Ambassador and embodies service as an active member of her school’s JROTC program, and hopes to use her knowledge from class to build her school’s JROTC Social Media. 
  • Class Collaborator Award
    • Kasaty  Kofman
      • A rising senior at Centreville High School, Kasaty’s remarkable attitude and willingness to lead and learn with everyone in class was what made her stand out. She volunteered her time with Academy recruitment efforts as an Academy Ambassador and worked positively with students from schools across the county. She will no doubt continue to find success in any endeavor she undertakes. 

TELEVISION AND MEDIA PRODUCTION

  • Up and Coming Award
    • Francesca Angeles
      • The first award goes to a student who, although quiet, has strong instincts as to how to lead a production and created a successful short film in second quarter that has amassed a large number of views on YouTube. She will be returning to the class next year for level two. 
    • Lucas Gomez
      • The second award goes to a student who has excelled through the year as a level one student, pushing themselves to work on more challenging projects and really incorporating lessons from the class into each project they do. They will also be returning to class next year as a level two student.
  • Executive Producer Award
    • Hope Peters and Alex Ringier
      • Usually only given to one student who exemplifies an industry level understanding of what has been taught in class, this year there are two students who exhibit both a comprehensive understanding of the material and the drive needed to succeed in the industry going forward. The Executive Producer award goes to Hope Peters and Alex Ringier, who will now duel on stage for the right to take home the trophy. Hope will be attending SCAD in the fall and Alex will be attending Cal State University - Northridge.

2021 Academy Award Winners

2020-2021 Academy Award winners:

ACADEMY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Toqa Hassanein: Toqa participated in numerous Academy programs (Korean, Arabic and Professional Photography) during her time at Fairfax Academy. The entire Academy staff is always impressed by her professionalism and friendly nature with students and staff. She is the first to chime in, even during virtual classes. She was the student leader to help start the Arabic Honor Society. We are all so proud of her accomplishments and she will be greatly missed.

SCHOLARSHIP

ArtsFairfax & Spotlight on the Arts Scholarship

Jared Simons: 2020-2021 was the inaugural year for the Fairfax High/Fairfax Academy Spotlight on the Arts Scholarship. This scholarship is selected from seniors who attend FHS and/or Fairfax Academy MCT and will be pursuing a music degree in college. An panel of music professionals selected Jared from a pool of applicants. Jared was selected not only for his leadership in various musical ensembles in high school, but also his prolific composition that was submitted as part of the application. 

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

  • Most Conscientious Student
    • Diego Gaitan
      • Diego is a positive role model for other students, who possesses leadership qualities. He creates an overall positive classroom environment for others. In addition, he urges other students to be conscientious towards other students when they express differing opinions.
  • Most Inquisitive Student
    • Frankie Smith
      • Frankie is always the first person to turn on his camera, while leading his group members through assignments. He asks thoughtful questions beyond what is required in class and puts his heart into daily instruction.

ARABIC

  • Arabic Level 4
    • Nemati Saleh
      • Nemati is a very hard worker and has a great enthusiasm and interest in the subject both inside and outside of class. She goes above and beyond. She designed an informative presentation about Palestine for the Arabic Honor Society.
  • Arabic Level 3
    • Lamees Mohamed
      • Lamees is a really hard worker. She is always engaged in her learning, and completes her assignments on time. She also has a lot of insight to contribute to class conversations. She always helps her peers, as well.
  • Arabic Level 2
    • Sami Moudarres
      • Sami is a great risk-taker. Always willing to read aloud in front of his peers and turn the microphone on during group activities, he has made a lot of progress this year; and he is well on his way to having strong literacy skills in Arabic.
  • Arabic Level 1
    • William Read
      • William is a great Arabic student. He visited Morocco a couple summers ago, and he has really fallen in love with the Arabic language. He has unbelievable handwriting (it almost resembles calligraphy). He also has a strong knowledge of grammar (in English and Arabic), which is serving him well in his journey to learn Arabic. I am 100 percent sure William is going to go very far with this language.

CHINESE

  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Naomi Hamaker
      • Naomi Hamaker is a senior and the co-president of the Chinese club at Fairfax High School. Naomi takes AP Chinese this year. Naomi is dedicated, hard-working, responsible, and constantly challenges herself to do her best in AP Chinese class and in leading the club. Naomi works harmoniously with the other officers in Chinese club and organizes and has been running the activities smoothly during the pandemic.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Brandon Nesbit
      • Brandon Nesbit, a rising junior in South Lake high school, is currently taking AP Chinese. Brandon’s persistent pursuit of excellence has made him exceed expectations in all four areas of communicative abilities---speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Chinese. Through learning Chinese, Brandon has developed a strong knowledge and appreciation for the Chinese culture. He demonstrates his passion for Chinese culture by seeking out more opportunities to learn Chinese inside and outside of the classroom. Brandon is always positive and open-minded and is an active participant in the class discussions, something that deserves extra recognition due to the difficulty of virtual classes.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Aidan Peters
      • Aidan, a rising senior in Fairfax high school, is taking Chinese 4 this year and will continue to take AP Chinese next year. Aidan consistently demonstrates strong motivation in learning Chinese. Aidan always tries to apply new words and structures he learns into daily conversation in creative ways. He fully engages and immerses himself in all class activities and discussions. His diligent efforts are an inspiration to all in the class.

DANCE

  • Heart & Soul Award
    • Angeliki Dipla
      • This is Angeliki's third year at the Academy and is taking 2 dance classes this year. Her passion for dance is evident when you see her move. She is always ready and prepared. She has grown so much and puts everything into the class and her technique.
  • Rising Star Award
    • Alexis Evans
      • Alexis has been at the Academy for three years and will be a senior next year. She has continued to grow and stretch herself as an artist and her positive energy is felt even through the computer screen. She has not missed a single class this year and her professionalism is one of the reasons she has a really bright future.
  • Rising Star Award
    • Anna Limberea
      • Anna has worked through lots of challenges this year. Starting her training at a later age, Anna rapidly learned what it means to be a dancing artist. Her dance knowledge and artistic style have increased greatly. She has a very unique movement style that will take her far. Anna will be attending the London Contemporary School of Dance in the fall.
  • Overcoming Award
    • Angelique Melendez-Vargas
      • Angelique has been in the program her entire high school career. This year she has pushed through some tough obstacles . Despite these challenges, Angelique continues to dance, and dance beautifully. Her performance atthe end, shows no sign of the troubles that came before it. Congratulations!

FASHION  CAREERS

  • Overcoming Obstracles Award
    • Jaehoo You
      • Jaehoo started and ended this school year in Seoul Korea. Even with the 15 hour time difference, she still attended all of her classes even if they were in the middle of the night to early morning. She didn’t let obstacles that were in her way get in the middle of her education. Congratulations Jaehoo for a successful senior year and best of luck at Parsons School of Design next year!
  • Attitude with Altitude Award
    • Brooke Socha
      • Brooke has a love of learning and has a wonderfully positive attitude. She is also very kind hearted and has an appreciation for people around her. With her positive personality, a great work ethic and appreciation for others, I can see Brooke becoming a fantastic leader and being able to fulfill everything she puts her mind to.
  • Attitude with Altitude Award
    • Alenoush Davis
      • Alenoush is always eager and enthusiastic about learning and maintains a positive attitude that allows her to produce quality work. A lot of the time, she goes above and beyond what is expected of her. I know she will accomplish everything she sets her mind to!
  • Designer of the Year
    • Shyenne Farrell
      • Shyenne has worked very hard since the beginning of this school year on her beautiful and challenging debut collection where she designed and made the pieces herself. During this process Shyenne has grown exponentially in her skill sets! She also embodies the creativity, work ethic, and positive attitude that is necessary for success! Congratulations on such an original and cohesive collection!

KOREAN 

  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Allison Chan
      • Allison is in the 12th grade at Madison HS and is currently taking Korean Level 2. Over the past two years, Allison has consistently demonstrated excellence in her linguistic abilities. Allison learns language concepts quickly and helps other students in class. Next year, Allison is going to attend University of Pittsburg and major in chemical engineering.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Toqa Hassanein
      • Toqa is a true scholar who is continually seeking to improve. She is not just satisfied with taking what is presented but is proactive in her learning. Especially, her exemplary behavior contributes in building positive learning environment.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Yamileth Hernandez-Becerra
      • Yami is in the 12th grade at Robinson HS and is currently taking Korean Level 2. Over the past two years, Yami has consistently demonstrated excellence in her linguistic abilities. Next year, Yami is going to attend George Mason and double major in Korean and political science. 
  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Soo Bin Jung
      • Soo Bin joined Fairfax Academy in her 9th grade. Over the two years while taking Korean 1 and Korean 2, Soo Bin managed the class Quizlet site where her classmates can prepare for quizzes and tests. Thanks to her contribution, her classmates developed close friendships and helped each other to succeed in class. This year, in the Korean 3&4 class, Soo Bin uploads her movie projects as examples in the google classroom and guides her classmates in creating their own projects. Next year, as a senior, she is planning to premed in college to become a doctor.
  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Soo Jin Jung
      • Soo Jin is very talented students yet, she strive to achieve higher goal. She puts sincere effort every task given to her and complete it with outstanding workmanship. Also, Soo Jin actively participates during class and shared her musical talent with class mates. Soo Jin truly deserves outstanding achievement award.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Udval Orkhon
      • Udval is an outstanding student who can speak multiple languages (English, Korean, Mongolian and German). She has an aptitude in learning languages and approaches her academic success with diligence and sincerity. Her scholastic strengths include outstanding progress with daily assignments and exceptional language projects. Next year, Udval is going to attend Yonsei University in Seoul Korea and major in psychology. After college, she hopes to find an occupation where she can make use of the many languages she speaks.

 MUSIC & COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

  • Most Prolific Composer Award
    • Jared Simons
      • A multi-talented composer and percussionist, Jared’s work has primarily focused on film score composition over the last two years at the Academy. Throughout his time as a student in the MCT program, he has composed numerous works for film, employing both traditional orchestral and electronic instrumentation. Additionally, Jared is serving as audio director for this year’s MCTFest. Next year, Jared will be studying Film Composition at the famed Berklee College of Music. We are also pleased to announce that he will be receiving a scholarship from Berklee for his portfolio of work developed this year at the Academy.
  • Artistic Development Award 
    • Christopher Arnhold
      • Over the past two years, Christopher has been an inspiration to his peers through his highly creative approach to his work in MCT. His artistic development and musical output have been both prolific and high in quality. He has also been a wonderful ambassador for the Academy’s MCT program, representing the Academy at several events prior to the pandemic. Next year, Christopher will be majoring in Music Technology at George Mason University.
  • Leadership Award
    • Kylie Klimenko
      • As a manager for MCTFest 2021, Kylie was essential to the success of the event, as she assumed the mantle of numerous roles while also serving as a performer herself. Kylie provided vision and continuity of operations for the entire MCTFest family. Her ability to remain calm, focused and upbeat while coordinating the many complex tasks involved made this year’s MCTFest a tremendous success!
  • Leadership Award
    • Kate Coffin
      • As a manager for MCTFest 2021, Kate was responsible for the much of the writing and communications that were a part of this year’s event. Her remarkable organizational skills, personable leadership style, and willingness to take on the many challenging tasks that were a part of the event helped make this year’s MCTFest a tremendous success!

MUSICAL THEATRE ACTOR’S STUDIO:

  • Rising Star Award
    • Sophia Manicone
      • Ms. Manicone is a rising junior from Madison HS, whose talent spans far beyond her years. Having worked with Reston Community Players and the Creative Caldron, along with several other theatre companies, Sophia already behaves as a seasoned professional. Her work ethic combined with her immense talent makes her one to watch!
  • Sweeping Star Award
    • Harrison MacInnis
      • Mr. MacInnis’ talents don’t stop with his abilities to sing, dance, and act. Perhaps a testament to the true artist inside of him, Harry is constantly challenging himself in an effort to grow as a student, a friend, a son, and a human being. This self-exploration and determination will take him far, discovering new possibilities as he majors in Collaborative Arts at NYU.
  • Outstanding Breakthrough Award
    • William Choi
      • Mr. Choi approaches every performance prospect as an opportunity to improve. From the first risky step he took out of his own comfort zone freshman year to the confident crooning that closed his senior show, William has made unbelievable strides every step of the way. Many actors are their own worst enemy; William is everyone’s best friend. Filled with immense talent and overflowing kindness, William’s journey is one for the record books – a journey which starts its next act at Boston Conservatory next fall!
  • Triple Threat Award
    • Steven Eckloff
      • Mr. Eckloff is any director’s dream – the diamond in the rough with the rare ability to equally excel in singing, dancing, and acting. From tapping to tenor-ing, Steven tackles every challenge head-on with a positive determination to improve. This lack of inhibition and devotion to self-expression is what makes Steven not only easy to work with, but easy to cast…and Boston Conservatory agrees!

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Level 1 Portfolio Award
    • Tyler Johnson
      • Tyler is a hard working and respectful student in Professional Photo level 1. Tyler's work display a broad understanding of light as well as composition to produce stunning images. He has really expanded his skills this year and it shows in his amazing available light portraits. Tyler will be attending Professional Photo level 2 next year
  • Outstanding Light Writer Award
    • Tam Anh Duong
      • Tam Anh is a talented level 2 Professional Photo students. Tam Anh's photo skills have developed tremendously over the two years in class. Tam Anh has created her own style, which has lead to her creating an amazing portfolio of Product Photography shots. I hope Tam Anh continues to shoot products and makes money from her photography while attending college.
  • Rising Star Award
    • Robert Folsom
      • Robert is an amazing level 1 Professional Photo student who continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Robert has already found a market in Real Estate and portrait photography. I am really excited to see Roberts growth in Photography next year as a level 2 when he can be in the studio on a regular basis
  • Signature Project Award
    • Tobey Peralta
      • Tobey is a skilled level 2 Professional Photo student with a passion for film photography. Tobey has grown more in his photographic skills in two years more than most students I have taught in ten years. Tobey is developing a style in his available light portraits. Tobey will be be creating more stunning images while attending VCU in the fall.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

  • Brand Ambassador Award
    • Madison Knapp
      • We are pleased to recognize Madison Knapp as Social Media Marketing’s 2021 Brand Ambassador of the year! A rising junior here at Fairfax High School, Madison's positive attitude and commitment to Social Media and the Academy during a year of virtual learning has been commendable. As an active & avid DECA member, she represented FHS & Virginia at the District, State, & International Levels of competition. Congratulations Madison!
  • Class Collaborator Award
    • Michelle Melusky
      • Michelle (Sophia) Melusky is Social Media Marketing’s 2021 Class Collaborator of the year. A graduating senior at Fairfax High School, Sophia's friendly attitude and willingness to lead and learn with students from across FCPS was what made her stand out. In addition to Sophia’s dedication to her academics, Sophia also worked at a local assisted living facility during the COVID pandemic. Her peers would tell you that she would always come to class with a positive attitude & a welcoming smile. She will no doubt continue to find success in any endeavor she undertakes. Congratulations Sophia!

TELEVISION AND MEDIA PRODUCTION

  • Executive Producer Award
    • Ryan Dennison
      • This is Ryan's third year in the Film and TV program and his work has grown by leaps and bounds during that time. His work this year, even with the limitations of the pandemic, show a maturity and assuredness. His documentary project for this year on the U.S. Capitol siege is incredibly compelling and a very professional piece of media.
  • Producer Award
    • Sujay Khona
      • Sujay has continued to excel in the class despite the difficulties of producing media in a pandemic. He's pushed the boundaries of student filmmaking during Covid by creating a live action experimental film with no physical actors, but with human characters that can't be seen.
  • Producer Award
    • Elia Faith Crianza
      • Elia is an exceptional student with a unique vision that she applies to her productions. She is questioning, experimental, and isn't afraid to challenge what might be considered the status quo. Her ability to dig down into what makes a production work and then implement the creative details that help tell her story makes her a force to reckoned with in the film and television industry. We need more voices like hers creating stories.

2020 Academy Award Winners

2019-2020 Academy Award winners:

ACADEMY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Braden Aust: For the past two years, Braden Aust has enthusiastically served the Academy in numerous ways. A cool level-headed worker no matter how demanding the task, Braden has taken on some huge roles in his time at the Academy. As a member of the MCT program, he employed his stage management and technical skills to produce both MCTFest 2019 and MCTFest 2020 Online: Social Dissonance.

As Stage Manager and Lighting Designer for A Chorus Line, he leveraged the powers of Google Classroom and Calendar to help monitor attendance, organize cast and crew schedules, and communicate with over sixty cast members.. He helped the Producer and Director acquire all items that needed to be purchased for the show, including last minute needs. Braden mentored an assistant lighting designer from another school, constructed extensions to the stage, helped troubleshoot and problem-solve countless obstacles along the way, and in the end, helped stage a milestone production for the Academy.

Additionally, Braden has been an outstanding ambassador for the Academy, both by serving at Academy events and by promoting Academy programs at other schools. His positive, upbeat approach, wonderful sense of humor and willingness to serve makes him a joy to work with in every way. Congratulations Braden!! We wish you all the best!.

ARABIC

  • Rising Star Award
    • John ‘Colm’ Cochran
      • Colm, a rising sophomore, is a heritage learner who is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to learn Arabic. He demonstrated a real knack for learning the language throughout the year, and was a pleasure to have in class. 
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Haroon Amanullah
      • During the FHS open-house at the beginning of the year, I met Haroon’s father, who mentioned that his family was of Pakistani origin and Haroon had a little bit of experience studying Quranic Arabic, because of their Muslim heritage. He mentioned that Haroon was now looking to gain a level of proficiency in the language and they thought the course would be a good fit.  Throughout the year, Haroon has never hesitated to make the best use of the classroom time to learn the language. Always asking questions about grammar, participating actively in speaking activities, and succeeding on assessments, Haroon is well on his way to achieving a high-level of proficiency in the language. 
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Toqa Hassanein
      • Toqa, a junior, is originally from Egypt.  She came into the class with a solid knowledge of Arabic. She has very strong writing skills, which really shined through in many of her assignments.  She was always a great help to some of her fellow students who found learning the language difficult.  Furthermore, she was a great help to the Arabic program.  When the Lanier Middle School students visited, she enthusiastically shared her experiences in our Arabic program and encouraged them to enroll. She has also laid the groundwork for establishing an Arabic Honor Society at Fairfax High School, although unfortunately this has been delayed due to the pandemic crisis. Actually, Arabic is not the only academy language that Toqa studies—she studies Korean, which she plans on majoring in at the post-secondary level.  I know she will be an asset to her Korean language program. 
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Fiona Hood
      • Fiona, a rising junior, was a pleasure to have in class and always completed assignments and enthusiastically participated in class activities. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to write her a letter of recommendation earlier in the year for an academic opportunity that she was pursuing and I learned that not only is she a very strong student, but she excels in a number of extracurricular activities.  – she is a pianist and competes in competitive sports.  Her ability to balance multiple commitments and extra-curricular activities translates to great executive skills in class. Being a high school teacher, you often find that you need to explain things multiple times, but Fiona is always on-task and is clarifying instructions for other students.

CHINESE

  • Outstanding Contribution Award
    • Jin Wen Xie
      • Jin Wen has dedicated her talents and time to serving in a leadership role to help organize activities to promote and celebrate Chinese culture. She is very reliable and consistent in her participation. Jin Wen not only plays the main role, a backup role, a supporting role in most activities she is involved in, but she is always the last person to leave to make sure everything is good. We greatly appreciate her hard work! Congratulations Jinwen!
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • MacKenzie Burgoyne
      • MacKenzie consistently demonstrates her strong motivation in learning Chinese. She fully engages and immerses herself in all class activities, discussions, and is always the first student to turn in assignments. Her diligent efforts are an inspiration to all in the class. Congratulations MacKenzie!
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Leah Hamaker
      • Leah’s persistent pursuit of excellence has brought her competence in all four areas of communicative abilities---speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Chinese. She constantly challenges herself in both speaking and in writing and excels in both. When tutoring her peers in class, she tries different methods to explain the grammar points to make sure the concepts were understood. She is an excellent tutor! Congratulations Leah!

DANCE

  • Heart & Soul Award
    • Zoe Varacalli
      • Zoe has been an Academy student for the past two years in the Dance and Professional Photography programs and was in the Academy’s musical, A Chorus Line. She is always willing to help her classmates and teachers. After high school Zoe plans to attend a Semester at Sea and take college courses from the boat while exploring Europe, Africa, and Asia.
  • Rising Star Award
    • Angelique Melendez-Vargas
      • Angelique has been at the Academy for three years and will be a senior next year.  She has continued to grow and stretch herself as an artist and her positive energy makes the classroom a place that breeds creativity. Angelique is quite a beautiful dancer, and we look forward to what the future holds for her. 
  • Rising Star Award
    • Amanda Cook
      • This is Amanda's first year with the Academy. She has proven that she truly loves dance and wants to be better in all aspects. She tackles new and difficult techniques and is driven to become a great artist. Amanda choreographed a wonderful hip hop routine for the 8th period Hip Hop class and has a bright future.
  • Outstanding Artist Award
    • Alysea Colon
      • Alysea is the epitome of success through the Fairfax Academy Dance Program. She has been in the program her entire high school career with little to no outside training. She has rapidly learned what it means to be a dancing artist. This is due to her hard work, commitment, and love of dance. She attended Governor’s School last summer and will be attending  The Peabody Conservatory at John Hopkins in the fall to study Dance.

FASHION  CAREERS

  • Excellence Award
    • Hartej (‘Harry’) Singh
      • Harry is a true fashion designer at work! He is artistically talented, self-motivated, and diligent with a positive attitude. He understands how to work hard, be organized, and how to spend his time wisely. I have seen this first hand this year as he skillfully juggled an intense Fashion Careers class (creating his debut collection of six looks), creation of his fine arts/design college portfolio in four short months, and maintaining good grades in all of his honors/AP classes. There were mishaps here and there as his schedule was very hectic, to say the least, but when he struggled with his workload, it was his positive attitude and laughter that carried him through the rough patches to get him back on track.  Harry definitely earned this award!  Congratulations Harry, we are very proud of you and everything you have accomplished ‘with excellence’ this year!
  • Attitude with Altitude Award
    • Alenoush Davis
      • Alenoush is always so enthusiastic about learning and is a cheerleader who celebrates her successes and the success of her classmates wholeheartedly! Even when going through rough patches, she maintains a positive attitude that allows her to continue producing quality work.  A lot of the time, she goes above and beyond what is expected of her.  For our virtual learning, she set out to construct a historically accurate dress from the 1600’s which consists of intricate construction detailing and couture techniques like boning, quilted petticoats and even adding an undergarment pocketing which was worn during that time period.  She continues to amaze me with her “Can Do” attitude!  I know she will accomplish everything she sets her mind to!  I am very proud of you and I know that success is yours for the taking wherever you go!
  • Designer of the Year Award
    • Lars Rosen
      • Lars is an eager and passionate student who works hard and is naturally gifted in the area of concept development and design.  He goes above and beyond what is asked of him in class, which can be seen in his debut collection where he conceptually and visually “plays” around with the concept of physical and emotional “baggage” and creates a beautiful five look collection composed of multiple pieces.  I am so proud of Lars and everything he has accomplished in his two years at Fairfax Academy and we all are excited to see the impact he will have in the Fashion Industry. 
  • The World Changer Award
    • Olivia Appleberry
      • Olivia is a trustworthy person you can count on with a gentle soul.  She has an appreciation for people and a natural desire to help and offer up her services to others.  Naturally, Olivia is an Academy Ambassador who has volunteered through-out the year, wherever help was needed.  Our Fashion Careers virtual learning curriculum consisted of picking from a “Skills Menu” (4 projects that would allow the students to grow in a skill-set, one of the projects being making masks).  Even before this project was given to the Fashion Careers 1 class, she had already set out to mass produce masks to donate to the community!  Olivia is a kind hearted person with the work ethic to carry out her plans to help people and change the world around her for the better. We are all very proud of you Olivia! You are a World Changer, and you should never forget that because we will never forget that about you! 

KOREAN 

  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Uyen Van
      • Miss Uyen Van is a Madison HS student who successfully completed Korean level 1 in 10th grade and is currently taking Korean 2.  Uyen has developed great skills in Korean language over the past two years and is planning to continue to study Korean 3&4 at the Fairfax Academy next year. 
  • Outstanding Achievement Award
    • Isabelle LeClerc
      • Miss LeClerc is in the 11th grade at Westfield HS and is currently taking Korean Level 2. Over the past two years, Isabelle has consistently demonstrated excellence in her linguistic abilities.  Isabelle learns language concepts quickly and helps any student needing help in class.  Next year as a senior, Isabelle is returning to the Academy to take Korean 3 & 4. 
  • Leadership Award
    • Kylie Kim
      • Miss Kim joined Fairfax Academy last year as a 9th grader and is currently taking Korean 3&4. Early on, Kylie demonstrated the ability to bring a group of people together to work toward a common goal. Kylie manages a google classroom announcement for her classmates to help keep them up to date with homework, projects and any other important due dates. She has also created a Quizlet site where her classmates can prepare for quizzes and tests. Thanks to her leadership, her classmates developed close friendships and helped each other to succeed in class. In addition to her academic excellence, Kylie also has learned Korean traditional drumming through the Korean Honor Society (KHS) and has performed for school and community events. Next year, Kylie is planning to continue to participate in and lead the KHS drum groups.
  • Leadership Award
    • Annabelle Pham
      • Miss Annabelle Pham is an Oakton HS student who has been attending Fairfax Academy Korean classes since 10th grade. Annabelle has demonstrated great compassion for others and has proven her maturity by working closely with struggling students during class.  She is very happy to assist any student needing help and takes extra time to explain language concepts, grammar, and syntax.  The students respond positively to Annabelle, and as a result of her assistance are better able to maintain their focus on language learning.  Although she cannot return to the Fairfax Academy next year, Annabelle would like to continue to study the Korean language in college.

MUSIC & COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

  • Most Prolific Composer Award
    • Clark Tao 
      • A multi-talented composer, pianist and trumpet player, Clark has created numerous high-quality compositions over the last two years at the Academy. This year, Clark composed an electronic triptych for his portfolio, a work in three movements depicting the rise of a young musical artist to international fame. Portions of the work were used in the Academy’s Virtual Events trailer this year.  Next year, Clark will be studying Recording Arts Technology at Full Sail University.  We are also pleased to announce that Clark is a recipient of Full Sail’s “Creative Minds” Scholarship, a $25,000 award granted to exemplary students in the field of digital and media arts. 
  • Artistic Development Award 
    • Darius Holweg
      • Over the past two years, Darius has been an inspiration to his peers through his highly creative approach to his work in MCT.  His artistic development and musical output have been both prolific and high in quality. This year, Darius was instrumental in the design and construction of a new sound proof recording booth in the MCT Lab. We are happy to announce that Darius will be attending Liberty University in the fall majoring in Music Production and Recording Arts.
  • Leadership Award
    • Angie Wiederock
      •  As an MCT Manger, Angie was an asset to the team, as she assumed the mantle of numerous roles while also serving as a performer herself. ngie provided vision and continuity of operations for the entire MCTFest family.  Her remarkable organizational skills, personable leadership style, and willingness to take on the many challenging tasks that were a part of the event made this year’s MCTFest one for the books!  We are proud to mention that Angie will be double majoring in Music Industry and International Relations at James Madison University.
  • Leadership Award
    • Nathan Brown
      • As a manager for MCTFest 2020, Nate was responsible for the technical management of the album, including the editing, mixing and mastering of all performance tracks. Nate’s enthusiasm and energy were a major component of the success of the event.  We are very happy to share that Nate will be attending Columbia College in the fall! 

MUSICAL THEATRE ACTOR’S STUDIO:

  • Rising Star Award
    • Evelyn Izdepski
      • Ms. Izdepski is a rising junior from Falls Church HS. She is a marvelous young performer with incredible skills. In fact she understudied at least three and perhaps four characters in our latest production of A Chorus Line.  She was a featured dancer in every dance number. Evie also stepped in when necessary to work with other students on their dance skills and often lead dance classes for the entire class. She does all this without being asked and expects nothing in return. Evelyn is an outstanding student and a wonderful choice for our Rising Star.
  • Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
    • Riley Rhoder
      • Ms. Rhoder has not decided yet what colleges she will attend for theatre, but Shenandoah, CCM and Michigan are high on the list. Riley is one of the few students to come to the Academy as a freshman starting with Ms. Cook and Ms. Barnes in Dance, and Mr. Replogle in Musical Theatre Actors Studio. She has been the Class Secretary/librarian for two years and has attempted to keep Mr. Replogle organized the entire time, to no avail. She is kind, honest and professional, and we know she will do well. We wish her all the best.
  • Most Improved Award
    • Angelina Cate
      • Ms. Cate has constantly stepped up in every area of performance. To better perform the part of Morales in A Chorus Line, she worked extensively on dancing on her own and with Ms. Cook, our choreographer. Her vocals, already strong…had to become even more so and she is always in the top percent of her class acting wise. Ms. Cate has decided to take a gap year to work and improve her performance skills. She looks forward to directing and teaching after a professional career. Texas State, Shenandoah, and Baldwin Wallace are of interest.
  • Triple Threat Award
    • Diana Halick
      • Ms. Halick truly is a triple threat. Singing was her first passion. She is a legitimately trained vocalist and opt to sing opera as musical theatre.  She has competed often in vocal competitions across the region. Dancing of all types, especially tap is a real passion. Diana is constantly finding new ways to improve herself. Lately, her acting has gotten her such notice that she has been invited to attend Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts this fall. Congratulations Ms. Halick.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Level-1 Portfolio Award
    • Jordyn Salow
      • Jordyn is a very ambitious and hard working student in the level 1 Professional Photography class.  Since joining the class, Jordyn has collaborated with many classes on different projects.  She was stage manager, as well as, a photographer for A Chorus Line, a show put on by the Musical Theatre & Actor’s Studio program.  She also photographed the dance benefit concert.  These are just two of the many collaborative projects that Jordyn worked on.  She plans to go UMd to study Psychology and Women Studies.  Jordyn plans to continue her photographic career as well.  She already has jobs booked for her own company.
  • Outstanding Light Writer Award
    • DJ Bartly
      • DJ Bartly is a high spirited, multi-talented student in the level 2 Professional Photography class.  DJ is also one of our acting students at Fairfax Academy.  Because of his knowledge of acting, DJ knows what it takes to produce an amazing headshot and has created great images for many of his acting classmates and others.  DJ has collaborated with the majority of our Academy classes.  He has also worked with the Fashion class on several projects as well as studio shots for the MCT class.  DJ will be attending Texas State where he plans to study Theater and Business.  He will also continue his photographic journey working with new clients he meets when he moves back to Texas.
  • Rising Star Award
    • Peter Makin
      • Peter Makin is a polite, creative and very athletic level 2 student in my Professional Photography class.  Peter is a very talented swimmer who will be swimming for Auburn in the fall.  He puts this same level of dedication into all he does.  His pictures show the time and effort that he has dedicated to his photographic skills.  Peter produces amazing nature and landscape images that have a dream-like feeling.  Peter is interested in studying to become a commercial Pilot at Auburn.
  • Signature Project Award
    • Samy Derbali
      • Samy Derbali is a very talented and creative level 2 student in the Professional Photography class.  Samy is always willing to help out a classmate with anything they may need assistance on.  He has also been our class videographer on all of our awesome field trips. His videos can be found on YouTube.  Samy is already doing jobs in the photographic and  videography world.  Samy plans on attending George Mason to study Finance and continue pursuing a career in Photography and Videography. 

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

  • Brand Ambassador Award
    • Maria Christou
      • Maria is a graduating senior at Madison High School. Maria’s positive attitude and commitment to Social Media and the Academy has been commendable. She served as a representative at multiple Academy functions, and will be continuing her studies in Marketing next year with a concentration in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing. Congratulations Maria!
  • Class Collaborator Award
    • Natalie Davison
      • Natalie is a graduating senior also at Madison High School. Natalie’s remarkable attitude and willingness to lead and learn with everyone in class was what made her stand out. She volunteered her time with Academy recruitment efforts at local middle schools throughout the county and would always come to class with a smile. She will no doubt continue to find success in any endeavor she undertakes. Congratulations Natalie!

TELEVISION AND MEDIA PRODUCTION

  • Executive Producer Award
    • Katya Shakula
      • Katya has been in the program for two years and is easily one of the most impressive young filmmakers in this area.  She is xtremely talented in all areas of production and tackles whatever role she's in with enthusiasm and dedication.  She has led her own production outside of class utilizing professional cast and crew in the Northern VA area and has another large project currently in the works.  
  • Up & Coming Award
    • Sujay Khona
      • Sujay is a very talented first year filmmaker whose work this year has already won a national film competition.  He's resourceful and inquisitive - seeking out knowledge and information both in class and outside of class.  Additionally, Sujay displays talent as an actor, making him formidable in front and behind the camera.  Sujay will return to the class next year as a Level 2 student.  
  • Up & Coming Award
    • Sophia Skiavo 
      • Sophia is a multi-talented student who really should have taken the class before she was a senior.  She displays an immense proclivity and aptitude towards production, both on the pre-production side and post-production side, making her an excellent leader in all phases of a project.  Her animation work has already been on national television, as part of a fan made opening sequence for the Fox network animated comedy Bob's Burgers.  

ACADEMY AMBASSADORS

Every year, we have been fortunate to have a large group of responsible student volunteers, our Ambassadors, who offer to represent and assist Fairfax Academy at a variety of functions. 

We want to take a moment to say thank you to ALL of our Ambassadors for the exorbitant amount of time and quality efforts these students put forth throughout this entire school year! 

This year we have two exceptional Ambassadors we would like to recognize individually for their continuous dedication, and service to the Academy.  Our Rising Star is given to an outstanding underclassman, while our Shooting Star’s recipient is a remarkable graduating senior. Both of these young ladies are mature, hard-working Ambassadors who are both very deserving of this significant recognition. 

  • Rising Star Award 
    •  Phuong-Anh Pham 
      • This is Phuong-Anh’s second year as an Ambassador. Phuong-Anh is always willing to help out and has actually volunteered for more events than any other Ambassador this year. She continues to be a strong supporter and promoter of the Academy and we look forward to her continuing on as an Ambassador her last two years at the Academy.
  • Shooting Star Award 
    • Alysea Colon 
      • This is Alysea’s 3rd year as an Ambassador. Alysea has far exceeded our expectations and is viewed as a leader and spokesperson for our Academy and her dance class. She is always at the top of the list for student panels, elective and curriculum fairs, special events and tours such as middle school tours, the Academy Experience, Open Houses and Back to School Nights, to name a few. Alysea’s positive and supportive attitude and eagerness to always help has made her one of our most valuable assets