| Reston's
‘Best' Honored |
By Jackie Allder
Observer Staff Writer |
| Members of the Reston community gathered together Thursday,
Jan. 11, to celebrate the community's "best" members
at the 16th annual Best of Reston awards. The annual awards
honor businesses and individuals who volunteer their time
to help improve the community. |
| "I've always called the Best of Reston the Academy
Awards of Northern Virginia," said Georgia Graves, who
was among the seven individuals and companies that were honored.
Graves's business, Bridgman Communications, has been in Reston
for the past 24 years, and she said she credits her success
to the networking and partnership opportunities she has been
presented through the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.
|
| Graves previously served as chairman of the chamber, and
she also is involved in the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce,
the Council for the Arts of Herndon, Fairfax County's public
access television and Herndon's channel 23. |
| Honorees also included Fran and John Lovaas, whose involvement
in Reston stretches from the Reston Homegrown Farmers' Market,
which John Lovaas helped found about 10 years ago, to the
American Association of University Women to the Herndon Official
Workers Center. |
| The couple said they were excited about the award and praised
the community for offering so many opportunities to get involved.
|
| "In other communities, we couldn't do what we do,"
said John Lovaas. "It's a tribute to Reston." |
| Wendell Byrd, basketball coach at South Lakes High School
and a former teacher at Hutchison Elementary School, was another
Best of Reston winner. Byrd retired from teaching in June
and he plans to retire from coaching after this season, but
he said he is just as busy as ever. |
| Byrd said he started a nonprofit mentoring program, and
the program has expanded to include six high schools and 10
elementary schools. He currently works with 45 student-athletes
at South Lakes who travel weekly to Terraset Elementary School
to tutor 35 students. Byrd also works part-time with Fairfax
County's community and recreation services. |
| The 2007 Best of Reston winners included another educator,
Frank Bensinger, principal of Forest Edge Elementary School.
Bensinger was described as, "showing remarkable dedication
to the education of his students, a passion that some colleague
describe as ‘contagious.'" |
| Reston Association's board president, Jennifer Blackwell,
was also named one of the 2007 Best of Reston winners. Blackwell's
balancing of her work as an attorney for the Department of
Justice, as a mother and as a volunteer in the community were
noted during the announcement. |
| Access National Bank and NII Holdings were also named 2007
Best of Reston winners. Genie Graham, assistant to the CEO
and CFO of NII Holdings, said it was a company effort in winning
the award. |
| "Everyone in our company is willing to give time and
money," she said. There are about 130 employees at NII
Holdings in Reston, and they volunteer and help with Reston
Interfaith, the Ronald McDonald House and other organizations,
Graham said. |
| A gala will be held April 19 to celebrate the 2007 Best
of Reston winners. According to Patrick Kane, a former Best
of Reston winner, discussions also are underway to organize
past winners into a society that could provide commentary
on the future of community. |
