[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2025 NORTHERN VIRGINIA LEADERSHIP 
                                 AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2025

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2025 recipients of 
the Northern Virginia Leadership Awards presented by Leadership 
Fairfax.
  Leadership Fairfax is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to 
inspire, connect, develop and engage the next generation of leaders in 
Northern Virginia so that they are prepared to serve and strengthen our 
community. Over 2,500 alumni from their programs have become part of a 
fast-growing network of civic and business leaders in the region.
  Each year, Leadership Fairfax recognizes individuals or organizations 
that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made extraordinary 
contributions to our community. It is my honor to include in the Record 
the following names of the 2025 Northern Virginia Leadership Awards 
recipients:
  The Non-Profit Organization Leadership Award will be presented to 
BetterALife, a trailblazing nonprofit committed to addressing critical 
social issues such as education, food insecurity, and access to 
essential life skills.
  The Non-Profit Individual Leadership Award will be presented to 
Michelle Sullivan, the Executive Director of All Ages Read Together 
(AART). Michelle has transformed the organization into a thriving 
program that provides early literacy support to disadvantaged children 
in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
  The Regional Leadership Award will go to Dr. Sharmaine McCoy, DNP, 
ACNP. At Inova, she has led efforts to address health disparities by 
organizing health fairs and community outreach programs.
  The Trustee Leadership Award will be presented to Ellen Dyke, the 
Chair of both the NOVA Education Foundation and SPARC (Specially 
Adapted Resource Clubs). She is an innovative leader who has pioneered 
initiatives that create better opportunities for individuals with 
disabilities.
  The Educational Leadership Award will be presented to Dr. Herman 
Mizell, Principal of Langston Hughes Middle School. In just one year of 
being at LHMS, Dr. Mizell has revitalized staff morale, improved 
student engagement, and addressed safety concerns that existed at the 
school.
  The Youth Leadership Award will be presented to Avery McCusker and 
LucyLynn Tombul. At Just 14 and 15 years old, Avery and LucyLynn 
dedicated over 140 hours of service to the Fairfax County community 
while completing their Girl Scout Silver Award project.
  Mr. Speaker, the contributions of these individuals and organizations 
are one of the reasons why Fairfax is such a sought-after community in 
which to live and work, and this year's honorees highlight the legacy 
of Leadership Fairfax in preparing our community's future leaders to 
address the challenges we face. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating these honorees and thanking them for their service to 
Northern Virginia.

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