Miss Virginia, Applause For Graduates, Rugby Champions: NoVA Good News

VIRGINIA — This week's good news stories in Northern Virginia include local high school graduates receive cheers from elementary and middle school students, a high school-level rugby team from Vienna wins first national title, and Miss Virginia Volunteer travels across Northern Virginia to promote volunteerism.

Plus, a Pride prom highlights Pride Month celebrations in Alexandria, a French-inspired boutique opens in McLean, and students across the region win National Merit Scholarships.

Here are some of this week's good news headlines:

Seniors Visit Old Schools As Part Of Graduation Walk

Two days before their graduation ceremony, nearly 275 seniors donned their caps and downs to take part in the traditional graduation walk. At each school, the students walked the halls of the schools to the applause of students, faculty and staff at Eagle View, Providence, and Daniels Run elementary schools and Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Principal Bids Farewell To Alexandria City High School, 905 Graduate

It was a bittersweet moment as 905 graduates of Alexandria City High School received their diplomas while Principal Peter Balas bid farewell to the high school. Alexandria City High School held its graduation Saturday at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena. It was the last commencement ceremony for Balas, who is leaving Alexandria City Public Schools to become principal of Wakefield High School in Arlington.

Miss Virginia Volunteer Kate Clatterbuck To Compete For National Crown

Kate Clatterbuck, the reigning Miss Virginia Volunteer who was crowned in August 2022, has spent the past 10 months traveling around the state, seeking to bring communities together through volunteerism. In two weeks, Clatterbuck will head to Jackson, Tennessee, for the Miss Volunteer America pageant.

Vienna Rugby Claims Its First High School National Championship

Vienna's high school level rugby team scored its first Boys High School National Rugby Championship. Vienna Rugby's high school boys' team, made up of ninth- to 12th-graders at DC area schools, won the Tier II national title through a 41-34 win over the South Orange County Raptors of California in the final on May 27.

Pride Prom Tops Pride Month Celebrations

Pride Month continues through June, with several ways in Alexandria to participate in the celebration of LGBTQ culture, rights and identity. The City of Alexandria will cohost the "New York State of Mind" Pride Prom with Safe Space NOVA on June 16 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for high school students in the DC region.

Business and Restaurant Celebrations

• Chicken + Whiskey Plans Grand Opening Celebration In Clarendon
• French-Inspired Boutique To Join Other New Businesses At Chesterbrook
• 5 Favorite Dishes From 2023 Taste Of Del Ray
• Salon De Muse To Celebrate Grand Opening Of Herndon Spa

National Merit Scholarships

• 3 Fairfax Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship
• 6 Herndon Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship
• 3 Vienna Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship
• Fort Hunt Student Wins College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship
• 2 Falls Church Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship
• 2 Springfield Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships
• McLean, Great Falls Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships
• 2 Arlington Students Win College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships
• Leesburg Student Wins College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship
• 3 Ashburn Students Win College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

First Friday Traditions

• First Friday: A Night On The Town Becomes Fredericksburg Tradition
• First Friday Events Have Become A Town Tradition In Leesburg

Health Clinic Grants, Expansions

• Arlington Free Clinic Awarded $75K Grant From Delta Dental Foundation
• VHC Health Opens Primary Care Offices In Kingstowne, West Springfield

More Good News Stories

• Falls Church Library Weekend Hours To Get Boost
• Free Music, Dance Return To Lake Anne Plaza Thursdays This Summer
• Fairfax City's 2023 Independence Day Celebration: Latest News
• Remembering Herndon's History: The Yount Family