Scholarship Fund of Alexandria staff and planning committee with Jasmine Milone, SFA Executive Director 4th from the left. Photos by Lucelle O’Flaherty
By Judith Fogel
Alexandria, VA – It is dubbed Alexandria’s Adult Prom. The black-tie spring Gala and silent auction is the premier ball of the year and is a veritable Who’s Who of the city’s movers and shakers. Five hundred guests attended the fundraiser at the Hilton Mark Center, which raises money to send needy city high school students to college. Close to 217 scholarships will be awarded this spring and SFA raised over $500,000 through sponsorship, ticket, and auction sales.
Annabel McLenahan, Lucy Koeppen, Harper White are Titan Scholars, who help mentor students with scholarships.Ressa Jones, Former Director of Emmanuel Preschool and Ella Fitzgerald at SFA gala.Julie Carey, NBC4 Northern Va Bureau Chief with his husband, Mike Tackett.Chris Yianilos, VP Government and Community Relations at Va Tech ( Sponsor) with his wife Torra at SFA Gala.Leo Dienstfrey Titan Scholar for Scholarship recipient, Lester Hernandez, who was a speaker at the SGA Gala and will attend VCU.Deputy Sheriff Investigator Victor Ignacio with Living Legends Couple CPA, John Renner with his wife Joan Renner ( Titan 1975).Ryan Reyna, Education Strategy Group with Dr. Michelle Rief, Alexandria School Board Chair.
The annual elegant bash featured a two-hour cocktail reception with petite hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet dinner, and dancing to the live music of Perfekt Blend. A surprise phone call to an ACHS teacher, informing her she won the Alexandria Toyota Camry raffle, was the highlight of the evening. Former Alexandria High School principal and Living Legend John Porter was this year’s honoree.
Congressman Don Beyer and his wife Megan Carroll Beyer, Sponsors of the SFA Gala.Alexandria Toyota’s Andrew Mitchell and his wife Marisa, are flanked by Blaine Jackson and Brett Hewitt. Alexandria Toyota donated a Toyota Camry ( or $25,000 ) for the raffle which was won by an ACHS TV Media Production teacher Ms. Zefran.Titan Family- Son Matthew Schilling is flanked by his parents Eric and Debi Schilling (SFA Gala Committee).Kelly and Jeff Yates owners of Yates Table Talk and Yates Car Wash (Sponsor).Executive Principals of ACHS: Mr. Alexander Duncan, III (current) and Peter Balas (former).The Honorable Kelly Thomasson Mercer (former Secretary of the Commonwealth of Va) with her Titan Hall of Fame husband, The Honorable Clark Mercer, Executive Director of Metro Washington Council of Governments (and Former Chief of Staff to Governor of Va, Ralph Northam.)
