award | ALXnow

JUST IN: Jefferson-Houston teacher named N. Va. region’s teacher of the year

Published April 8, 2026 at 2:45PM

Jefferson-Houston AVID teacher Deedra Robinson (with her students) was named Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year, April 8, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Deedra Robinson, a teacher at Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School, has been named the Region 4 (Northern Virginia) Teacher of the Year.

The surprise announcement was made this afternoon (Wednesday) by Jenna Conway, Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, in front of an assembly of students, family members and Alexandria City Public Schools administrators. Robinson teaches 48 students in the school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program and plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Around Town

Five Alexandria restaurants make appearance in regional RAMMY finalists

By Emily Leayman

Published April 7, 2026 at 9:15AM

Matt & Tony's at 1501 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Matt & Tony's/Instagram)

Five Alexandria eateries have advanced to finalist status in the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s annual restaurant awards.

Narrowed down from dozens of semifinalists who were publicly revealed last month for the first time, the list of finalists announced last night (Monday) at The Hamilton Live in D.C. by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington span regional chains, chef-driven favorites and independent restaurants. The 20 categories of the RAMMYs recognize the region’s chefs, restaurateurs and other industry professionals.

Around Town

Alexandria’s MAYSUNS win Wammie Award for best rock band

By James Cullum

Published March 30, 2026 at 3:45PM

The MAYSUNS (Left to right - Gabriel Harr, Max Powell, Beck Moniz and Nathan Argust) relaxing at a mural of musical legends outside St. Elmo's Coffee Pub in Del Ray, July 9, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria rock band MAYSUNS took home a regional Wammie Award for best rock band Saturday night.

It’s the third Washington Area Music Award for the band, which won best rock album and best song in 2023. The award ceremony was held at Capital Turnaround in D.C.

Around Town

Alexandria restaurants named semifinalists for regional RAMMY Awards

By Emily Leayman

Published March 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

Chicken and waffles at Matt & Tony's (image via Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen/Facebook)

Several Alexandria restaurants are in the running for the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s restaurant awards.

The association named 190 semifinalists for the RAMMYs, given annually to members of the D.C. region’s restaurant industry. This was the first time semifinalists were publicly announced in the four decades of the awards, providing an early glimpse at which chefs, restaurants and hospitality staff are in the running.

Around Town

Alexandria Girl Scouts earn leadership award for projects benefiting local causes

By Emily Leayman

Published March 5, 2026 at 11:45AM

Sadia Hussain distributes free Halloween costumes (courtesy of Laura Hussain)

Three students at Alexandria Country Day School have earned the highest Girl Scout Cadette award for their projects addressing bullying, sustainability, charitable giving and animal welfare.

Eighth graders Eleanor Chambers, Sadia Hussain and Cece Baker will be honored during a troop meeting next month for earning the Girl Scout Silver Award. Girl Scout Cadettes in sixth to eighth grade can earn the Silver Award by completing a service project focusing on a community issue.

Around Town

Acclaimed Old Town-based marketing CEO Maurisa Potts is focused on expansion

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2026 at 3:30PM

Maurisa Potts, CEO of Spotted MP, at her office at ALX Community on the waterfront in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Maurisa Potts’ award shelf is getting crowded.

Earlier this month, the founder and CEO of the Old Town-based Spotted MP marketing firm was named to the 2026 Virginia Black Leaders list by Virginia Business magazine. The award is the latest in a string of honors for Potts, who last fall was named to the PR Net 100 2025, a recognition for the top-performing firms in the world of public relations and well as MarComms Most Influential by the same outlet.

Around Town

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail receive ‘Trail of the Year’ award for renovation efforts

By Emily Leayman

Published March 2, 2026 at 3:15PM

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail win the Trail of the Year Award from the Public Lands Alliance (via Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail/Facebook)

Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail, a volunteer group dedicated to trail maintenance and education efforts, was recognized with an award last month for its trail renovation work.

The organization was honored with the “Trail of the Year” award from the Public Lands Alliance at the nonprofit’s conference in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 23. The group received the award for its partnership with the National Park Service to renovate the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s trail surface and rest areas from 2024 to 2025.

Around Town

Volunteer Alexandria to honor dozens of community helpers at ceremony next month

By Katie Taranto

Published February 27, 2026 at 3:30PM

About 75 volunteers helped assemble the nearly 1,000 backpacks donated to the seven United Way of the National Capital Area community schools, including Alexandria’s Francis C. Hammond Middle School (courtesy photo)

Dozens of volunteers in Alexandria will be recognized next month for their contributions to the community last year.

Eighty-five honorees have been announced in Volunteer Alexandria’s annual awards program, Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria, happening Thursday, March 12. The nonprofit, a top coordinator of volunteer services in the city, recorded more than 112,000 service hours in 2025 from over 4,260 volunteers — an estimated value exceeding $3.8 million.

Around Town

Several Alexandria artists named finalists in regional Wammie Music Awards

By Katie Taranto

Published February 23, 2026 at 2:00PM | Updated February 23, 2026 at 5:16PM

Wammie Awards crowd (via The Wammie Awards/Facebook)

Eight Alexandria artists have advanced as finalists in the 37th annual Wammie Music Awards, as competition narrows down in the regional program.

Several musicians made the cut from Alexandria’s initial 14 nominees, receiving 12 finalist nominations for their work across multiple genres, including hip-hop, pop, funk and more. Winners will be announced during this year’s live awards show on Saturday, March 28, at D.C.’s Capital Turnaround.

Around Town

Old Town-based Little Theatre of Alexandria secures 24 nominations in regional theatre awards

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2026 at 1:15PM

A packed house at the Little Theatre of Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Little Theatre of Alexandria has garnered two dozen nominations in a regional awards program for D.C.-area theatre.

The Old Town-based theater secured 24 nominations in this year’s Washington Area Theatre Community Honors Awards (WATCH) for five productions across 36 categories, the program announced Sunday. A total of 94 productions received nominations this cycle, split between 37 musicals and 57 plays across the region last year.

News

Regional foundation opens scholarship applications for Alexandria students

By Katie Taranto

Published January 14, 2026 at 10:45AM

From left to right: Deidre Smith and Da'Nasia Curtis, recipient of the 2025 Amin Family Scholarship Fund. Da'Nasia is a 2025 graduate of Unity Reed High School, and is pursuing her degree at Virginia Commonwealth University (courtesy of The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia)

A local community foundation’s 2026 scholarship cycle includes 11 awards that are now accepting applications from Alexandria students.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia opened applications for more than 30 regional scholarships on Monday. At least 11 awards are open to Alexandria students, including those studying medicine, music and the environment.