Lindsay Crittenden and Christopher Alexander, juniors at Washington and Lee University, recently had their work included in an art exhibition titled Drawing Italy 2011, which was recently on display at the university’s Lenfest Center. The exhibition is composed of drawings and paintings by Washington and Lee students who spent the 2011 spring term abroad in Italy. Every other spring term, students in Professor Kathleen Olson's Drawing Italy class explore the rich artistic traditions of Italy as they travel through Rome, Florence, Umbria and Tuscany. Over the span of the month-long course students live and draw on site using the unique experience as inspiration for their artwork. Crittenden, a graduate of St. Catherine's School, is a business administration major with a minor in studio art. Alexander, a graduate of St. Christopher’s School, is a politics major with a minor in studio art.

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In its 2011 Open Doors Report, the Institute of International Education ranked the University of Richmond third in total study abroad students among the 40 U.S. baccalaureate institutions recognized. The university, whose baccalaureate and masters programs have placed in each of the last 10 Open Doors Reports, sent 582 students abroad in the 2009–10 academic year. The report considered only students who received academic credit from their institutions for studying abroad, and is based on survey results from more than 3,000 universities. Named the “Hottest School for International Studies” by Newsweek, the university maintains a study abroad portfolio of more than 75 programs in 30 countries, with 59 percent of the 2011 class studying abroad. A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Richmond ranked ninth among baccalaureate institutions in the number of international students on campus this year, with 291.

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Navy Seaman Marcus S. Jones, son of Cherrate V. Jones and Larry J. Turner, of Richmond, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Jones completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, shipboard and aircraft safety and physical fitness. The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations,” an exercise that gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly ''Navy'' flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor. Jones is a 2010 graduate of Henrico High School.

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Tom Woodward, assistant director of Instructional Technology for Henrico County Public Schools, recently was named VSTE Outstanding Leader of the Year by the Virginia Society for Technology in Education. Woodward was recognized for his work towards ways to clarify, document and assess 21st century skills in the classroom through the development of the Teaching Innovation Progression Chart. He was also recognized for his support to teachers for their work in creating high quality 21st century lessons through the Henrico21 effort. Woodward is also a member of the VSTE Board of Directors.