Sameer Sarkar, of Henrico, is one of only six high school seniors in Virginia to be chosen a 2012 Presidential Scholar. One of the nation's top highest honors for high school students, the Presidential Scholar award is bestowed annually based on academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations, and evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Sarkar will join two classmates from the Maggie Walker Governor’s School (Bethany Bruno of Powhatan and Judy Hou of Chesterfield) to receive the Presidential Scholar Medallion at a June 16 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The following students graduated from Virginia Tech in December 2011: Amira Aljabar, Bailey Atkins, Kevin Barry, Ashley Fortier, Robert Hoke, Jonathan Peck and Tiffany Luu, of Glen Allen; and Paul Croasdale and Kylie Roman, of Henrico.

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) recently announced the winners of its 2012 Award of Achievement for academic excellence in accounting studies. The VSCPA annually recognizes top graduating accounting seniors from Virginia high schools, community colleges and four-year universities. The students are selected by accounting faculty at their respective schools. Only one award is issued per school each year, making it a significant honor to be the single student selected for recognition amongst peers. Henrico award winners include: Kianna Jones, Douglas S. Freeman High School; Bi Ou, Hermitage High School; Henry Finn, Mills E. Godwin High School; and Jasmine Hough, Varina High School.

Becky Bell, a local volunteer coordinator with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), recently received the organization’s Local Coordinator of the Year award. Bell, who has been involved with CIEE’s high school exchange program for 10 years, helps find good host and/or welcome families for high school exchange students in metro Richmond, including Henrico. Bell was the highest placing LC last year and also managed one of the largest teams in the country. She can be contacted at 928-1948 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Shawn Boyer, founder and CEO of Snagajob, recently was honored as the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business Executive of the Year at the school's annual Honors Convocation April 10. His Henrico-based company, founded in 1999, is the nation’s largest hourly employment network, with more than 30 million registered job seekers. In 2008 the U.S. Small Business Administration named Boyer the Small Business Person of the Year. That same year, the Great Place to Work Institute named Snagajob a Best Small and Medium Company to Work for in America. Prior to founding Snagajob, Boyer was a transactional attorney with Brown & Wood LLP (now Sidley Austin LLP). He serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including The Richmond Forum, Sports Backers, Comfort Zone Camp, Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the George C. Marshall Foundation.

The University of Richmond’s Office of Alumni and Career Services recently appointed 14 members to its 2012 Career Services Advisory Council. In its second year, the council advises the office on the design and implementation of best practices and ethics. Council members also help develop and enhance student and alumni programming for career preparedness and networking. The members are actively engaged in recruiting and hiring for their organizations and represent diverse industries. Council members from the Richmond area are: Pete Bartok, campus recruiting manager at KPMG; Melissa Hough, executive director of the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence; Connie Mattox, 2002 UR graduate and CEO of Brooks Adams Research; and Tripp Perrin, 1995 graduate and vice president of Lindl Corp.

Navy Midshipman Jordan W. Kelmar, son of retired Navy Cmdr. Brian A. and Daphne A. Kelmar, of Glen Allen, recently was commissioned as an ensign after receiving a bachelor of arts degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. Kelmar was selected to attend naval aviator training in Pensacola, Fla. where he will receive extensive instruction on the functions, capabilities and operations of all systems aboard an aircraft. Kelmar is a 2008 graduate of Deep Run High School.

Rick Glass, manager of conference development and the University of Richmond’s Jepson Alumni Center, recently was appointed to the board of directors for the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors – International (ACCED-I). A resident of Richmond, Glass has worked at the university since 1997. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. Founded in 1980, ACCED-I is made up of 1,500 campus professionals who design, market, coordinate and plan conferences and special events on campuses around the world.