[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 56 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E753-E754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE 1999 BEST OF RESTON AWARD WINNERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 1999

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to 
rise today to pay tribute to the individuals and businesses who are 
this year's winners of the ``Best of Reston'' Awards. These awards are 
made annually by the Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith. 
The ``Best of Reston'' Community Service Award was created to recognize 
companies, organizations, and individuals who have made outstanding 
contributions to community service, and/or who have improved the lives 
of the people of Reston, Virginia.
  HCI Technologies, Inc. for their community outreach and leadership in 
Reston. HCI has been involved in a number of church activities with 
Faith Mission Church, Christ Fellowship, St. John Neumann, and Heritage 
Fellowship. HCI has sponsored intern programs associated with George 
Mason University and South Lakes High School, and is a major sponsor of 
youth programs that include Reston Youth Baseball and Softball, 
Basketball, and a newly created Tennis program for disadvantaged 
community children. HCI sponsors a monthly food drive to support those 
less fortunate, and has been a sponsor of the Chamber's Ethics Day for 
the senior class of South Lakes High School.
  Karl Ingebritsen for being an outstanding pillar of our community. He 
served as the 1st president of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce 
and was the first employee and Executive Director of the Reston 
Association. He was instrumental in bringing Reston Hospital to our 
community and served on the Hospital's board of trustees until 1992. In 
his role as Director of LINK, Karl has worked tirelessly to improve the 
area's transportation by becoming a strong voice on behalf of the 
Reston community. Karl is steadfast in his belief that improving the 
area's transportation is a benefit to all citizens in the region.
  Basil Jeffers for his inner drive to make Reston the best possible 
place to live and to raise a family. Basil has been classified as a 
``one man moving company.'' He's first to volunteer his hands and 
station wagon to anyone needing assistance as they move into a new 
home. A member of the Heritage Fellowship Church, Basil often brings 
community needs to the attention of the church. If he is unable to 
assist a given need, he sees that the church is aware of the situation 
and that they are able to provide the necessary support. Basil 
currently serves as the president of the PTA at South Lakes High School 
and served on the nominating committee for the College Partnership 
Program, a Fairfax County sponsored motivational program encouraging 
minority students to attend college. He is also involved with a Boy 
Scout and Cub Scout Troop.
  Susan (Suzi) Jones for her tireless efforts to improve the community. 
From serving as a board member and President of the Reston Association 
to Presidency of the Greater Reston Arts Center to her Community 
Services Board work, people throughout Fairfax County have benefited 
from her volunteer services. Drawing upon her human resources skills 
and expertise, Suzi has generously and frequently contributed her time 
and skills for the development of a pool of community leaders and the 
identification and resolution of community issues. Her contributions to 
the Reston community have been, and continue to be, made through her 
active service to a number of community organizations and institutions, 
including St. Anne's Episcopal Church.
  Alvarez LeCesne for the impact he has had on the lives of many 
students he's had contact with during his years in volunteer service. 
He is active in many area associations, including

[[Page E754]]

the Optimist Club, Character Counts! Coalition, St. Anne's Episcopal 
Church, Heritage Fellowship Church, the Medical Care for Children 
Partnership, and Reston Community Coalition, a community/school 
partnership promoting drug and alcohol use prevention. During January 
1999, LeCesne chaired Reston's Martin Luther King Jr. Planning 
Committee for the celebration of Dr. King's birthday.
  Patricia Macintyre for her steadfast efforts as a community 
volunteer. A renowned artist, she has spent more than 30 years 
volunteering her talent and love of art in many forums and spaces, 
including art galleries, government buildings, schools, preschools, 
festivals and celebrations. She spent 17 years as host of ``You've 
Gotta Have Art,'' a weekly children's television program directed 
toward teaching Reston youth to appreciate art. Macintyre has spent her 
life working to preserve and promote the arts in Reston. Every Saturday 
morning she leads free family workshops in art and culture at the 
Reston Historic Trust Museum.
  USAA for its commitment to a strong work ethic, customer service, and 
the value of its employees' personal, professional, and family needs. 
USAA supports efforts to improve the quality of life in its employees' 
communities, affording them many volunteer opportunities. Through 
USAA's involvement in the community, research funds have been raised to 
benefit the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, 
the American Arthritis Foundation, and others. USAA helps meet the 
material needs of our community through ongoing collection of food, 
clothing, books, and school supplies. USAA volunteers support education 
by giving their time as tutors, mentors, and speakers. A commitment to 
community involvement is so basic to USAA's corporate culture, that 
``Public Outreach'' is a corporate ``Key Result Area.''
  Jane Gilmer Wilhelm's mission in Reston and her entire career has 
been to be a vital, clear, caring resource for all people. She has 
given innumerable gifts of time and passionate presence to all our 
community's members from her early years in Reston as Director of 
Community Relations to the speeches she makes to this day, to save 
buses, libraries, and funding for the neediest. From infants to the 
elderly, from the homeless and needy, from young students to senior 
citizens in learning, from our various community organizations, to 
nature areas preserved by our founders, her caring has permeated her 
days. Not to mention her frequent visits with many on Lake Anne benches 
and her tireless volunteer work for our citizens' many concerns.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in honoring the ``Best of 
Reston'' Award winners for their dedicated commitment to making Reston, 
Virginia an exceptional place to live and work. This year's award 
recipients deserve recognition and gratitude from a very grateful 
community.

                          ____________________