[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 RECOGNIZING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2025 STEPHEN A. MCLAUGHLIN FAIRFAX 
                  COUNTY CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER AWARDS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. JAMES R. WALKINSHAW

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2025

  Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of 
the 2025 Stephen A. McLaughlin Fairfax County Champions of Character 
Awards. Since 2001, these awards have been presented to athletes, 
coaches, and parents in our region who exemplify the tenets of 
teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship, and community service during 
athletic competitions.
  It is my honor to include in Record the following names of the 2025 
Stephen A. McLaughlin Fairfax County Champions of Character Awards 
recipients:

                           Braddock District

       Male Athlete: Tillman Abeyta, Football, Braddock Road Youth 
     Club; Female Athlete: Norah Garcia, Soccer, Annandale Boys & 
     Girls Club; Coach Carlos Santizo, Soccer, Braddock Road Youth 
     Club, Parent: Angela Santizo, Soccer. Braddock Road Youth 
     Club.


                          Dranesville District

       Male Athlete: Brady Britt, Football/Baseball, Great Falls 
     Little League/Langley High School Braddock Road Youth Club; 
     Female Athlete: Ayla Sayd, Volleyball, Marshall High School/
     Coach Khayla Williams, Basketball, Herndon Optimist Club; 
     Parent: Martine Silve, Field Hockey, Herndon Reston Youth 
     Field Hockey.


                           Franconia District

       Male Athlete: Bowen Kirui, Soccer, Lee- Mt. Vernon Sports 
     Club; Female Athlete: Vivienne Jensen, Soccer, Lee-Mt. Vernon 
     Sports Club, Coach Russell Balikian, Soccer, Basketball, Lee-
     Mt. Vernon Sports Club; Parent: Tara Suga, Baseball, CSLL/
     Patriot/Hayfield High School.


                          Hunter Mill District

       Male Athlete: Teddy Gill, Football. Reston Youth 
     Association-, Female Athlete: Sienna McIntyre, Ice Hockey, 
     Reston Raiders; Coach Terry Redican, Football, South Lakes 
     High School/Parent: Walid Choueiri, Basketball/Swim/Football.


                             Mason District

       Male Athlete: Makai Carothers, Football, Annandale Boys & 
     Girls Club; Female Athlete: Michelle Soto, Soccer, Annandale 
     Boys & Girls Club; Coach Alicia Hopkins, Basketball/Soccer/T-
     Ball/Football, Annandale Boys & Girls Club; Parent: Maria 
     Colbert, Soccer, Premier Athletics Club.


                         Mount Vernon District

       Male Athlete: Tate Allen, Basketball, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports 
     Club; Female Athlete: Zoe Tickner Soccer, Lee-Mt. Vernon 
     Sports Club/West Potomac High School, Coach Garrett Kell 
     Basketball, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club; Parent: Michael Day, 
     Basketball. Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club.


                          Providence District

       Male Athlete: Ben Ochsendorf Basketball, McLean Select/Nova 
     Cats AAU; Female Athlete: Ryan Elizabeth McIntosh, Swimming, 
     Poplar Heights Crush/Coach Mark Cruz, Volleyball, Vienna 
     Youth Inc. Parent: Mary Wong, Volleyball, Vienna Youth Inc.


                          Springfield District

       Male Athlete: Simon Fischer, Baseball, Central Springfield 
     Little League; Female Athlete: Valeria Morales, Soccer, 
     Braddock Road Youth Club; Coach Dan Walsh, Baseball, Central 
     Springfield Little League, Parent: Kwame James, Basketball, 
     Cross-Training Athletes into Believers.


                             Sully District

       Male Athlete: Otto Hutchins, Soccer, South/vester n Youth 
     Association, Female Athlete: Quinn Crozier, Softball, VA 
     Glory, Coach Javier Alarcon, Soccer, Southwestern Youth 
     Association, Parent: Dan Mac, Soccer, Southwestern Youth 
     Association.

  I would also like to give special recognition to the 2025 Champions 
of Character Award recipient, Harold Leff, who is recognized for his 33 
years of dedicated and tireless service to The Fairfax County Athletic 
Council.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
recipients of the 2025 Stephen A. McLaughlin Fairfax County Champions 
of Character Awards and commend them for their exemplary sportsmanshipp 
character, and values, which serve as a source of inspiration for their 
peers and community.

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