Youth athletes, coaches and parents were honored on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at the annual Stephen A. McLaughlin Champions of Character Awards at the Fairfax County Government Center. 

The annual awards, founded in 2001, honor county youth, coaches and parents in each magisterial district for extraordinary service in pursuing victory with honor on and off the field of competition. Instituted by the Fairfax County Athletic Council, this program aims to support the tradition of amateur athletics in cultivating teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship and community service. 

The award was renamed in 2023 in honor of the late Stephen A. McLaughlin, the longtime Providence District Representative to the Fairfax County Athletic Council.

The awardees are as follows:

Braddock

• Male Athlete - Joseph Glatfelter, Travel Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse - Braddock Road Youth Club and Annandale Boys & Girls Club
• Female Athlete - Abigail (Abby) Merid,  Soccer, Basketball - Team America FC, Annandale Boys & Girls Club, DMV Wave Runners
• Coach - Jurgen Bautista, Soccer - Braddock Road Youth Club
• Parent - Mario Saravia, Soccer, Basketball, Football - Braddock Road Youth Club 

Dranesville

• Male Athlete -Ryan C. Dougherty, Football - Flag Star Football
• Female Athlete -  Leah Sexton, Gymnastics - McLean High School
• Coach - Todd Seymour, Ice Hockey - Reston Raiders Hockey Club
• Parent - Thomas Do, Baseball - Herndon Reston Youth Baseball

Franconia

• Male Athlete - Jonathan Nugent, Lacrosse - Hayfield Secondary School
• Female Athlete - Amber Murphy, Cheerleading, Gymnastics - Edison High School
• Coach - Meg and Sundar Cook, Softball - VA Glory Fastpitch
• Parent - Jennifer Schroeder, Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football - Lee Mount Vernon Sports Club

Hunter Mill

• Male Athlete - Zachary Lesniewski, Football - Vienna Youth Inc.
• Female Athlete - Isabel J. Manicone, Softball - Vienna Girls Softball League
• Coach - Billy Samson, Football - Vienna Youth Inc.
• Parent - Michelle Prykanowski, Softball - O'Connell High School

Mason

• Male Athlete - Noah Kelaher, Football, Annandale Boys & Girls Club
• Female Athlete - Anna Lucia Stavlund, Soccer - Villarreal Virginia Academy
• Coach - Matt Smith, Lacrosse - Annandale Boys & Girls Club, Annandale Lacrosse
• Parent - Dana Doherty, Football - Annandale Boys & Girls Club

Mt. Vernon

• Male Athlete - Anthony Thompson, Football, Basketball - Mt. Vernon High School
• Female Athlete - Ja'Layah Hodges, Soccer - Lee Mount Vernon Sports Club
• Coach - Lisa Gankhuyag, Volleyball - South County High School / South County Athletic Association
• Parent - Sean Vermillion, Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football - Lee Mount Vernon Sports Club

Providence

• Male Athlete - Cael Yates, Football, Baseball - Madison High School
• Female Athlete - Amara Claire Kumar, Softball - McLean Little League
• Chris Ham - Softball - VA Glory
• Parent - Febe Phillips, Basketball - George C. Marshall High School

Springfield

• Male Athlete  - Noah Smith - Lacrosse - Lake Braddock Secondary School/Top Caliber Lacrosse
• Female Athlete - Baylee T. Stevens - Softball - VA Glory
• Coach - Trista Brennan, Track - South County Athletic Association
• Parent - Ross Crigler, Baseball - Southwestern Youth Association

Sully

• Male Athlete - Azad Kakar, Soccer - Southwestern Youth Association
• Female Athlete - Ella Navarro, Volleyball - Southwestern Youth Association
• Coach - Vergil Arbuckle, Soccer - Southwestern Youth Association
• Parent - Dorothy Owens, Soccer - Southwestern Youth Association

See more photos in the Flickr photo album.

See the entire award ceremony on YouTube.