Maureen Loftus, executive director of LearningRx of Vienna, Va., and Reston, Va. is leading the sixth annual Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce (TRCC) job shadow program, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, for almost 90 11th and 12th grade Fairfax County students, which is a 50 percent increase in student participation from last year. Students applied from James Madison High School, George C. Marshall High School, Marshall Academy, Oakton High School and Mountain View High School in Fairfax County, Va. Students can shadow professionals in more than 30 industries for one day from January through March 2018. In 2014, the TRCC job shadow program earned the Workforce Development award from Fairfax County and FCPS.  Loftus is heading up the program as she is the chair of the TRCC’s Youth and Education Committee. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com. 

BASIS Independent McLean’s (BIM) Parent Community Association (PCA) hosted its 2nd Annual International Day to celebrate cultures around the world and in the school community. The PCA transformed BASIS Independent McLean’s cafeteria, the Great Hall, into five continents:  Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. The event brought together students, parents and faculty to celebrate the school’s diverse community. For more information about BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com/.

“This is a great first community event of the new year because it brings families from all grades together in celebration of the diversity of our families and different cultural traditions,” said Ron Kim, head of school of BASIS Independent McLean of McLean, Va.

Cook in Mexico, a Mexican culinary tour was named winner of the 2017 Magellan Gold Award for Best in Mexico for Destinations--Culture and Arts by Travel Weekly, a premiere travel magazine. Haymarket, Va.-based owners George and Linda Meyers host their worldwide guests on cooking tours in authentic Mexican kitchens, and guide guests on personalized Mexican historic tours and dance to Mariachi and climb the ruins of Cañada de la Virgin. You can watch their travel adventures on social media at Cook Eat Play Travel or www.cookeatplaytravel.com. For more information, go to www.cookinmexico.kitchen.

The Magellan Awards is the premier award for the travel industry, which honors the best in travel and is judged by a 14-member panel.  The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honor the best in travel.