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Three Fairfax County government and public school employees received the county’s highest workforce honor on June 24, earning recognition for their service to residents and a $2,500 stipend.
The Board of Supervisors presented the 2025 A. Heath Onthank Award to Jennifer Dickinson, assistant branch manager at Pohick Regional Library; Sheriff’s Office 1st Lt. Maegan Diotalevi; and Kara Payne, an office assistant at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
The three honorees join nearly 360 previous recipients of the award, which was established in 1966.
John Townes, chair of the county’s Civil Service Commission, said the recipients represent “the best of the county and school system.” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay told them that supervisors and the community are “very proud of you.”
The award is named for U.S. Army Col. A. Heath Onthank, who chaired the Civil Service Commission from 1957 through 1962. He is credited with helping Fairfax County establish a merit-based government workforce.
Longtime health care adviser honored
During the same meeting, supervisors adopted a resolution recognizing Rose Chu for more than three decades of service on the Fairfax County Health Care Advisory Board.
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez sponsored the resolution. Chu has represented the district on the advisory panel throughout her tenure.
In remarks to supervisors, Chu described the board as “a force to be reckoned with” in safeguarding county residents’ health care interests.
The Board of Supervisors created the advisory body in 1973. Its appointed membership includes representatives from every magisterial district, along with two at-large representatives for physicians and health care providers.
State-champion athletes next in line
Supervisors also announced that Fairfax County Public Schools athletes who won individual or team state championships during the spring season will be recognized at the board’s July 15 meeting.
The honorees will include the West Potomac High School lacrosse team and the Herndon High School boys soccer team.
Tennis champions scheduled for recognition are the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology girls team, the Langley High School boys team and Langley’s championship boys doubles team. Thomas Jefferson’s Avery Huang won an individual title, while Huang and Christina Kim captured the girls doubles championship. James Madison High School’s Diego Vargas and Sergio Albisu won the boys doubles title.
State-champion track-and-field relay teams include Robinson Secondary School’s 6A boys 4×400-meter squad; South County High School’s 6A girls 4×100- and 4×400-meter teams; and West Springfield High School’s 6A boys 4×800-meter team.
Individual track-and-field champions include Robinson’s Harry Economon in the 6A boys 400-meter dash and West Springfield’s Michael Murray in the 6A boys pole vault. Chantilly High School’s Chris Hwang won the boys discus competition.
South County’s Mia Mason captured the 6A girls 100-meter dash title, while teammate Julia Wallace won the 6A girls 400-meter dash. South Lakes High School’s Caroline Elliott won both the 6A girls 800- and 1,600-meter runs.
Chantilly’s Apria Smith won the 6A girls triple jump, and fellow Chantilly athlete Jacqueline Bullock took the 6A girls pole vault title.