Virginia
Once new to US, Va. educator wins award for inspiring students arriving in the country – WTOP News
Osbourn High School teacher Rebeca Carofilis was named VFW Manassas Post 7589’s High School Teacher of the Year for her work supporting immigrant students while teaching U.S. and Virginia government.
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Va. teacher wins award for inspiring students just arriving in the US
As she opened a piece of mail last fall, Rebeca Carofilis became overwhelmed with excitement.
With her son by her side, she opened the letter and learned she had been named the Veterans of Foreign Wars High School Teacher of the Year by VFW Manassas Post 7589.
Carofilis is in her second year teaching U.S. and Virginia government to ninth graders who have just arrived to the U.S. at Osbourn High School in Manassas. She was once in a similar position, as a Participate Learning Ambassador Teacher from Ecuador.
Her background made the recognition even more special. There, she said, awards such as the one she received don’t exist.
“I can relate when they’re missing home or when everything is new, the language, or the seasons or the new things they’re learning here,” Carofilis said. “We connect together. And I love that part, just feeling part of their journey. It’s also my journey.”
Some of her friends from Ecuador started to apply for the program, and while Carofilis said she planned to do the same, she had doubts about her chances. She also imagined how difficult it may be to start new somewhere else, making new friends and settling in.
“You come here just with all your life in one luggage,” Carofilis said. “That’s how I arrived. And I had everything back home.”
The five-year program allows Northern Virginia school districts to bring teachers from abroad to the U.S.
Manassas City Public Schools is hosting nearly 40 teachers from Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Jamaica and Costa Rica, the division said.
The 12 students enrolled in Carofilis’ class this semester follow a traditional curriculum. It covers elections, the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the roles of the state and federal governments, among other things.
But Carofilis also helps students gain confidence in learning English.
“I work a lot on those skills, having them feel confident with their language and learning,” Carofilis said. “Being here is a privilege, and they have a lot of responsibilities with that privilege. They have to come to school on time. They have to be good citizens. They have to be good students.”
Sometimes, the students often inquire about Carofilis’ dreams and how she ended up in Northern Virginia. They ask about buying cars and living arrangements. They marvel when it snows or ask if she’s eaten at Chick-fil-A.
In the back of her classroom, Carofilis has a map full of pink notes. Students write their names and put the paper over the country they came from. She’s reflects on it regularly.
“There have been some very difficult stories, and there are other successful stories, like a father got a promotion and it’s the job of their dreams,” Carofilis said.
It’s difficult, she said, to watch as students sometimes don’t enjoy school or become homesick.
“Another challenge could be just being away from home. … Just from distance, it’s hard sometimes to be away,” Carofilis said.
Recently, a former student approached Carofilis to share that he’d been accepted to law school. It reminded her of the impact she’s having, the same one that earned her the recognition that highlights a dedication to teaching citizenship, patriotism and American history.
“They want to come to school,” Carofilis said. “They want to be engaged. They want to learn. They want to be challenged. There are good and bad days, but I hope the majority are good days.”
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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — As the war in Iran stretches toward a week, evacuations out of the region continue, including efforts coordinated by a Northern Virginia-based security company that has helped move nearly 4,000 people out of the Middle East.
Global Guardian has assisted people in evacuating at least 15 countries through a combination of charter and commercial flights, according to Colin O’Brien, the company’s deputy vice president of operations. Most of them are Americans, he said.
ALSO SEE | Middle East expert says uncertain future in Iran could be just as dangerous
“The primary objective is to get them out of the Middle East, to move them to places where they have freedom of movement, where there are pre-existing commercial airline options — so places like Western Europe, Turkey, Cairo, where I have major functioning international airports that have yet to be affected by this crisis,” O’Brien explained. “And then from there, we can take our time. We can get the right plane ticket, and we can send them home.”
Meanwhile, airports, including Dulles, are experiencing some flight cancellations and delays from the Middle East.
7News was at baggage claim as people returned to America, greeting loved ones with hugs.
One man who wished to remain anonymous spoke with 7News while waiting for his daughter and grandchildren to return from the Middle East, where his son-in-law is stationed in the military.
READ ALSO | Capitol Hill grapples with Iran strategy, war powers
He said he is grateful to have them home, but it’s bittersweet because his son-in-law is still over there amid the conflict.
A woman who arrived Thursday afternoon told 7News she’s grateful to be away from potential danger but feels sorry for those who can’t leave.
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Virginia
Virginia Tech women overcome slow start to rally past Georgia Tech in ACC Tournament opener
DULUTH, Ga. (WDBJ/Hokie Sports) – Sixth-seeded Virginia Tech fought back from a 14-point deficit late in the first quarter, rallying for a 62-54 victory over No. 11 seed Georgia Tech in the second round of the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Tournament Thursday evening.
The Hokies, who move to 23-8 overall on the season, earned their first ACC Tournament victory in the Megan Duffy era. Tech moves on to the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2024.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech faced a four-point deficit until Leila Wells (7:15) stepped up for a three-pointer to keep the Hokies within reach early. Her triple would be Tech’s only field goal until the final 40 seconds of the opening quarter. Carleigh Wenzel provided a late spark for the Hokies, getting down the lane (0:40) and hitting a basket (0:18) in the final minute to stop the run, but Georgia Tech carried a 17–7 lead into the second quarter.
Playing inspired, the Hokies sprinted out of the break for five straight points with layups from Samyha Suffren (9:50) and Mackenzie Nelson (9:28), along with a make at the stripe from Wenzel, to close to 17-12 at the 8:12 mark. The momentum continued to swing in Tech’s favor as it ripped off 15 straight points, a run ignited by Suffren’s (7:44) fast-break lay-in and capped by a Carys Baker (1:33) triple to give the Hokies a 27-19 lead. Free throws closed out the half for both sides as Virginia Tech headed into the locker room with a 29-23 edge. The Hokies forced six turnovers in the second period, scoring 10 points off the Yellow Jackets’ miscues.
Both sides traded baskets to kick off the second half before Tech knocked down consecutive makes from beyond the arc, the first from Wells (8:31) and the second from Nelson (7:59), to stretch the advantage to double figures, 37-27. It remained a back-and-forth game until Baker’s free throws with 3:35 remaining in the period gave the Hokies their largest lead of the contest at 48-37. Georgia Tech closed out the frame scoring six unanswered as the margin narrowed to 50-46 in favor of Tech at the end of the third.
The Yellow Jackets’ run continued into the fourth quarter as the score moved to 50-48 at the 9:26 mark. Virginia Tech rattled off seven consecutive points, including a three-pointer from Wenzel (7:08), to push ahead by nine with 4:44 remaining, 57-48. Suffren pulled up for a jumper outside the paint with just over a minute left in the contest, but Georgia Tech finished with a layup at the buzzer as Virginia Tech closed out the 62-54 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Virginia Tech won their first game as a six-seed in the ACC Tournament (1-0) and first against Georgia Tech (1-2) in program history
- The Hokies have now won four of their last five opening contests in the conference tournament
- Tech also earned their first ACC Tournament victory in the Megan Duffy era
- Virginia Tech controlled the glass, 41-36
- The Hokies held the Yellow Jackets to six points in the second quarter, matching the fewest by an opponent in a quarter this season (last versus Loyola MD on Nov. 9, 2025)
- Guard Carleigh Wenzel paced Tech in scoring with 15 points for her 15th-straight game in double figures
- Redshirt sophomore Mackenzie Nelson followed with a near double-double of 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds
- Nelson also tallied six assists, two assists, one block, and committed zero turnovers
- Guard Leila Wells put together eight points and a career-best six rebounds in 15 minutes of action
- Samyha Suffren registered her career-best five assists
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech advances to the Quarterfinal Round of the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament Friday, March 6 against third-seeded North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network.
Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
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