Congratulations to 2008 Potomac Falls High School graduate Sarasi Jayaratne, who was recently selected as the $1,000 scholarship winner for her commitment to community service.

Sarasi Jayaratne in her yearbook photo. (Courtesy of Seetha Jayaratne)

As a high school freshman in 2004, Jayaratne was moved by the tsunami destruction in her native Sri Lanka. She started the Keep Reading Foundation to help build, rebuild and stock libraries in the country’s rural villages. The organization has since shipped 8,000 books to Sri Lanka, according to the KRF Web site.

(Jayarantne’s book drive was featured in a Post story by Arianne Aryanpur last November.)

Future plans for Jayarante include attending Cornell University in the fall and continuing her involvement in KRF. She’d like to expand the foundation to increase English literacy in other developing countries, and she’s already started developing contacts in Cambodia.

“I’ll probably take my first semester to adjust to college life and living away from home,” she said. “But then I plan on working with the foundation on campus, and I think I’ll even find support off-campus for this, as well.”

Also recognized as 2008 Student Volunteer Scholarship winners, and recipients of $500 awards, are recent graduates from:

• Broad Run High School: Katie Mercuro, Kellie Schlosser

• Dominion High School: Seungman William, Megan Wollett

• Heritage High School: Chelsey Perry

• Loudoun County High School: Jasmine Hughes

• Park View High School: Allison Light

• Potomac Falls High School: John Marin, Christina Tulloch

• Stone Bridge High School: Chelsea Gilchrist

The Loudoun Volunteer Services Board of Directors selected these winners based on their community service efforts.

The scholarship program is funded by donations from county businesses, civic organizations and individuals, said Lisa Rose, coordinator of LVS.

Students who are interested in future scholarships from LVS, Rose said, are encouraged to start tracking their volunteer hours as of May 2, 2008 for the 2008-09 school year.

For current volunteer opportunities in Loudoun or to donate to the scholarship fund, check out http://www.loudoun.gov/volunteer.