Bravo! Award winners announced

The Chesterfield Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of its 2019 Bravo! Awards, recognizing outstanding professional and community achievements of Chesterfield County Public Schools’ alumni.
The honorees will be feted at a Nov. 21 gala dinner at the DoubleTree Hotel in Midlothian.
This year’s recipients are:

•Jane Baskerville, retired instructional specialist for World Languages and English as a Second Language, G.W. Carver High School (Carver College and Career Academy), Class of 1961.
Baskerville served the students of Chesterfield County as a foreign language instructor for more than 30 years prior to her retirement in 2008. In 1970, when faculties were first integrated, Baskerville became the Foreign Language Department chair. An avid historian, Baskerville is highly regarded as one of the most knowledgeable community members about the role of black citizens in Chesterfield County over the past 100-plus years.
•Capt. Brett Mietus, executive assistant to the vice chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy, L.C. Bird High School, Class of 1988.
Mietus graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and continued his studies at the Naval War College, where he received an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies. Mietus has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal and various unit and campaign awards. While on the Joint Staff, he was recognized as the DJ-5 Action Officer of the Year. In 2016, Meitus was inducted into the L.C. Bird High School Hall of Fame as an All-State football athlete.
•Siegfried Othmer, chief scientist, EEG Institute, Manchester High School, Class of 1957.
Othmer is engaged, together with his wife Susan, in the technical development and the practice of neurofeedback, a physiologically based program of brain training. Since 1985, Othmer has dedicated his career to EEG neurofeedback having been drawn to the field through the epilepsy of their first-born son, Brian. In 2002 the Brian Othmer Foundation was established in memory of Brian in hopes that parents with an epileptic or similarly afflicted children would have the opportunity to try neurofeedback. Othmer is a noted speaker and author of several books and articles on EEG neurofeedback.
•Randy Rowlett, attorney, Gordon, Dodson, Gordon & Rowlett, Matoaca High School, Class of 1980.
Rowlett began his professional career teaching and coaching football at Matoaca and Meadowbrook high schools in Chesterfield County. In 1993 he began his legal career as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Chesterfield County. In 1998, Rowlett left the commonwealth attorney’s office to enter private practice with Gordon, Dodson, Gordon & Rowlett, where he practices criminal and personal injury law. Rowlett is very active in the community serving as a substitute judge for the District Court, and as a member of the Swift Creek Mill Playhouse’s board of directors.
•Carolyn Rudd, founder, president & CEO, CPR, Inc., G.W. Carver High School (Carver College and Career Academy), Class of 1968.
Rudd is the founder, president and CEO of CRP, Inc., a Washington D.C.-based, multi-faceted professional services and management consulting firm established in 1988. Rudd has served on several non-profit boards and actively supports a nationally endowed scholarship at Virginia Union University which was established under her leadership as president of the National Epicureans, Inc.
•LaChelle Waller, director of Undergraduate Advising and Research and assistant professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, Thomas Dale High School, Class of 1997.
Waller is an assistant professor and director of Undergraduate Advising and Research in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is the founder and executive director of TRAK’D, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics comprehension for at-risk youth (pre-K to fifth grade) and parents in underserved communities. Waller is also a volunteer for the Enon Marguerite Christian Youth Athletic Association where, as a cancer survivor, she promotes healthy lifestyles as well as STEAM education and community.