◇ Program Summary
1. Montgomery County’s largest Toys for Tots toy drive may be canceled this year
Despite being one of the wealthiest areas in the country, Montgomery County, Maryland, may have its largest toy drive of the year canceled. “I’ve had a lot of issues with real estate companies and warehouse owners here who don’t want to donate to me to do Toys for Tots,” said Elizabeth Scott, coordinator of Toys for Tots in Montgomery County. She said she has been unable to find an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot warehouse since June to collect, sort, bag and distribute toys this holiday season. “We only have a month left to secure a location or it’s gone,” Scott said.
“I reached out to Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the mayor of Gaithersburg, but I have not heard back.” Last year, more than 22,000 children in Montgomery County received more than 44,000 toys with the help of the Toys for Tots toy drive. Scott said she has been a member of Toys for Tots since she and her children became beneficiaries of the toy drive 58 years ago. “This is the most valuable thing God could have given me,” Scott said. “This is my way of saying thank you and giving back.”
2. Washington, D.C. launches free tours to explore the history of the canal
New fall tours let you explore a different side of Washington, D.C.: the canals. This year’s free tour will be held on September 28 and is held only once a year. Organizer Tom Haser co-founded LocktoberfestDC with the National Park Service, which will offer two walking and two biking tours. Along the tour route, you’ll ride approximately 6 miles along the city’s historic waterways, such as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Washington City Canal, while passing some of Washington, D.C.’s most iconic landmarks and monuments at dusk . Haser said the idea for the tour stemmed from a desire to tell the story of Washington, D.C.’s lockkeepers, workers who in the 19th century were responsible for managing the more than 70 canal locks that allowed ships to pass through Washington, D.C.’s canal system. In the early to mid-19th century, Washington, D.C.’s canals were vital to transportation in the area—and business was booming!
The tour features the Lockmaster’s House on the National Mall, just across the street from the Washington Monument. The house was once a waterfront property when D.C.’s canal system ran directly through what is now Constitution Avenue. The tour ends at Sauf Haus, a popular German beer garden in Northwest D.C., where all guests can reward themselves with beer, sausages, and pretzels after completing this walking tour and officially welcoming the arrival of fall! Technically, this isn’t the first year for LocktoberfestDC. Haser said they already tried it on a small scale last year. But 2024 is the first year they’re really going all in! To sign up for Locktoberfest by September 28, visit the website:www.locktoberfestdc.org! Spots are on a first come, first served basis, just bring yourself and your bike!
3. Some students in Virginia can enter George Mason University directly without applying
Some Northern Virginia seniors have been admitted to George Mason University without submitting an application as part of a pilot program designed to increase college access for underrepresented students, particularly those from low-income families.
The program involves Wakefield High School, Washington-Liberty High School and Career Center in Arlington County, as well as eight high schools in Prince William County. Eligible students only need to have a GPA of 3.25 or above and do not need to submit letters of recommendation, application fees or essays. According to Arlington School Board documents, the program focuses on students who receive free or reduced-price meals.
Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán said the program removes barriers to college admissions for students and gives them the opportunity to be admitted more easily. This week, eligible students in Arlington will receive direct admission notices, and a total of 776 seniors are expected to meet the requirements.
The Prince William County school system has also notified students and families. Students do not need to submit letters of recommendation or essays unless they are applying to the Honors College. The program is a collaboration between George Mason University and local schools to streamline the admissions process and provide more opportunities for students.
4. The latest ranking of universities in the Washington DC area is released
According to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, Johns Hopkins University ranks highest in the Washington, D.C. area and sixth in the nation.
The US university’s ranking rose from joint 105th last year to joint 91st. The improvement was mainly attributed to improvements in its student-faculty ratio and faculty research output.
Princeton University has been ranked first in the list of the best universities in the United States for two consecutive years, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University and Yale University. There is little change in the top 10 this year.
Howard University in D.C. reentered the top 100, ranking tied for 86th, thanks to improved graduation rates, particularly among students from low-income families.
Among other regional institutions, the University of Virginia and Georgetown University tied for 24th, George Washington University tied for 63rd, and Catholic University tied for 171st. The University of Maryland ranked 44th.
U.S. News evaluated about 1,500 colleges using 17 indicators including social mobility, graduation rates and student-faculty ratio.
The full list is available online.
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