Graduates bloom in Miss Charlotte's Garden
The roses weren’t out yet, owing to the cool spring, but azaleas, peonies and irises, as well as proud parents, faculty and friends, glowed along with the beaming faces of the members of Foxcroft School’s Class of 2009 Friday morning in Miss Charlotte’s Garden as 40 scholars received their diplomas at the School’s 95th commencement.
The Class, which includes young women from nine states, two foreign countries and the District of Columbia, is an accomplished one, having earned 150 acceptances to 88 colleges and universities, including Brown, Lehigh, Notre Dame, Texas, Tufts, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, UVA, and the U.S. Military Academy.
The Class, which includes young women from nine states, two foreign countries and the District of Columbia, is an accomplished one, having earned 150 acceptances to 88 colleges and universities, including Brown, Lehigh, Notre Dame, Texas, Tufts, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, UVA, and the U.S. Military Academy.
In a first for Foxcroft, the exercises included the official presentation of an appointment to West Point by Cadet Stuart Coffee, a member of the USMA Class of 2011. “On behalf of the President of the United States, it gives me great pleasure to give this appointment to Christine Thebaud,” he said, as the entire assemblage rose to give the Upperville, VA, resident a standing ovation.
Thebaud was also one of seven students inducted into the Foxcroft Chapter of the Cum Laude Society, a high school academic organization based on the college-level Phi Beta Kappa. Graduating seniors Korama Danquah (Los Angeles), Georgeann Ferrell (Lake McQueeney, TX), Chelsea Dickson (Paris, KY), and Olivia Means (Washington, DC) and juniors Rachel Giampa (Warrenton, VA) and Grace Murphy (Middleburg, VA) were also inducted. Gabriella DiCarlo, the valedictorian of the Class of 2009, was inducted into Cum Laude a year ago.
Paul K. Bergan, who taught at Foxcroft for 22 years before retiring two years ago, was was the featured speaker, selected by the graduates. He took the girls back to their Freshman year, when his demanding English class was part of their introduction to Foxcroft and some were scared or homesick. “All your fears were foolish fancy, baby,” he said, paraphrasing a popular song and proceeding to explore the theme of that course -- the notion that each of us forges our own destiny -- with visits to poems they memorized, lessons they learned and resolutions they made, should make. “Resolve to appreciate the daffodils in your life,” Bergan urged, after quoting Wordsworth, “whether they be nature or friends and family or some intellectual pursuit. . . and always remember to keep moving.” (To read this speech in its entirety, click here.)
Senior Class Speaker Catherine Leigh (Kayleigh) Moehrle of Frederick, MD, exhorted her classmates to embrace change and move into the extraordinary. “Today, together we are about to take the next step into change. We are about to see the big picture, our future, our life! It might be scary, it might be thrilling but we are ready. . . . Life is short and opportunities are rare. We must not fear the change and instead embrace courage in ourselves. We have taken the opportunities that Foxcroft has offered us and now where we go from there, depends on us.” (To read Kayleigh's complete speech, click here.
Stephen Matthews, Head Librarian and English teacher at Foxcroft, gave the invocation, and several prestigious prizes were awarded. Danquah received the most coveted, the Charlotte Haxall Noland Award, while Means got the Josie Betner Mallace Prize, awarded annually for courage and humour. Both girls plan to attend Brown University in the fall. Other award winners include Constance Roberts (Centreville, VA), who received the Ida Applegate Award, for courtesy, and Chelsea Dickson the Dudley Prize, for the senior who has been most cooperative in efforts for the good of the School. Junior Candice Nelson (Ewing, NJ), sophomore Sarah Gilmore and freshman Emane Tolbert (Flushing, NY) received the top prizes for their respective classes.
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Thebaud was also one of seven students inducted into the Foxcroft Chapter of the Cum Laude Society, a high school academic organization based on the college-level Phi Beta Kappa. Graduating seniors Korama Danquah (Los Angeles), Georgeann Ferrell (Lake McQueeney, TX), Chelsea Dickson (Paris, KY), and Olivia Means (Washington, DC) and juniors Rachel Giampa (Warrenton, VA) and Grace Murphy (Middleburg, VA) were also inducted. Gabriella DiCarlo, the valedictorian of the Class of 2009, was inducted into Cum Laude a year ago.
Paul K. Bergan, who taught at Foxcroft for 22 years before retiring two years ago, was was the featured speaker, selected by the graduates. He took the girls back to their Freshman year, when his demanding English class was part of their introduction to Foxcroft and some were scared or homesick. “All your fears were foolish fancy, baby,” he said, paraphrasing a popular song and proceeding to explore the theme of that course -- the notion that each of us forges our own destiny -- with visits to poems they memorized, lessons they learned and resolutions they made, should make. “Resolve to appreciate the daffodils in your life,” Bergan urged, after quoting Wordsworth, “whether they be nature or friends and family or some intellectual pursuit. . . and always remember to keep moving.” (To read this speech in its entirety, click here.)
Senior Class Speaker Catherine Leigh (Kayleigh) Moehrle of Frederick, MD, exhorted her classmates to embrace change and move into the extraordinary. “Today, together we are about to take the next step into change. We are about to see the big picture, our future, our life! It might be scary, it might be thrilling but we are ready. . . . Life is short and opportunities are rare. We must not fear the change and instead embrace courage in ourselves. We have taken the opportunities that Foxcroft has offered us and now where we go from there, depends on us.” (To read Kayleigh's complete speech, click here.
Stephen Matthews, Head Librarian and English teacher at Foxcroft, gave the invocation, and several prestigious prizes were awarded. Danquah received the most coveted, the Charlotte Haxall Noland Award, while Means got the Josie Betner Mallace Prize, awarded annually for courage and humour. Both girls plan to attend Brown University in the fall. Other award winners include Constance Roberts (Centreville, VA), who received the Ida Applegate Award, for courtesy, and Chelsea Dickson the Dudley Prize, for the senior who has been most cooperative in efforts for the good of the School. Junior Candice Nelson (Ewing, NJ), sophomore Sarah Gilmore and freshman Emane Tolbert (Flushing, NY) received the top prizes for their respective classes.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
