Ruth T. Bedford ’32 Merit Scholarship for the Arts Announced
The Ruth T. Bedford ’32 Merit Scholarship for the Arts, which will support as many as eight Foxcroft School students with $25,000-a-year grants, has been endowed by a portion of the largest gift ever made to a girls’ high school, Head of School Catherine S. McGehee announced Wednesday.
The announcement comes one year to the day after Foxcroft made headlines by revealing that Bedford, a 1932 Foxcroft graduate, had bequeathed the boarding and day school $40 million.
The announcement comes one year to the day after Foxcroft made headlines by revealing that Bedford, a 1932 Foxcroft graduate, had bequeathed the boarding and day school $40 million.
A daring and creative woman with a good deal of grit, Bedford loved theater and worked on Broadway in the 1940s and so, fittingly, the scholarship bearing her name will support new students who share her passion for the arts and embody her sense of adventure and enterprise. Three scholarships will be awarded for the 2016-17 school year with more to follow in subsequent years as the Scholarship endowment grows.
“This scholarship will help us to reach new students who might not otherwise attend Foxcroft,” said McGehee. “Given Ruth’s passion for the performing arts, I cannot imagine a better way for us to honor her legacy and further our vision for our second century.”
Born in 1914, Bedford was the granddaughter of Edward T. Bedford, a director of Standard Oil, founder of Corn Products Refining Company and pillar of the Westport, CT, community where Ruth lived most of her life. After attending Foxcroft, she worked in social services and served with the American Red Cross in Europe during World War II.
Later, she was a casting and stage manager for several Rodgers & Hammerstein Broadway shows and became a licensed seaplane pilot, as well as an accomplished sailor, golfer, tennis player, and horsewoman. Despite her great fortune, she lived modestly and died in June of 2014, just shy of her 100th birthday.
“This scholarship will help us to reach new students who might not otherwise attend Foxcroft,” said McGehee. “Given Ruth’s passion for the performing arts, I cannot imagine a better way for us to honor her legacy and further our vision for our second century.”
Born in 1914, Bedford was the granddaughter of Edward T. Bedford, a director of Standard Oil, founder of Corn Products Refining Company and pillar of the Westport, CT, community where Ruth lived most of her life. After attending Foxcroft, she worked in social services and served with the American Red Cross in Europe during World War II.
Later, she was a casting and stage manager for several Rodgers & Hammerstein Broadway shows and became a licensed seaplane pilot, as well as an accomplished sailor, golfer, tennis player, and horsewoman. Despite her great fortune, she lived modestly and died in June of 2014, just shy of her 100th birthday.
The Ruth T. Bedford ’32 Merit Scholarship for the Arts will be awarded to new ninth or tenth grade students who are dedicated to the performing or visual arts and have a strong desire to excel in that arena. The girls must also be academically focused, inquisitive, outgoing and interested in developing leadership skills. They must be individuals who will add to the integrity and the intellectual and creative richness of the school community.
Applicants for the $25,000 renewable grant-in-aid must submit an essay, portfolio of their work and a recommendation from an arts teacher or mentor, among other materials, by February 1, 2016. Those selected will be notified March 10.
Application materials and more information about the Bedford and other scholarships are available online. You may also contact the Admission Office at 540.687.4340 or via email at admission@foxcroft.org.
Founded in 1914, Foxcroft is a college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12, located in Middleburg, VA. It offers 75+ courses, including 14 APs and an innovative STEM program and fields athletic teams in nine sports, including a nationally-known riding program and a state champion lacrosse team. The student body is comprised of 167 girls from 18 states, 14 countries, and the District of Columbia. About one-third of the students receive financial assistance; 25 percent are international students and 17 percent students of color. For more information, call 540.687.4340.
Application materials and more information about the Bedford and other scholarships are available online. You may also contact the Admission Office at 540.687.4340 or via email at admission@foxcroft.org.
Founded in 1914, Foxcroft is a college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12, located in Middleburg, VA. It offers 75+ courses, including 14 APs and an innovative STEM program and fields athletic teams in nine sports, including a nationally-known riding program and a state champion lacrosse team. The student body is comprised of 167 girls from 18 states, 14 countries, and the District of Columbia. About one-third of the students receive financial assistance; 25 percent are international students and 17 percent students of color. For more information, call 540.687.4340.
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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.
