Bright skies and bright smiles filled Miss Charlotte's Garden on the Foxcroft School campus Friday morning as 42 members of the Class of 2008 received their diplomas at the School's 94th commencement.

The Class, which includes young women from nine states, six foreign countries and the District of Columbia, is an accomplished one, having received 125 acceptances to 86 colleges and universities, including Duke, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Southern Cal, Virginia and William & Mary.

John H. Suitor III, Head of School at Long Trail School in Dorset, VT, and former Academic Dean at Foxcroft, was the featured speaker, selected by the graduates. He built his speech around five key words – Learn, Love, Lead, Laugh and Live – advising the girls to find their passions, build bridges, believe in themselves, find their "funny spots" (and visit them daily) and live a rich and full life of challenges and risk-taking.

He also surprised each of the graduates with a small care package taped to the bottom of their chairs – an envelope containing, among other things, their own Foxcroft business card to encourage networking and a coin sleeve with one coin to encourage saving for their futures.

Sallie Dumont, of Middleburg, VA, was the Senior Class Speaker and James R. Treptow, also of Middleburg, gave the invocation.

Adrienna Teeley, of Upperville, VA, received the Charlotte Haxall Noland Award for best combining the qualities that Miss Charlotte (Foxcroft's founder) valued: high purpose, leadership, integrity, accomplishment and understanding.

Cum Laude Society member Catherine York, of Upperville, VA, was class Valedictorian and winner of the Pillsbury Prize, for scholarship, and the Josie Betner Mallace Prize, awarded annually for courage and humour, "the combination of qualities which represents Foxcroft."

York plans to attend The College of William and Mary in the fall.

Salin Kunplin, of Bangkok, Thailand, was the Salutatorian.

The Ida Applegate Award, for courtesy, went to Railey Cooley, of Charleston, SC.

Chelsea Secor, of Monkton, MD, received the Dudley Prize for the senior who has been most cooperative in efforts for the good of the School.