A dozen Middleburg-area students -- including the class valedictorian, the top athlete, best rider, class speaker and winner of the School's most prestigious award -- were among the 42 members of the Class of 2008 that graduated May 23 at Foxcroft School's 94th Commencement, held in Miss Charlotte's Garden on the School's campus.

The Class of 2008, 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, the University of Virginia, Michigan State, William & Mary, New York University, the University of Southern California and Johns Hopkins.

Local graduates include Adrienne Teeley and Catherine York of Upperville; Michael Babus, Chelsy Coil, Sallie Dumont, Kara McCandless and Ainsley Treptow of Middleburg; Railey Cooley of The Plains, Rachel Livermore of Aldie, Elizabeth Mann of Hamilton, Emma Meyer of Berryville, and Hannah Smith of Boyce.

Teeley received the Charlotte Haxall Noland Award for best combining the qualities that Foxcroft's founder valued: high purpose, leadership, integrity, accomplishments and understanding. Teeley also took home the Hilary Somers Deely Drama Award and a Parent' Association Award for her efforts on behalf of the senior class. She was senior class co-president and head of the Drama Club and Afternoon Delights, an a cappella singing groups as well as a member of the Interim Committee, the Athletic Association and the JV field hockey, which she captained. She is the daughter of Valerie File of Upperville and Peter Teeley of Bethesda, MD, and plans to attend Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

York, who will attend William & Mary in the fall, was the School's valedictorian. She also received the Josie Betner Mallace Prize for humor and courage and the Eustis Prize for English. The daughter of David and Barbara York of Upperville, Catherine is a member of the Cum Laude Society, an academic honor society based on the collegiate Phi Beta Kappa and served as head Prefect, one of the top leadership roles at Foxcroft, as a senior.

Coil, who has an athletic scholarship to play field hockey at Michigan State next year, received the "Best Older Girl" Athletic Award and a Twelve Varsity Letter Prize for having played three varsity sports in each of her four years at Foxcroft. She was named 2007 All-Loudoun County Player of the Year in field hockey by the Washington Post, and earned All-Met and All-Independent School League honors several times. In addition, she was the varsity basketball team's Most Valuable Player as a senior and was the lacrosse team's fourth-leading scorer this spring – and captained all three teams.

The daughter of Bruce and Nan Coil of Middleburg, Chelsy also was Head of the Athletic Association and Octet, a student a cappella singing group and a member of the Foxcroft Riding Team that earned the Reserve Championship of the Tri-state Equitation League.

Livermore collected the largest and oldest award that Foxcroft presents: "Miss Charlotte's Trophy for Best Rider." A nationally-ranked eventer, Livermore also captained the Riding Team, competing in equitation, horse trials and jumpers competitions for Foxcroft, and was Head of Whipper-In, a select riding club. Livermore, who will attend James Madison University in the fall, also served as editor-in-chief of the yearbook and participated in the Soggie Cheerios singing group. She is the daughter of Lucia DiBenedetto Livermore of Aldie and David Livermore.

Dumont was the Senior Class's choice to speak at graduation and gave a lively speech full of memories, advice and humor. The daughter of Mary Coale (Coco) Dumont of Middleburg and Gerard Dumont, she was Head of the Day Student Organization that sponsors three blood drives each year, and a CAP tour guide for the Admission Office. She also was a member of the Student Council, the Soggie Cheerios singing group, Athletic Association, and several other activities. She played field hockey and lacrosse, serving as captain of the JV lacrosse team as a junior.

Babus, who will attend the University of Virginia in the fall, was head of the Astronomy and Art History clubs, an Honor Roll student and a member of the cross-country and track teams. She is the daughter of Dr. Glenn and Leslie Thaw Babus of Middleburg.

Cooley received the Studio Art Award and the Ida Lee Applegate Award, which is presented by Foxcroft's Board of Trustees to the girl who best exemplifies this quotation: "For manners are not idle, but the fruit of a loyal nature and noble mind. She was also selected as the 2008 artist for the Permanent Student Art Gallery last fall. Cooley served as co-president of the Senior Class and co-head of the Athletic Association, Drama Club and Octet. In addition, she played varsity field hockey for two years and was a member of the varsity tennis team for four seasons. She is the daughter of Polly Cooley of Charleston, SC, and The Plains, and Andrew Cooley of Charleston, SC, and plans to attend the College of Charleston.

The daughter of Roy and Sally Mann of Hamilton, Lizzy Mann will attend Washington & Lee University this fall. She served as a CAP tour guide, a dormitory leader, and as prefect of the Old Girl/New Girl initiative and was a member of the Art Club, the Athletic Association and several of Foxcroft's clubs that help those in need. In addition, she played varsity soccer, field hockey and tennis.

McCandless was a member of the School's High Honor Roll in all four of semesters she attended Foxcroft. A standout rider, she was a member of the School's equitation and eventing teams, as well as Whippers-In. In addition, she was a dormitory leader, co-head of the Middleburg Humane Volunteers and a member of the Soggie Cheerios and the varsity tennis team. She is the daughter of Dr. Brian and Barbara McCandless of Menands, NY, and the granddaughter of Mary Ann Kasprowicz of Middleburg.

Meyer, who plans to attend Ursinus University in Pennsylvania in the fall, served as a Dean's Prefect in the Library, made the Honor Roll several times and was a member of the Athletic Association. She also played varsity soccer and basketball, serving as captain of the soccer team in her senior year and captain of the JV lacrosse team in her junior year, when she also earned Most Valuable Player honors. In basketball, she was named Most Improved Player of the JV and Varsity teams in 2007 and 2008, respectively. She is the daughter of Kyle and Terry Meyer of Berryville.

Smith, who plans to attend Duke University in the fall, received the School's prestigious Gunnell Poetry Prize. She served as the Student Head of School, on the Judicial Council and as a dormitory leader. A talented singer, Smith also was co-head of Afternoon Delights, an a capella singing group, and had featured roles in several Foxcroft theatrical productions and concerts. Athletically, Smith was a two-year member of the varsity volleyball team. She is the daughter of Richard and Kelly Smith of Boyce.

Treptow, who will attend Franklin & Marshall College in the fall, is also an exceptional rider, having participated in the prominent Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach, Fla. In addition, she captained the varsity volleyball team in her senior year and was named the team's MVP. The daughter of Jim and Mary Lea Treptow of Middleburg also served as a dormitory leader and a CAP tour guide for the Admission Office.