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.

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 Di Carlo, 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 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."

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."

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 Nelson and freshman Emane Tolbeert (Flushing, NY) received the top prizes for their respective classes.

Adriane Victoria Elizabeth Peschard of Leesburg, VA, graduated from the Foxcroft School on Friday, May 22, at the School's 95th commencement. She was one of 40 students from 11 states, three foreign countries and the District of Columbia, awarded diplomas by Head of School Mary Louise Leipheimer.

Peschard, who plans to attend Rollins College in the fall, was captain of Foxcroft's cross country team and received Delaney Athletic Conference all-conference mention as the captain of the cheerleading squad. She also participated in varsity track and field. In addition, she was a member of the hip-hop dance team Rhythm Nation and of Special Friends, a student group that regularly visits the elderly and infirm at the Leesburg Longterm Care Facility.

She is the daughter of Gina Chaszar and Armand Peschard, both of Leesburg.

Julia Lynn Gruver of Philomont, VA, graduated from the Foxcroft School on Friday, May 22, at the School's 95th commencement. She was one of 40 students from 11 states, three foreign countries and the District of Columbia, awarded diplomas by Head of School Mary Louise Leipheimer.

Gruver, an honor student who plans to attend the Virginia Institute of Science and Technology next fall, was one of Foxcroft's top athletes. In basketball, she earned four varsity letters and Delaney Athletic Conference all-conference recognition as a senior. Although she had played neither field hockey nor lacrosse before reaching high school, she earned several varsity letters in each. Gruver also served as captain of all three sports this year.

The daughter of Jill and Clifton "Chip" Gruver of Philomont, Julia also served as head of the Athletic Association, as captain of one of the team's spirit clubs and as a campus tour guide for the Admission Office.

Amelia Raphaelson of Upperville, VA, graduated from the Foxcroft School on Friday, May 22, at the School's 95th commencement. She was one of 40 students from 11 states, three foreign countries and the District of Columbia, awarded diplomas by Head of School Mary Louise Leipheimer.

Raphaelson, who plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the fall, received the School's Library Prize, which is given annually to the student who best utilizes the library's research facilities. She also participated in cross country.

Known as "Lia," she is the daughter of Amanda and Dr. Marc Raphaelson of Upperville.

Caroline Elisabeth Turnage of Leesburg, VA, graduated from the Foxcroft School on Friday, May 22, at the School's 95th commencement. She was one of 40 students from 11 states, three foreign countries and the District of Columbia, awarded diplomas by Head of School Mary Louise Leipheimer.

Turnage, who plans to attend James Madison University in the fall, is a winner of the School's Becky Award, which is presented annually by faculty vote to the sophomore student who best displays the qualities of Bravery, Enthusiasm, Courtesy and Knowledge of Youth (BECKY). It is named after Rebecca M. Hickok, who was at Foxcroft from 1935 until her death in 1960, serving as secretary to the school's founder, Charlotte Haxall Noland, and a dormitory housemother.

Turnage, who played field hockey, lacrosse and soccer at Foxcroft, was twice named Most Valuable Player of the softball team in her junior year and received the Coaches Award in 2009 for her many contributions to the team.