Molly Murphy and Lillian Potter, two Middleburg residents who each claimed major honors, led a group of nine area students May 29 at Foxcroft School's 101st com- mencement. Also walking through Miss Charlotte's Garden on a picture-perfect day were Hannah All, Carrie Cunningham, and Isabel Martin of Middleburg; Emily Cooley of Stone Ridge (Aldie), Cortney Cunningham of Hamilton, Chase Shipka of Marshall and Katarina Weinberg of Purcellville.

Head of School Catherine S. McGehee, presiding over her first graduation, and Anne Michele Lyons Kuhns, Vice Chair of the Foxcroft Board of Trustees and a 1987 graduate, awarded diplomas to 33 students from seven states and four countries who were offered 128 acceptances and more than $1million in merit scholarship.

Award-winning photographer and 1959 Foxcroft alumna Diana Walker, who covered the White House for Time Magazine during the Reagan, GHW Bush and Clinton administrations, was the featured speaker. Stephanie Knapp or Middleburg gave the invocation and Gabriela Panettiere, the granddaughter of Bernardo and Marie Piskorz of Middleburg, was the Senior Class speaker.

Murphy, who plans to attend the University of Virginia in the fall, received the Ida Applegate Award, which goes to the student who best exemplifies the quotation, "For manners are not idle, but the fruit of a loyal nature and noble mind." A day earlier, at the annual awards assembly, she had been inducted into the Cum Laude Society and received both the Hilary Somers Deely Drama Award and the Gunnell Poetry Prize.

A Virginia Cretella Mars Scholar at Foxcroft, Molly is a talented singer and song writer who was co-head of the a cappella group Octet and helped found a community jam band called Moderately Alright. She also had a lead role in each of the musicals presented while she was at Foxcroft, including this spring's The Secret Garden. She is the daughter of Elizabeth "Beth" O'Quinn and Daniel Murphy of Middleburg.

Potter, selected as one of Loudoun County's Future Leaders earlier this spring, re- ceived the Dudley Prize at commencement. It is awarded to the ]girl in the Senior Class who has been most willing and cooperative in her unselfish efforts for the good of the School. The Hollins University-bound student also received the Eustis Prize for English and the Library Prize at the Awards Assembly.

During her years at Foxcroft, Potter received the top honor awarded by the faculty to a freshman (the Elebash Award), sophomore (Becky Award) and junior (Mildred Greble Davis Award), as well as the Gunnell Poetry Prize (2014) and Community Service Award (2014). Potter served as Student Head of School this year, founded a student book club, and won the poetry reading competition at the Paul Bergan Poetry Fextival all four years. In addition, she captained the softball team and was selected to First Team All-Delaney Athletic Conference this spring. She is the daughter of Donna and Jeffrey Potter of Middleburg.

All, a High Honor Roll student who plans to attend the University of Virginia, re- ceived the English Prize at the Awards Assembly. She served as vice president of the Senior Class and a Dean's Prefect, and captained both the varsity soccer and varsity field hockey teams. All was also on the board of Chimera, the literary magazine, and served as Manager of the Hound intramural team.

A talented thespian, All played the leading role of Mary Lennox in this spring's musi- cal, The Secret Garden, and was featured in several previous musicals and revues. She was Head of the a cappella group Afternoon Delights and is the daughter of Denise and Perry "Olen" All of Middleburg.

Cooley received a Community Service Award at the Awards Assembly for her work with local students. The daughter of Karen and Charles Cooley of Stone Ridge served as Head of Study Buddies, a group of students who help Middleburg elementary school children with their homework. She also volunteered at the therapeutic arts center A Place To Be on a regular basis. A member of the jam group Moderately Alright and dormitory leader for two years, Cooley plans to attend Shenandoah University this fall.

Carrie Cunningham is the recipient of the Middleburg Library Scholarship, which is awarded by the Library's Advisory Board to help pay for books during the first year of college. Cunningham, who is headed to Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, served as a leader in the Freshman Dorm as a junior, and a Library Prefect and Peer Tutor during her senior year. She also captained the tennis and softball teams and received the Coaches' Award in both sports for her dedication and contribution. She is the daughter of Brenda Hafner of Middleburg.

Cortney Cunningham, who plans to attend Virginia Tech, was one of Foxcroft's top riders and received the Director's Award at the May 28 Awards Assembly. She also captained the volleyball and lacrosse teams.

The daughter of Holly and John Cunningham of Hamilton, Cortney was Head of the Activities Committee and Student Cooking Club; an editor of the student literary magazine, Chimera; and a member of both the Athletic Association and the riding group, Whippers In.

Martin, the daughter of Jerrill "Jerry" and Sean Martin of Middleburg, will attend the College of Charleston (S.C.) in the fall. She was co-head of the Hopelet initiative in which girls design and make hand-wrapped bracelets to raise funds for Foxcroft's fi- nancial aid fund. Martin also was a member of the Athletic Association, captained and received the Coaches' Award in both field hockey and soccer, and was Cheerleader of the Fox intramural team.

Shipka is one of the top young riders in eventing, having earned the USEA Top Junior Preliminary Rider title and been named a Nutrena Rising Star in Eventing in 2014. Last year, she was one of just nine riders nationwide selected to the USEF's Eventing 18/Advancing Athlete program. Shipka is delaying college so that she can focus on her riding. At Foxcroft, she was a member of Foxcroft's Judicial Council and a dormitory leader. She also participated in the School's French Exchange Program in 2012 and trip to Space Camp in February.

Chase is the daughter of Darcie and Ron Shipka of Marshall.

Weinberg, who plans to attend Liberty University in the fall, was varsity soccer captain for two years and earned First Team All-Delaney Athletic Conference and Team Most Valuable Player honors twice. She also was a starter on the varsity volleyball last fall. Weinberg, who transferred to Foxcroft as a junior, was a dormitory prefect as a senior as well as Assistant Manager to the Fox intramural team. She is the daughter of Deanne and Norman Weinberg of Purcellville.

Alltogether members of the Class of 2015 received 128 acceptances from 85 colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon, Emory, New York University, Rhode Island School of Design, Washington University in St. Louis, Smith, UCLA, and the universities of Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and Virginia.