Foxcroft School Board Chair Anne Michele Lyons Kuhns '87 and Head of School Catherine S. McGehee handed out 33 diplomas and celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of a number of local scholars Friday (May 25) at the all-girls boarding and day school's 104th Commencement.

Melanie Fann of Purcellville, a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and National AP Scholar who will attend Vanderbilt in the fall, earned Pillsbury Prize honors as Valedictorian; and the coveted Charlotte Haxall Noland Award, for the outstanding senior, went to Rachel Brown of Marshall, VA, a certified doula (non-medical birthing coach) and "High Honors" student headed for Colgate University. Other area students who collected top prizes Friday include Student Head of School Pradyuta Padmanabhan (Chantilly, VA., University of Pittsburgh), who received the Dudley Cup, and Bella Bigelow (Middleburg), winner of the top junior class prize, the Mildred Greble Davis Award.

Before the awards and diploma, though, came the speeches and a definite theme emerged regarding the character of the Class of 2018 emerged in those. McGehee referred to the class's "wonderful feistiness" and Senior Class speaker Trinity Patterson (Washington, DC) noted that they "made our own decisions without regard to any class before us and any class coming after."

Featured speaker Patty Boswell, longtime Registrar and Dorm Parent at Foxcroft, recalled trying to get members of the class to sit still during McGehee's installation as Head of School early in their freshman year. "That was my first clue that you were an independent group," said Boswell. "I remember thinking that if this is how it is after you have only known each other a very short time, then we had better buckle up because we were in for quite the ride!"

It has been quite a ride, for the class which petitioned for changes the dress code, held the first prom in recent history, and researched, drafted, and implemented an Honor Pledge, during their tenure. "You have been girls who do and dare," said McGehee. Added Boswell: "Throughout your years, you always seemed to choose to do it your way. I must admit there were many times when we all wondered how that was going to work out, but you managed. You pushed the boundaries, used your resources, and kept plugging along. You excelled academically, on the athletic fields, in student leadership, and in your personal goals."

It is true. The Class of 2018 includes two National Merit Scholars, nine AP Scholars, and six members of the Cum Laude Society — as well a Division I athlete, two jaw-dropping musical talents, and a girl who was featured internationally on Spanish-speaking TV (Telemundo) for starting her own nonprofit. Collectively, the 33 girls were offered more than $1.4 million in merit scholarships and 128 offers of admission from 82 colleges and universities, including Colgate, Emory, Haverford, Parsons School of Design, University of Southern California, Texas, Vanderbilt, and Virginia.

Both Patterson and Boswell had good advice for the graduates, and Trinity's closing remarks were right on. "No matter what the next step for you may be, put your best foot forward, and strut like [model] Naomi Campbell through the streets of life," she said. "Class of 2018, let's be unforgettable." No problem there!

History teacher John Scharfenberg of Middleburg, whose daughter Pia was among the graduates, gave the invocation at the ceremony — which concluded a celebration begun Thursday with the traditional Awards Assembly and Baccalaureate. Numerous students, as well as two teachers and a staff member, were honored at the former and Maimah Karmo, Founder, and CEO of Tigerlily Foundation was the keynote speaker at the latter.