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What a Time to Be Alive! Renowned Oceanographer and Ocean Advocate Dr. Sylvia Earle Speaks at Foxcroft School

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Dr. Sylvia Earle, renowned oceanographer and the 56th Alison Harrison Goodyear 1929 Fellow to speak at Foxcroft School, found her love of water and the ocean very early in life.

“I got knocked over by a wave when I was three,” she shared with Foxcroft students during her recent visit to the School’s campus. “The wave took me underwater, and at first it was a little scary, but then I realized it was fun, and I’ve been submerging ever since.” As a pioneering oceanographer, explorer, author, and conservationist with more than 7,000 hours spent underwater, that is no exaggeration.

Dubbed the “First Hero for the Planet” by Time Magazine and a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, Dr. Earle is the president and chairman of Mission Blue, an Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. (DOER), chair of the Advisory Council for the Harte Research Institute, and the first woman to become chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She is also the subject of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix documentary “Mission Blue” and has received more than 100 national and international honors and awards.

Ever the optimist and pragmatist, Dr. Earle wove her thoughts on the current climate and what can be done throughout her presentation, including this moving observation, “Earth is a biogeochemical miracle, and what we do to the rest of life on Earth determines what will happen to us. Again, I think we’re so lucky to see it, to understand we are one little piece of this amazing fabric of life, and we’ve been doing damage to that fabric, but you can also solve the problems. We could not do it a century ago, even 50 years ago. You can. You’ve come along at a moment when the technology exists, and the knowledge exists to really shape a future where we have a future.”

She also spoke with students about her early years as a botanist and two pivotal opportunities that helped solidify her career trajectory. The first was an opportunity to spend six weeks at sea studying seaweed and fish. Ultimately realizing she would be one woman among 70 men, she said it really wasn’t a problem. “I was focused on what I was there to do as a botanist. I was there as a professional.”

The second was an opportunity to live underwater for two weeks. “They didn’t expect women to apply, but some of us did. They allowed five of us to be chosen, but they couldn’t tolerate the idea that men and women could live [together] underwater. So they made a women’s team, and that created big headlines.

“When people say ‘you can’t do that’ for whatever reason (you’re a girl, or you’re too young, or too old),” she advised students, “don’t let anybody for whatever reason steal your dreams, whatever your dreams are.”

In addition to speaking with the Foxcroft community, Dr. Earle visited the AP Biology and AP Chemistry classes and enjoyed lunch with several students interested in oceanography and ocean conservation. Later that evening, the local community was invited to campus to hear her speak.

A leader in STEM education for girls, Foxcroft recently announced an extraordinary gift for the Mars STEAM Wing to enhance its program to encourage girls to pursue studies in STEAM fields. The School offers an innovative curriculum that addresses challenges facing tomorrow’s workforce and provides relevant and stimulating learning experiences. A signature program at the school, the STEM initiative emphasizes inquiry-based labs, using technology with confidence and ease, and hands-on problem-solving that extends well beyond the classroom.

The Alison Harrison Goodyear ’29 Fellowship program, offered through the generosity of the family and friends of Alison Harrison Goodyear, Foxcroft Class of 1929, brings distinguished speakers and provocative performers to Foxcroft to deliver a keynote address and conduct small group seminars with students.

Fellowship recipients during the program’s 56-year history include such remarkable voices as Maya Angelou, James Baker III, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David McCullough, Sally Ride, Barbara Walters, tech entrepreneur Sheena Allen, National Geographic “Adventurer of the Year” Jennifer Pharr Davis, “Hello Fears” founder Michelle Poler, NPR’s Morning Edition host Rachel Martin, GenHERation founder Katlyn Grasso, The Social Institute founder Laura Tierney, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Marcia Chatelain, Former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, and Haitian-American director and global philanthropist Claudine Oriol.

Photos courtesy of Christine McCrehin.

Posted on: April 25, 2023

Competitors Tackle Climate Change in Foxcroft School’s 12th Annual STEM Challenge

Local schools Wakefield School (second) and Foxcroft (third) earn top finishes in the high school division during the annual science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competition.

MIDDLEBURG, VA – Bullis School from Potomac, Maryland, and Edlin School from Reston, Virginia, each claimed the top prize in their respective high school and middle school divisions during Foxcroft’s 12th annual STEM Challenge. Designed for middle and high school students, the competition saw 109 girls from 14 schools in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., use their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math to take on issues like sea level rise, pollinator habitats, recycling, and more as they participated in challenges revolving around this year’s “Be Green” theme.

The Solar Superstars from Bullis School, composed of Victoria Deal, Jiselle Jenkins, and Victoria Marshall, received a solar-powered robot kit and unique medals designed and fabricated by Foxcroft STEM students in the School’s Innovation Lab as their first-place prize in the high school division. Second place in the high school division went to the Terrific Turbines (Julia Austin, Meira Barnaby, Emily D. Cooper, and Alexandra Fuhs) from Wakefield School in The Plains, Virginia. Foxcroft’s Recycling Rockstars (Ryleigh Borror ’23, Rebecca Cramer ’23, Cameron Hazard ’23, and Sneha Kaylan ’23) took third.

The Terrific Turbines of Wakefield School.

In the middle school division, Edlin School’s Super SuperNovas (Varsha Ayala, Anya Crevits, Lyla Hutchison, and Maya Shreedhar) took home the middle school trophy. Second place went to the Composting Crusaders (Samantha Deibler, Gracie Jacobs, and Catherine Risen) from Norwood School in Bethesda, Maryland. Third place went to the Sustainable Sirens (Susanna Hoopes, Amel Johns, Ava Johnson, and Phoenix Sinclair) from Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Composting Crusaders of Norwood School.

Energy and enthusiasm filled the campus as the teams worked through five unique challenges. Each year, event sponsor Stryker Corporation brings several of their female engineers to not only administer one of the challenges but also to share their experiences and answer questions from the young competitors during a career panel. The Stryker team’s engineering challenge, “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” involved students evaluating blueprints of a device that separated cans and bottles.

In the Chemistry Lab at the “Turning the Tide on Sea Level Rise” challenge, competitors investigated the cause of sea level rise in two mini-experiments. They analyzed data on sea level rise temporally (in time) and geographically (in space). Finally, the competitors observed the impact of sea level rise on different types of shorelines and engineered their own shorelines based on their observations. In the Briggs Biology Lab, “Pollinator Paradise” had teams imagine a world where milkweed was extinct and then construct an ideal alternative for pollinators.

In the Athletic/Student Center at the “It’s Not Easy Being Green” event, students had to harness the power of the wind to complete two tasks. First, they had to build a wind turbine to power a light that would alert the scientific community of the dangers of climate change. Next, they had to create a vehicle that could travel using wind power. These “sail cars” raced across the floor of the Dance Studio, and the winner was the team whose car traveled the furthest. In the math-coding challenge “Recycling Robots,” participants programmed a human robot to navigate a maze and collect eco-friendly materials while avoiding non-recyclables! Teams were exposed to algorithmic thinking and collaborative coding to write the most efficient program and find the optimal routes for their human robots.

Between challenges, students used Kindle Fires supplied by Foxcroft to answer questions about climate change and earn raffle tickets for prizes ranging from gift cards to tech devices. Participants in the middle school competition also took tours of campus and learned a little more about Foxcroft’s focus on girls in STEM during a session with Head of School Cathy McGehee.

A leader in STEM education for girls, Foxcroft recently announced construction on the Mars STEAM Wing to enhance its program to encourage girls to pursue studies in STEAM fields. The School offers an innovative curriculum that addresses challenges facing tomorrow’s workforce and provides relevant and stimulating learning experiences. A signature program at the school, the STEM initiative emphasizes inquiry-based labs, using technology with confidence and ease, and hands-on problem-solving that extends well beyond the classroom. The annual STEM Challenge showcases Foxcroft’s innovative focus on the STEM fields.

Photos courtesy of Christine McCrehin.

Posted on: March 9, 2023

Foxcroft School Earns Fourth College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award

The School is one of two in Virginia and 64 worldwide to earn the prestigious awards in both AP Computer Science A (AP CSA) and AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) courses.

MIDDLEBURG, VA – Foxcroft School has been recognized as one of two schools in Virginia and only 64 in the world to earn the prestigious College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in both AP Computer Science A (AP CSA) and AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) courses during the 2021–22 academic year.

This is the second time the school has received both the AP CSA and AP CSP Female Diversity Awards and the fourth time it has received AP Computer Science Female Diversity Awards. The prior Awards were for both categories for the 2019–20 academic year, AP CSA during the 2018–19 academic year, and AP CSP for the 2017–18 academic year.

“This recognition is a proud moment for Foxcroft,” said Head of School Cathy S. McGehee. “Our School is leading the way in STEM education for girls by encouraging our students in record numbers to participate in computer science. The technology field is one where women continue to be underrepresented and efforts such as ours can make a difference. Congratulations to our AP Computer Science students and their outstanding teachers.”

Schools receiving the Award have either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science examinees meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population.

“Our students’ broad participation in computer science has helped grow other programs at Foxcroft, including the CyberPatriot competition, eSports, and most significantly, the FIRST Tech Robotics challenge,” said Innovation Lab Director (and AP Computer Science Principles teacher) Alex Northrup. “Of the 40 teams that competed at our most recent robotics event, Foxcroft was the only all-girls team.”

AP Computer Science Principles teacher and Innovation Lab Director Alex Northrup works with Robotics Club members on their robot prior to their inaugural FIRST Tech Robotics challenge competition.

Providing female students with access to computer science courses is necessary to ensure gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to drive innovation, creativity, and representation. Per research compiled by College Board, the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $97,430 in May 2021. However, women represent just 24% of the 5 million people in computing occupations.

According to a Google study, 54% of female computer science majors took AP CSA in high school. College Board research also finds that AP CSP students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP CSA and that for most students, AP CSP serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework. Additionally, research from the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) shows that attending an all-girls school strengthens interest and success in STEM fields. Specifically, in math and computer skills, girls’ school graduates rate their confidence in their abilities at least 10% higher than their coeducated counterparts.

These findings highlight the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender parity in AP Computer Science classrooms. The 1,105 schools that received this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all U.S. high schools. Foxcroft School is fully committed to delivering a STEM program that inspires girls to pursue studies in fields where women are underrepresented, as evidenced by the School’s recent announcement to begin construction on the Mars STEAM Wing, with state-of-the-art equipment and spaces that reflect best practices for teaching girls the way they learn best.

Photo courtesy of Christine McCrehin.

Posted on: March 7, 2023

Renowned Oceanographer and Ocean Advocate Dr. Sylvia Earle to Speak at Foxcroft School

The public is invited to attend at 7:00 p.m., March 23, 2023.

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Dr. Sylvia Earle, a legendary oceanographer and ocean advocate who holds the record for the deepest walk on the seafloor, has been named the 2023 Alison Harrison Goodyear ’29 Fellow. Dr. Earle will speak to the community about her life experiences and advocacy on Thursday, March 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the Engelhard Gymnasium of the Athletic/Student Center at Foxcroft School.

The public is encouraged to attend this event. There is no admission charge, but space is limited. RSVP by submitting this form or calling 540-687-4510.

Dubbed the “First Hero for the Planet” by Time Magazine and a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, Dr. Earle is the President and Chairman of Mission Blue, an Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. (DOER), Chair of the Advisory Council for the Harte Research Institute, and former Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

Dr. Earle is the subject of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix documentary “Mission Blue” and the recipient of more than 100 national and international honors and awards, including being named a 2014 UNEP Champion of the Earth, Glamour Magazine’s 2014 Woman of the Year, member of the Netherlands Order of the Golden Ark, and winner of the 2009 TED Prize, the Walter Cronkite Award, the 1996 Explorers Club Medal, the Royal Geographic Society 2011 Patron’s Medal, and the National Geographic 2013 Hubbard Medal.

The author of more than 225 publications and leader of more than 100 expeditions with over 7,500 hours underwater, Dr. Earle is a graduate of Florida State University with M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Duke University and 32 honorary degrees. Her research concerns the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems and the development of technology for access to the deep sea.

Before her presentation, Dr. Earle will spend the day with Foxcroft students. In the morning, she will speak with the entire student body about her experiences as a woman in STEM. She will then visit with AP Chemistry and AP Biology students about her research and diving experience and participate in a lunch discussion with students interested in ocean advocacy or marine biology.

Fellowship recipients during the program’s 53-year history include such remarkable voices as Maya Angelou, James Baker III, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David McCullough, Sally Ride, Barbara Walters, tech entrepreneur Sheena Allen, National Geographic “Adventurer of the Year” Jennifer Pharr Davis, “Hello Fears” founder Michelle Poler, NPR’s Morning Edition host Rachel Martin, GenHERation founder Katlyn Grasso, The Social Institute founder Laura Tierney, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Marcia Chatelain, former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, and Haitian-American director and global philanthropist Claudine Oriol.

Posted on: March 4, 2023

Sixteen Works by Foxcroft School Students Earn Prestigious Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Four receive Gold Keys and advance to the national competition.

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Nine Foxcroft students created 16 outstanding works of art and writing that have been selected for special recognition in the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards regional competition.

Back: Ella Johnson, Vassiliki Margas, London Hershey, Helen Ventikos, and Juliana Rose.
Front: Huston Sgro, Sophie Matthews, Madison Burget, and Rowan Jones.

Four works achieved the coveted Gold Key status — the highest regional designation. The “golden” artists are senior Helen Ventikos of Purcellville, VA, who earned two Gold Keys in the photography category; senior Vassiliki Margas, Washington, D.C. (ceramics); and sophomore Huston Sgro, Asheville, NC (photography).

A panel of noted visual and literary leaders in New York City will now judge the Gold Key works. The National Medalists they select will be invited to a ceremony at Carnegie Hall, and their works included in a national traveling exhibition. No stranger to this process, Ventikos earned a national Gold Medal for her photograph titled “Kafes” during last year’s competition and attended the Carnegie Hall ceremony with Fine Arts Department Chair and Photography teacher Julie Fisher to accept her medal.

“Through the creative process, our students share their unique voices and perspective on the world around them, gaining important skills in confidence and self-expression,” explains Head of School Cathy McGehee. “I am proud of their accomplishments and of our expert arts faculty who support them.”

Silver Keys were received by seniors London Hershey of Hagerstown, MD, and Ventikos for their works in the critical essay and photography categories, respectively. Sophomore Rowan Jones of Haymarket, VA, also received a Silver Key for her mixed media submission.

Senior Sophie Matthews of Ashburn, VA, earned four honorable mentions in the ceramics category, and junior Juliana Rose, Dayton, WY, acquired two in the photography category. Additional honorable mentions were earned by Ventikos (photography), junior Madison Burget, Philomont, VA (drawing), and sophomore Ella Johnson, Upperville, VA (ceramics).

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, established in 1923, are presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers in partnership with more than 100 visual arts and literary arts organizations across the country. It is the nation’s largest, longest-running, most prestigious visual and literary arts program recognizing the accomplishments of students in middle and high school.

Among the artistic luminaries who have served as judges are Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Edwidge Danticat, David Sedaris, Nikki Giovanni, and Roz Chast. The list of past winners is equally impressive, with Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Sylvia Plath, and filmmaker Ken Burns — as well as Foxcroft Fine Arts teacher Karin Thorndike — among the honored.

Photo courtesy of Foxcroft School.

Posted on: February 21, 2023

Seven Students and One Faculty Member Elected to Foxcroft School Chapter of Cum Laude Society

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Four Foxcroft School seniors, three juniors, and one faculty member were recently elected to the Foxcroft School Chapter of the Cum Laude Society. They join four members of the senior class who were named to national high school scholastic honor society a year ago as juniors.

Seniors Gabby Garrison (Morgantown, WV), Wilhelmina McQuarrie (London, UK), Cate Williams (Las Cruces, NM), and Sage Wolf (Warrenton, VA) were elected to the Foxcroft School Chapter of the Cum Laude Society (modeled on the collegiate Phi Beta Kappa). In addition, Grace Pumphrey (Goochland, VA), Katelyn Smith (Ashburn, VA), and Elizabeth Viney (South Riding, VA) received the impressive distinction of being selected during their junior year. Assistant Head of School Dr. Tanya Hyatt was also elected to the Society to honor her dedication to the scholarship, teaching, and love of learning fundamental to the ideals of the Society.

Back: Seniors Lucy Moan, London Hershey, Gabby Garrison, Cate Williams, Wilhelmina McQuarrie, and Helen Ventikos. Front: Juniors Grace Pumphrey, Elizabeth Viney, and Katelyn Smith.

Seniors Molly Catlett (Middleburg, VA), London Hershey (Hagerstown, MD), Lucy Moan (Middleburg, VA), and Helen Ventikos (Purcellville, VA) were inducted last year as juniors. They, together with current faculty members of the Chapter (Head of School Cathy McGehee, Athletic Director Michelle Woodruff, Director of The Innovation Lab and History Department Chair Alex Northrup, and STEM teacher and Chapter President Dr. Meghen Tuttle) will officially welcome the new members into the Society during the Cum Laude induction ceremony held at Foxcroft’s annual Awards Assembly in May.

The presence of a Cum Laude chapter at a secondary school indicates a commitment to outstanding scholarly achievement. Students selected for induction must have superior academic records, as reflected in their course load, grade point average, and other factors. They must also demonstrate a serious interest in the pursuit of knowledge and academic integrity. National guidelines limit membership to 20 percent of a senior class; up to half of those students are eligible to be elected in the junior year.

The Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 and has grown to include 382 chapters, with the vast majority located at independent schools in the United States. Foxcroft’s Chapter was established in 1958.

Photo courtesy of Christine McCrehin.

Posted on: February 7, 2023

Dr. Tanya Hyatt Named Assistant Head of School at Foxcroft School

*Dr. Tanya Hyatt, Assistant Head of School for Foxcroft School.* *Photo Courtesy of Foxcroft School.*

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Dr. Tanya Hyatt has been named Assistant Head of School at Foxcroft School, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Hyatt, who has a wealth of boarding school administrative and teaching experience, comes to Foxcroft from Indian Springs School outside of Birmingham, AL, a day and boarding school for grades 8-12, where she was Dean of Faculty.

“I am thrilled to be at Foxcroft,” shared Dr. Hyatt. “As a scientist, I have always worked to increase girls’ engagement in STEM classes and careers and am excited to be at a school committed to empowering young women to reach their full potential and gain confidence in their abilities. The way Foxcroft nurtures every girl to find her passion(s), her voice, and her authentic self are what drew me here, and I look forward to working with each student to find the right learning path for them.”

As Dean of Faculty at Indian Springs, Dr. Hyatt led all aspects of hiring, mentoring new faculty, and planning faculty meetings and professional development, among other responsibilities. Under her leadership, Indian Springs revised the hiring process to work to eliminate bias and increase faculty of color. She also worked to implement a new annual faculty evaluation using Folio Collaborative. Prior to serving as Dean of Faculty, she was the School’s Dean of Academics, working to strengthen course offerings, improve the academic schedule, integrate study skills into the curriculum, and increase classroom technology use. The faculty, administrators, and Board of Trustees at Indian Springs held her in such esteem that she was appointed Acting Head of School for four months in 2019 when the Head left unexpectedly before the end of the academic year.

“While Dr. Hyatt is uniquely qualified for the Assistant Head of School position,” confirmed Foxcroft Head of School Cathy McGehee, “it was her warm spirit, calm presence, listening skills, and philosophy of educating the whole child that stood out during her meetings with our faculty, administrators, parents, and students. She impressed the search committee with her ‘all-in’ commitment to teaching and living at a boarding school.”

Dr. Hyatt earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. She has published research on nutrition, some specifically related to women, and has also earned her paramedic license and national certification. While at Indian Springs, Dr. Hyatt held several positions, including Science Department Chair, Dorm Faculty, Administrator on Duty, and faculty liaison to the judiciary committee of the Student Government. She also taught a range of STEM courses, including AP Biology and AP Environmental Science, molecular genetics, research methods, human anatomy, and nutrition.

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About Foxcroft School

Founded in 1914, Foxcroft School is a college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12 and PG with a mission of helping every girl explore her unique voice and develop the skills, confidence, and courage to share it with the world. Foxcroft offers 72-76 courses, including 16+ AP classes and 5+ post-AP offerings, and a STEM program that inspires girls to pursue studies in fields where women are underrepresented. Foxcroft fields athletic teams in 11 sports and has a nationally known riding program. For more information about the School, please explore our website at www.foxcroft.org or call 540.687.5555.

Foxcroft Senior Runs Fast Just For Fun

by Leonard Shapiro

Memo to the track and cross country coaches at the University of Virginia:

It might be wise to contact 17-year-old Middleburg resident Charlotte Scharfenberg, a Foxcroft senior who will attend UVA in the fall. Though she’s never had any formal training as a long-distance runner, she recently joined 16 of her classmates in the annual Cherry Blossom 10-mile run in Washington.

Not long after she reached the finish at the Washington Monument, she learned she’d placed second in the women’s 19-under classification in a race that included 22,000 runners, about 250 in her division. She never saw the 19-under champion, Jane Haines of Hilliard, Ohio, timed in 1:09.57 (one hour, nine minutes and 57 seconds). Scharfenberg ran 1:13.41, less than four minutes behind.

“I was just excited to cross the finish line,” said Scharfenberg, who had never gone that far before. “My mom was there and we watched the other Foxcroft girls come in. Then I called my dad. He looked up the results on the computer and saw I finished second.”

Scharfenberg started running to stay fit when she arrived at Foxcroft four years ago. She also rides year-round and plays defense on the field hockey team in the fall, and that season coincides with cross country. Competing in all three sports and maintaining the quality grades it took to get into Virginia likely would have been a stretch.

“Running has always been something I did for fun,” Scharfenberg said, adding that she tries to go out four or five times a week, usually between 45 minutes and an hour. There are countless trails on Foxcroft’s 500-acre campus and she often runs alone “because it helps clear my head.” She’ll also occasionally go out with friends in an informal school spring running club. She covers 5 1/2 miles over 45 minutes, and once a week she’ll go a little longer and do a seven-mile run, usually at a 7-minute, 20-second clip per mile.

This past fall, Scharfenberg entered and won Middleburg’s Cherry Blossom five-kilometer run (3.1 miles), beating everyone, male and female. It was her only other formal race before the 10-miler last month. Foxcroft Cross Country Coach Matt Mohler had no idea she was that fast until she won that day, but purposely did not try to talk her into quitting field hockey to join his team.

He was thrilled, however, when she ran with the club and knew she had plenty of talent to do well in the 10-miler.

“I told her ‘I think you’ve got what it takes,’” Mohler said. “‘But I don’t want you to just jog. Go into it thinking you can win a trophy.’ She said ‘okay, I’ll try.’ And the rest is history.”

Scharfenberg said she entered the 10-miler “on a whim. I signed up over the winter and the race was in April. Mr. Mohler organizes it and runs in it, too. I’d never done 10 miles before and I was just excited to do it.”

The Foxcroft girls left campus at 5 a.m., drove to the Vienna Metro station and took the train into Washington. Conditions at the 7:30 a.m. start were challenging—temperatures in the 30s and a stiff breeze—but Scharfenberg said she hardly noticed.

“The whole thing was so cool,” she said. “There were so many people, and so much energy. My goal was to run the whole thing and feel like I pushed myself. I wasn’t thinking competitively at all.”

All 17 Foxcroft girls started together, not far from the front. Over the first mile, Scharfenberg stayed with a few classmates until “I just decided I wanted to break off. If they went with me, fine. We did the first mile in about eight minutes, and then I pushed out. There weren’t a lot of mile markers because the wind pretty much blew them away.”

Scharfenberg has an App on her cell phone that gives her the distance and pace and she tried to maintain that 7:20 per mile level. She was comfortable the whole way, even on “a bit of a hill up to the finish,” she said. “I tried to push it a little at the end, and I felt great. I had the runner’s high. It was just so much fun to be there.”

Scharfenberg honestly hasn’t thought much about joining the Virginia track or cross country teams. Her next goal: entering, and finishing, a marathon (26.2 miles). Mohler believes she could excel at those distances, as well.

“I’m sure I’ll keep running at UVA,” she said, adding that it would not necessarily mean trying out for a Division I team. “I just enjoy doing it.”