Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
Fax: 413-639-3999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Four St. Margaret's Seniors Accepted to The University of Virginia
St. Margaret's seniors Laura Austin, Sara Pirtle, Catherine Redfearn, and Sara Wagner have been accepted to attend The University of Virginia. "UVA is a great school and Charlottesville a nice town for these girls," says SMS college counselor Mollie Conklin, of Warsaw. "I know each of these girls will represent St. Margaret's well."
Laura Austin, of Richmond county, will continue her studies in Spanish at UVA. Laura, an Advanced Placement Spanish student this year, plans to enter a one-year study abroad program in the future. "Laura has excellent oratory skills and is really passionate about language," says Laura's Spanish V teacher, Jennifer Gura, who herself studied abroad her junior year while enrolled at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. "I have no doubt that she will seize every opportunity both at UVA and studying abroad."
UVA Bound - St. Margaret's seniors (from l.) Laura Austin, Sara Pirtle, Catherine Redfearn, and Sara Wagner will enter The University of Virginia as undergraduates this fall.
Sara Pirtle, president of the SMS student body, was awarded the Fary Memorial Scholarship. This prestigious local scholarship is awarded annually to four seniors within a sixteen county local area. Mr. William L. Lewis, trustee of the Fary Memorial Scholarship committee, announced that Sara will receive $6,000 per year for the next four years.
Catherine Redfearn, a day student from Kinsale, was accepted to the University's School of Architecture. Catherine, an aspiring architect, recently spent her senior independent study project studying architecture around the state. She expanded upon knowledge she obtained from a 1998 minimester course titled "Rubble Without a Cause," taught by SMS history instructor, Grace Rhinesmith, and systematically researched architecture in Virginia. From a historical perspective, Catherine gathered information from specialized libraries and museums; she compiled her findings into a "Virginia History Through Architecture" scrapbook.
Sara Wagner, a boarding student, is an advanced biology student of SMS science teacher Andrea Robinson. A native of Hampton Roads, Sara plans to pursue a career in marine biology or environmental engineering.
In addition to these four members of the Class of 2000,1999 graduate, Carolyn Stephenson, has also been accepted and will join the group this fall. Carolyn has worked for one year as a "gap" intern at St. Margaret's School-Bushey in England for one year prior to entering college. "I can't wait to come back to the states and be in Charlottesville," she says.
