Girls from the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula were awarded some of St. Margaret's School's highest honors at June 3 commencement exercises.

Sydney Harris, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ira Harris of Tappahannock, won the School Prize, given to the senior who made the greatest contribution to the school through her dedication to high standards, trustworthiness and leadership, consistent with St. Margaret's mission as a church school. She also won the Headmistress’s Prize, awarded to the graduating senior who has attained the highest grade point average in her junior and senior years, as well as the English Department Prize, Foreign Language Department Prize and honors for her independent study in broadcasting at Richmond radio station WRXL. Harris was editor-in-chief of the yearbook, head of the student peace education organization, a member of the Honor Council and a member of the varsity rowing team. Additionally, she is a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, National Achievement Scholarship Finalist and winner of the Fary Scholarship. Harris will attend Brown University.

This year’s Patron’s Prizes were given in honor of retiring Board of Governors member Nita Enoch of Richmond, a member of the Class of 1971 who has given generously of her time and talent to beautify campus buildings. Katy Saunders, daughter of Ms. Sue Ball of Tappahannock and Mr. Frank Saunders of Mechanicsville, was awarded the prize in recognition of her contributions to the school as a three-season varsity athlete, member of the vocal ensemble, class president for two years and yearbook senior section editor. Saunders also won honors for her independent study in graphic design at McFadden Clay Marketing Group in White Stone. She will attend the University of Kansas.

Sarah Reilly, daughter of Ms. Robin Reilly of Bruington, received the Patron’s Prize in recognition of her contributions to the school as a varsity athlete, member of the vocal ensemble, Chief Sacristan for two years and co-head of the student community service organization. She also won honors for her independent study in oncology nursing at Oncology and Hematology Associates in Fredericksburg. Reilly will attend Longwood University.

Alexandra Newman, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Newman of Lancaster, won the Daughters of the American Revolution Award for her dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. Newman is conducting interviews with local veterans to create an oral history, represented St. Margaret’s as a senator at the Model General Assembly and was co-head of the “Treats for Troops” club that sent packages to military service personnel overseas. She will attend Dickinson College.

Allison Ryan, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William Ryan of Tappahannock, was selected for the Frances J. Gilchrist Award, which is presented to a senior, who through dedication, devotion, determination and discipline, best exemplifies a true scholar-athlete. A three-season varsity athlete, she maintained a 3.7 grade point average throughout her four-year St. Margaret’s career. Ryan additionally won honors for her independent study in nursing at Riverside Tappahannock Hospital. She will attend James Madison University.

Junior Ligon Brooks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Brooks of Millers Tavern, was chosen for the Harvard Book Prize, awarded to the outstanding student in the rising senior class who combines excellence in scholarship with achievement in other fields. Brooks was editor of this year’s literary magazine, played on three varsity sports teams and will chair next year’s Honor Council. In addition, she won the Hannah Mallory Perkins Creative Writing Award in recognition of her written work, which reflects unusual talent, promise and outstanding effort.

Senior Julie Sader, daughter of Mr. Alan Sader and Ms. Ann Chenoweth of St. Stephen’s Church, won the Mary Percival Prize for the student who has shown the greatest amount of academic improvement during the course of her studies. She will attend Davis and Elkins College.

Junior Michelle Burch, daughter of Mr. Mike Burch and Dr. Sheri Hummel of Burgess, was awarded the Mary Elizabeth King Prize, presented to the student who is to be commended for outstanding effort in her academic work.

Senior Hope Scott, granddaughter of the Rev. and Mrs. William E. Scott, Jr., of West Point, won the Edith Latané History Award. Named for the school’s headmistress from 1927-1943, the prize is awarded to the student who demonstrates outstanding interest and ability in the challenging US History curriculum. Scott will attend Hampton University.

Boarding students receiving commencement awards included senior Abbey Potter of Bealeton. Potter was presented with the Spirit of St. Margaret’s Award, given to the senior who best represents the school's spirit and who has shown true appreciation of the way of life symbolized by the school. She also won the Allen Memorial Award for the student who has demonstrated the greatest appreciation of St. Margaret's. Potter served as Head Boarding Prefect, rowed varsity crew and was the yearbook’s photography editor. She will attend the University of Mary Washington.

Senior Kristan Price of Forestville, MD, received a Patron’s Prize for her contributions as a prefect, peer leader and School President. She will attend Presbyterian College.

Senior Ashley Leake of Marietta, GA, was presented with the Aylett Prize for sportsmanship defined as fairness, courteous relations and graceful acceptance of results. Leake, a soccer team tri-captain who also played varsity field hockey, will attend Temple University.

Senior Eileen Tsai of Taipei, Taiwan, won the International Prize, given to a student from outside the United States who has attended St. Margaret’s for at least two years and entered fully into school life. Tsai played varsity field hockey and soccer, sang in the vocal ensemble and served as a prefect. She will attend Penn State University.

Jackie Brunk of Jackson Hole, WY, and Allyson Childress of Kuwait, both seniors, earned independent study honors. Brunk, who will attend Abilene Christian College, did her project on graphic design at the Finegan/Thompson agency. Childress interned at the Empower Program, a non-profit organization that works with young women to promote alternatives to peer pressure, bullying and violence. She plans to attend the University of Mary Washington.

Junior Hannah McKee of Winston-Salem, NC, was selected for the Viola H. Woolfolk Award, presented to the underclasswoman who best exemplifies the late headmistress's sense of compassion, duty, graciousness and poise.

Junior Saori Kaneko of Nagareyama, Japan, won the Bishop’s Prize for the student in grades 9-12 with the highest grade point average.