Dear Flint Hill School Families,

I hope you had the opportunity to celebrate with us on Friday, as the incredible Class of 2017 celebrated their Commencement. They were a talented, strong and impressive group, and it was a true honor to get to know them so well over the years. From the time and the effort they put into preparing for their ceremony to the thoughtful and thought-provoking message from our Commencement speaker, Dr. John Kheir ‘94, and the musical presentation by Sydney Ebersohl (which literally brought down the house), all of it led to a very special day. Commencement is truly is a milestone in the school year and in the lives of everyone present. It is part ritual, tradition and ceremony, but above all, it is personal and meaningful.

Our Seniors were ready to move on. They had finished outstanding senior projects, they were right on the cusp of heading off to college, and they worked hard during their Senior year getting ready for the next phase of their educational journey. Remember Dr. Seuss’s great book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go?” One of my favorite quotes from that book reads, “You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You are on your own. And you know what you know.  And YOU are the one who will decide where to go…”

The Class of 2017 submitted 956 college applications. They were offered admission to 193 different schools in 36 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom. They will attend 77 different schools in 28 states, DC and Canada. The average number of acceptances per student was 4.88. Within this class of very talented students, there were nine National Merit Commended students, two National Hispanic Recognition Program award winners, and eight who attended the highly competitive Virginia Governor’s Schools last summer. They received over $5 million in merit scholarships.

Three students will go to college and plan to serve their country as well. One student will attend the United States Military Academy, one received a ROTC scholarship from Old Dominion University, and another great student will attend the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. Two members of this class are Monroe Scholars at the College of William & Mary, and one is an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia. An impressive number of scholar-athletes signed National Letters of Intent and Division III commitments to continue playing sports in college. A number of students were accepted into specialized schools and conservatories: The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Tisch School at New York University. Three students were accepted to two historically black colleges and universities: Spelman College and Hampton University. In the state of Virginia, multiple students were accepted to a number of colleges: Virginia Tech accepted 34 Huskies, UVA and William & Mary both accepted 16, Christopher Newport University accepted 22, and James Madison accepted 14, among the others. Twenty schools accepted five or more students.

On this webpage, will see an overview of the different schools that accepted our students this year. You also will get a sense of the diversity of the schools and the rigor and quality of the programs. Ultimately, these young people have the confidence and the competence to attend whichever schools they believe to be the best fit for them. If you happen to run into anyone in the College Counseling Office – Suzy Chiarolanzio, Andrew Kane, Jeremiah Shepherd and Kasey Lynn – please join me in thanking them for all they did for our amazing class!!

While I mentioned earlier that they are ready to go, the members of the Class of 2017 are also prepared to go. These students will be incredibly successful in their lives. And like proud parents, we sit and watch with great pride, awe, and wonder at the bright future that is ahead for each of them. This class will have an impact on the world. They are ready for the world, and I sincerely hope the world is ready for them! They truly did take our vision statement to heart. Their future is exciting and bright. So join me in wishing this class all the very best.

It is hard to believe that another school year has come to an end. It has been an honor to partner with you this year, and I wish each one of you all the very best. For those few who will not be returning next year, we wish you great success in your new adventures and travels. I hope you will keep us posted on your children’s accomplishments in the years ahead, because we firmly believe “Once a Husky, always a Husky.” For those of you who are returning next year, we look forward to seeing you and your children and hope you all will get the rest you so richly deserve. When we all come back in August, we will return with the same Driving Spirit that will propel us into the very next exciting school year.

Best wishes to you!

Sincerely,

John M. Thomas
Headmaster