Woodberry Forest School
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Woodberry Forest School is a private all male boarding school located in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia. It was founded in 1889 by Captain Robert Stringfellow Walker, a former member of Mosby's Rangers during the American Civil War.
History
The school occupies approximately 1600 acres (4.5 km³) in central Virginia, bounded on one side by the Rapidan River. It was originally the estate of William Madison, brother of President James Madison. The headmaster's residence was designed by Thomas Jefferson. The property eventually passed to the Walker family. The school was founded when Captain Walker hired a tutor to teach his six sons and other local children.The Grounds
The grounds include a working farm, a nine-hole golf course, two swimming pools, tennis courts, an indoor track facility, and various athletic fields. Woodberry is unique among boarding schools in that its ample outdoor space allows students to go hunting and skeet shooting on school property. The golf course is a nine hole Donald Ross gem that weaves its way through the farmland and the campus grounds. The greens on the course were originally sand, but converted to bermuda in the mid 1930's. Woodberry's golf program is one of the top in the country, with recent alumni playing at top Division 1 schools.Student body
Woodberry's enrollment is currently 378 students, all male and one female (the school is all-male but daughters of faculty members are allowed to attend if they so choose), from 29 states and 10 foreign countries. However, most students come from the Southern United States, with the largest numbers of students coming from Virginia and North Carolina.The Honor Code
One of the most unique things about Woodberry is its honor system. The Honor System is student run and led by 16 Prefects who live on each dorm and direct student life. They decide the fate of the students brought before them and are overseen by the headmaster. Woodberry's Honor System is a one-strike policy: if one lies, cheats, or steals he is dismissed from the school. While this may seem harsh, students past and present agree that this principle of integrity has greatly shaped their lives.Athletics
Woodberry competes in the Virginia Prep League in a variety of sports including soccer, baseball, golf, swimming, lacrosse, wrestling, squash, and track. However, the most popular sport is football. Home football games are played on Saturdays in the fall. Students typically dress in a shirt and tie and exhibit much school spirit during the games. The longest running high school football rivalry in the country takes place each year between Woodberry Forest and Episcopal High School of Alexandria, Virginia. Beginning in 1899, as of November 2005 they had played 106 games against each other.
Notable alumni
Notable alumni of Woodberry Forest School include:
- Randolph Scott, film actor
- Marvin Bush, youngest son of George H. W. Bush
- Johnny Mercer, American songwriter
- J. Sargeant Reynolds, politician and Executive Vice-President of Reynolds Aluminum Credit Corp
- Halsey Minor, founder of CNET
- C.D. Spangler, former president of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Gordon Gray, National Security Advisor to President Eisenhower 1958-1961
- James D. Robinson III, former CEO of American Express
- Roger Wilson, actor famous for his role in the film Porky's
External links
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