Life as an Upper Schooler
at The Steward School is filled with opportunities! Spartans learn and grow, are challenged and inspired, and discover new ways of thinking – about themselves and the world. A robust curriculum engages students, and extracurricular activities, from sports to clubs, round out the Upper School experience. Along the way, students make lifelong friends and a lifetime of memories.
The Class of 2026 is Steward’s 50th graduating class, a milestone that celebrates both the school’s longstanding traditions and its futurefocused community.
Meet our most recent graduates, and you’ll see that Steward propels students toward success as it prepares them for college and for life. See what the hype is about! Watch our Upper School Opportunities video.
Rafi
ZepedaUNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Planned Major: Undecided
“As Rafi was preparing for her interviews, I encouraged her to have a mantra: ‘don’t hide your fire,’” said Director of College Counseling Heather Jeter, describing Rafi Zepeda’s application process to become a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia. “Rafi’s passion for world affairs, immigrants’ rights, and other social justice causes makes her an ideal Jefferson Scholar. She showed them that she is an exceptionally powerful and empathetic spirit who will uniquely impact the UVA community — just as she has enhanced ours.”
The Jefferson Scholar program is one of the nation’s most prestigious merit scholarships. Rafi was chosen from thousands of global applicants and will not only receive full tuition and room and board but also leadership opportunities and financial support to pursue her passions, develop her talents, and encourage her community involvement.
“The interviewing and public speaking opportunities I’ve had since Steward’s Lower School prepared me for the Jefferson Scholar application process. Experiences like the Impact Scholars interview in eighth grade helped me be able to articulate who I am during the interview process.”
Notables at Steward:
• Cross Country team
• Theatre Productions
• Leadership Studies Program
• Spanish Honor Society
• Impact Scholars
• Spirit Squad
• Yearbook staff
• Junior Marshals
• LEAP (Latino Education Advancement Program)
• Student Council
Beyond Steward:
• Two summer intensives with the Royal Academy of Dance in London
• Extensive volunteer service within the Latino community
• Youth ambassadorship for the U.S. State Department and AMIGOS
Started at Steward:
• Grade 2
Jeffrey Sproull shared that attending the U.S. Naval Academy “will push me to my limits, academically and physically.” Jeffrey is no stranger to hard work, having maintained a robust academic and extracurricular schedule at Steward. A three-season athlete, he also played in three bands and excelled in the classroom. In his senior year, he was named a Ray Tate StudentAthlete, a top award recognizing excellent character, a strong work ethic, and extracurricular involvement.
The Naval Academy had its most applications in history during the year Jeffrey applied. While enrolled there, he will major in history, a subject he has long been interested in. “I find the study of the past, and how we can apply the lessons it teaches us to the future, fascinating,” he said.
Notables at Steward:
• 2025-26 Ray Tate StudentAthlete Scholarship recipient
• Concert, Jazz, and Pep bands
• Cross Country team captain
• Swim team captain and two-time school record holder
• Lacrosse team
• Leadership Program
• National Honor Society
• Founder and president of the Outdoor Adventure Club
• Model UN Club
• Battle of the Brains team captain
• Order of the Shield
• Junior Marshal
Beyond Steward:
• Richmond Forum Scholar
Started at Steward:
• Grade 7
“In my years at Steward, I have been challenged by my teachers, coaches, and peers to be more disciplined and more organized. As a result, I feel that I am becoming the best version of myself.”
Jeffrey Sproull U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY
Planned Major: History
Julia Rhamy PRATT INSTITUTE
As a student at the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Julia has ample opportunities to explore her feminist interests and all forms of art. “I’m always looking into new techniques; being an artist allows me to explore,” Julia said. Pratt requires all first-year students to take the same introductory courses, allowing them to sample artistic formats.
Julia shared that she’ll likely major in graphic design or industrial design because of future career opportunities, but that she also loves sculpture and ceramics. She earned a merit scholarship to Pratt.
Planned Major: Graphic Design or Industrial Design
“I love being able to express myself through art. Sometimes words just aren’t enough. I find it much easier to make art to ‘say’ how I view an issue than to write or speak about it.”
Notables at Steward:
• Varsity Swim team
• Varsity Tennis team
• National Honor Society
• National Art Honor Society (president 11-12)
• National Hispanic Honor Society
• Editor-in-Chief of yearbook
• Editor of Amaranth literary magazine
Beyond Steward:
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Teen Stylin’ Program
• Scholastic Art and Writing Competition two-time honoree
• Rhode Island School of Design summer program
Started at Steward:
• Grade 3
Kenny Charles’ parents, both doctors, never pushed him toward the medical field. But after a lifetime of observing his parents, as well as other medical professionals during internships, Kenny is determined to follow in their footsteps. His time in Upper School culminated with a senior project focused on this topic. In this next step toward the medical field, Kenny is attending Howard University, joining his sister Catherine, a 2024 Steward alum.
Notables at Steward:
• JV and Varsity Basketball team
• Model UN
• Entrepreneurship Studies Program
• Theatre
• Student Diversity Leadership Conference representative
Beyond Steward:
• Internships, including with an ENT and an emergency medicine doctor, in prenatal care and cancer research
• National Society of Black Engineers, Junior Richmond Chapter (president), and merit scholarship recipient
Started at Steward:
• Grade 9
“There are healthcare disparities in primarily minority places, and doctors don’t always consider their patients’ issues. I’ve witnessed this in years past. I once shadowed a doctor who didn’t treat his patients with respect. My parents’ patients breathe a sigh of relief when they see them walk into the room. There aren’t many Black male doctors. I enjoy helping people, and I’ve been given every single tool to try to help fix these disparities.”
Kenny CharlesHOWARD UNIVERSITY
Planned Major: Pre-Med, with a minor in Finance
The academic rigor of the U.S. Military Academy appeals to Lilly Thoman, who is also a recruited athlete playing on its Division I basketball team. In her senior year at Steward, Lilly was named a Ray Tate Student-Athlete, an honor that recognized her academic and extracurricular excellence as well as her strong character.
Steward’s Junior College Tour helped Lilly solidify her college plans. “Visiting a variety of schools showed me how much I love a smaller school,” said Lilly. “Plus, Steward’s College Counseling Office helped me feel confident in finding the right college fit.”
Lilly Thoman
U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY
Planned Major: Social Sciences
“West Point feels similar to Steward,” she said. “This means constantly being challenged to be a dedicated learner. I am so grateful for my Steward peers, who have pushed me to be the best person I can be, whether on the basketball court or in the classroom.”
Notables at Steward:
• 2025-26 Ray Tate Student-Athlete Scholarship recipient
• Varsity Basketball team, including first-team
All-Metro, All-Conference, and All-State
• Varsity Soccer team
• National Honor Society
• Admissions Ambassador
• Athletics Mental Health Club president
• Prom Committee
• Spirit Squad
• Student Council Association
• Jewish Student Union
• Fellowship of Christians in Universities & Schools
Beyond Steward:
• Sports Backers/Richmond Times-Dispatch
Active Living Leadership ALL Star participant and merit scholarship recipient
• Special Olympics basketball volunteer
Started at Steward:
• Grade 9
Despite the fact that more than 20,000 students attend Northwestern, its strong community and connected student body remind Dante Castle of Steward. He plans to major in biomedical engineering, a career inspired by his engineer mother and his Steward Minimester internship.
“In biomedical engineering, you’re building things to help sick people,” he said. “You’re doing math, which I love, and you’re helping people.” Northwestern is recognized by Forbes as a “New Ivy,” a premier private institution that produces high-achieving graduates who are favored by employers. It boasts an 8% acceptance rate.
“When I visited Northwestern, I saw how much collaboration there was. Everyone was welcoming and kind. Students told me that the school was hard, but everyone works together. Steward made me realize how important it is to have a small community.
I’m thankful my college counselor suggested I look at Northwestern.”
Notables at Steward:
• National Hispanic Honor Society co-president
• Biomedical Engineering Society
• Model UN
• National Honor Society
• Science National Honor Society
• AP Scholar with Distinction
• Leadership Program
Beyond Steward:
• Internships at VCU and a cancer facility in Alaska
• Science Museum of Virginia Teen Leadership Program
• Representative at Harold M. Marsh, Sr. Connections Institute
Started at Steward:
• Grade 1
Arts & Athletic Commitments
BROO K LY N K AVA N A UG H
School: Bridgewater College
Sport: Basketball
TE X STINN E T T
School: Belhaven University Sport: Baseball
LIL LY T H OM A N
School: U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Sport: Basketball
T HE O H IRSC H
School: The College of William & Mary Program: Music
K A MRA N
MO H A N T Y
School: The College of William & Mary
Program: Film & media studies
School: Pratt Institute Program: Visual arts
W YAT T ROB E RT S
School: VCUarts Program: Theatre
JOR D A N
SO L OMO N
School: Dickinson College Program: Music
American University
Appalachian State University
Auburn University
Baylor University
Belhaven University
Boston College
Bridgewater College
Brigham Young University
Christopher Newport University (2)
Clemson University (2)
Coastal Carolina University
College of Charleston
College of William & Mary (4)
Colorado State University
Dickinson College (2)
East Carolina University
Eckerd College
Elon University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida State University
Franklin and Marshall College
George Mason University
George Washington Univ
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampton University
High Point University
Hollins University
Howard University
Indiana Univ (Bloomington)
James Madison University (5)
Kenyon College
Lawrence University
Le Moyne College
Lehigh University
Liberty University
Longwood University (5)
Louisiana State University
MD Inst College of Art (MICA)
Marymount University
Mass. College of Art & Design
Michigan State University
Milwaukee Inst of Art & Design
Morehouse College
Morgan State University
Muhlenberg College
New York University
North Carolina A&T University
North Carolina State University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Old Dominion University
Penn State University (Univ Park)
Pratt Institute
Quinnipiac University
Radford University (2)
Randolph-Macon College (2)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
T HE C L ASS O F
The 73 members of The Steward School’s Class of 2026 are destined for great things, capping off their impressive Upper School careers with a very successful college application season. By the time College Declaration Day rolled around on May 1, the seniors had made plans to attend 41 different colleges/universities next year in 16 states and Washington, D.C.
On this page, you will find a list of all the college acceptances Steward students earned this year Bolded schools indicate where our graduates will attend, and numbers indicate how many students will attend the same school. We’re confident these Spartans will leave an indelible mark on these communities, just as they have on ours.
Roanoke College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
School of the Art
Institute of Chicago Shenandoah University
Southern Univ. and A&M College
SUNY Fashion Inst of Technology
SUNY Purchase College
Syracuse University
Texas A&M University
Texas Christian University
The Catholic University of America
The College of Wooster
United States
Military Academy
United States
Naval Academy
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
Univ of California (Santa Barbara)
University of Colorado (Boulder)
University of Connecticut
University of Georgia
University of Kentucky (2)
University of Lynchburg
University of Mary Washington
University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
University of Miami
University of Minnesota
University of Mississippi
University of Montana
Univ of North Carolina (Asheville)
Univ of North Carolina (Charlotte)
Univ. of North Carolina (Wilmington)
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of South Carolina (2)
University of St Andrews (Scotland)
University of Tampa
University of Tennessee
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Virginia (5)
University of Wisconsin
Virginia Commonwealth Univ. (3)
Virginia Military Institute (2)
Virginia State University
Virginia Tech (7)
Virginia Wesleyan University
Washington College
Washington & Lee University
Wellesley College
West Virginia University
Wofford College
Competed on 16 athletic TEAMS
Earned 12 all-conference or all-state athletic awards
All performed 20-40 hours of community service
5 graduated with Entrepreneurship Diploma Endorsements
15 graduated with LEADERSHIP Program Certificates
Could join 37 clubs
Were offered 2 INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
44 Acted in 3 mainstage productions
4 seniors sang on stage at CARNEGIE HALL
13 performed in choir or band
Recorded with PROFESSIONAL MUSIC producers, in class and in the studio
Belonged to 4 HONOR SOCIETIES
All participated in an ADVISORY GROUP with 8 students and a dedicated faculty member
All had a Junior Kindergarten or Kindergarten BUDDY
All completed a CAPSTONE senior project
19 served as Admissions Ambassadors
51 Earned Honor Roll or Head of School’s List
Were celebrated with a schoolwide SPIRIT PARADE
21 spread blue & gold pride on the Spirit Squad