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YEAR IN REVIEW A STEWARD SCHOOL PUBLICATION

ISSUE XIII

2026

2025 2026

SOCIAL MEDIA

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View past issues of The Colonnade, Crossroads, and Year in Review at issuu.com/thestewardschool View photos throughout the school year at stewardsnaps.org

STEWARDSCHOOL.ORG

CONTENTS

A Letter From the Head of School Honoring the past, looking ahead

Strategic Plan Update Significant milestones in our school community

Development News Generous Spartans shape Steward’s future

Class of 2026 Reflections and plans

SECTIONS

5 26 28 30 32 36 40 44 52 56

Steward News Upper School Recognition Middle School Recognition Lower School Recognition Steward Arts Steward Athletics Faculty and Staff Recognition Alumni Volunteer Appreciation Snapshots

MISSION | Prepare our students for college and for life in a community defined by robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care.

S T E W A R D NEWS

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N Dan Frank, Head of School Lisa Dwelle, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

Dear Steward Community,

This spring, we celebrated Steward’s 50th graduating class. In 1977, the school held a ceremony to honor our first three graduates, and, along the way, more than 1,700 Spartans have joined them. Personally, I will mark 20 years here this fall. As such, the passage of time and its milestones are on my mind. At Graduation this spring, I asked the crowd: “How does one face the prospect of time in front of us, and how does one honor the moment we’re in, especially today, one of the most important milestones in your lives to date?” I believe one of the graduates that day, Kenny Charles ’26, helped us understand the answer to this question: “Life isn’t a race to check off as many experiences as possible. It’s a collection of moments — messy, unhurried, ordinary — that only become meaningful when you’re present enough to feel them.” Whether you are a new alum, or a parent, alumni parent, grandparent, or employee, we all know the same thing: It is a gift to experience these moments together. As you read through this magazine, you’ll see the meaningful projects, games, performances, and events of the 2025-26 school year. You’ll see the progress we made on our strategic plan initiatives (pages 6-7). And, you’ll see our core values reflected: It’s important to me that, as Spartans, we celebrate individuality and academic achievement by fostering a culture of innovation and personal inspiration. I’m proud that our school is grounded in care and respect, and that we cultivate a vibrant community where meaningful civil discourse allows individuals to thrive.

DAN FRANK, HEAD OF SCHOOL

Year in Review

Bobby Pollicino, Director of Upper School Susan Atkinson, Director of Middle School Becky Groves, Director of Lower School

P U B L I C AT I O N S TA F F Kathryn DiPasqua, Rachel Williard, Editors Lisa Dwelle, Sydney Smith, Contributing Editors Sarah Barton, Designer Carley Hamilton, Contributing Designer Kelly Frankenburg, Jason Harris, Photo Editors Kathryn DiPasqua, Dan Frank, Meredith Harris, Sydney Smith, Rachel Williard, Contributing Writers Kelly Frankenburg, Jason Harris, Wendell Powell Photography, Alyssa McDaniel Photography, Paul Gresock ’26, Yuna Harris ’32, Kamran Mohanty ’26, Caleb Morrison ’26, Contributing Photographers Total Printing

The Steward School admits students without regard to race, religion, color, ethnic or national origin, age, sex, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of these protected characteristics in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other schooladministered programs.

S T E W A R D NEWS

6 THINGS SPARTANS WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR Scan the QR code and turn up the volume!

1 Girls Basketball

2 A Natural Fit

3 Take Note!

With three standout seniors in the starting lineup (Brooklyn Kavanaugh ’26, Ella Grace Saunders ’26, and Lilly Thoman ’26), the Spartans made a deep run in the VISAA DII State Tournament, ending the season as the VISAA DII State Runnerup. “I couldn’t be prouder of the way our girls competed this season,” said Coach Kara Bacile, the 2025-26 VISAA DII State Coach of the Year and TCIS Coach of the Year.

Steward’s schoolwide theme of “nature” took root across campus in beyond-the-classroom lessons and activities. Students learned that biomimicry can help us solve challenges; were inspired by nature in their writing and art; and spent time outdoors conducting research, studying native trees, and volunteering at a local farm.

What is the soundtrack to Spartan life? Well, now you can listen to a one-of-a-kind album bursting with the spirit of our campus! “Steward x Spacebomb” is a collaboration between the Bryan Innovation Lab, JK-12 students, and Spacebomb Studio’s Matthew E. White, our first-ever Visiting Innovator in Residence. The album is the result of months of musical magic and hard work.

4 The New Ivies

5 Blue and Gold Challenge

6 Giving Games

Forbes released a list of 10 public and 10 private institutions it deems schools that “attract high achievers and turn out hard-working, highlyregarded employees.” Forbes dubbed them the “New Ivies,” and the lists are determined by survey results from subscribers to Forbes’ “C-Suite” newsletters. Director of College Counseling Heather Jeter said proudly, “Students from the Class of 2026 gained admission to three of the ‘New Ivies’: The College of William & Mary, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Northwestern University.”

and Spirit Reveal

In April, students gathered on Wilton Lawn to celebrate the Blue and Gold Challenge. Congratulations to Team Blue, whose members accumulated 500 spirit points throughout the year! A big Spartan shoutout to Sydney Duda ’29, who submitted the 2026-27 spirit shirt design, and Mel Sisaithong (parent to Max ’39 and Emme ’35) for submitting the winning spirit shirt slogan for 2026-27!

With its fairy tale theme, cast of endearing characters (including two very charming fairies from our spring musical), and whimsical videos, this year’s Giving Games was one for the books! Thanks to the generosity of the Steward community, more than $129,000 was raised from 303 noble donors during Giving Games. This “sparticipation” challenge is an opportunity for donors to help Steward flourish by supporting the Annual Fund. Thank you to everyone who made Giving Games a happily-ever-after fairy tale!

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D NEWS

During the 2025-26 school year, we achieved significant milestones across the three core pillars of our strategic plan: Innovation in Teaching and Learning; Optimizing Holistic, Whole-Person Experiences; and Building and Engaging the Community. Read on to learn how our individual and collective efforts are making a substantial impact in our community.

Year in Review

S T E W A R D NEWS

Offer new ways for students to develop, demonstrate, and be assessed on their learning: Introduced two graded summer honors courses (Writing in the 21st Century; Sports in Society) for college transcript credit, and created a modernized senior project framework.

INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Expand our Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Service Learning programs: The Upper School Entrepreneurship Studies program engaged 59 students across three pitch events, resulting in five senior diploma endorsements. The Leadership Program enrolled 67 underclassmen and graduated 15 seniors (30% of the division), deepening collegiate ties with Virginia Tech and UR while launching 24 United Nations-inspired group service projects. JK-12 Service Learning established grade-level community partnerships focused on soil health, food access, and poverty.

Ensure our campus aligns with and enhances our mission and values: Completed a comprehensive campuswide “time audit” and delivered a decision-making matrix to evaluate future programming and scheduling.

OPTIMIZING HOLISTIC, WHOLE-PERSON EXPERIENCES

Leveraging our humanity — Civil Discourse: Trained 40 faculty and staff members in “Crucial Conversations” frameworks, supported by a peer resource guide to prepare for deep curricular integration in 2026-27.

Core values: Published the “I Am a Spartan” portrait of a graduate framework, and created divisional versions focused on prosocial behaviors and obstacles, which will be shared with the community at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

BUILDING AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

Stakeholder partnerships and participation: Hosted a highly collaborative Future Me Fair, as well as targeted career days and speaker panels, supported by parents, alumni parents, grandparents, and alumni volunteers. Nine multigenerational alumni events were held (including an art show), and the official alumni podcast surpassed 1,500 listens across 19 episodes. Hundreds of service hours were contributed by 12 formal volunteer boards, committees, and associations.

Expand the Bryan Innovation Lab program and impact: Spearheaded the schoolwide theme of “nature” by hosting national innovators Jennifer Pharr Davis, Richard James McCowan, and Angela Hanscom. Expanded campus composting, instituted bi-weekly Lower School Nature Play, and launched a cross-divisional student-produced music album with Visiting Innovator in Residence Matthew E. White of Spacebomb Studios. Leveraging technology: The cross-divisional SAIL (Steward AI Leaders) committee published a faculty research white paper to safely guide and monitor classroom AI implementation, supported by a national conference presentation from our IT leadership.

Care and balance, health and well-being: Strengthened community care by training approximately 75 faculty and staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid and the entire sophomore class in peerto-peer Teen Mental Health First Aid.

Ecosystem of partnership: Hosted the fourth annual Beloved Community RVA Conference (celebrating environmental stewardship) and the second annual student-led Women’s Empowerment conference. Driven by division-specific initiatives like Middle School community weeks, Minimester internships, and schoolwide drives, students expanded their local and global civic footprints.

Scan this QR code to read more about our strategic plan.

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D NEWS

Steward Named Among Top Workplaces Eleventh consecutive year

At Steward, faculty and staff serve as mentors and guides, engaging Spartans in topics and ideas that encourage critical thought, empathy, civil discourse, and inspired thinking. A future-focused curriculum and caring community make the Steward experience one-of-a-kind. We are proud that, for the eleventh consecutive year, The Steward School has been named a Top Workplace in the Richmond area by the

Richmond Times-Dispatch. This recognition is based on the results of a detailed survey that faculty and staff completed last fall. As in years past, we are the only school on the list. Head of School Dan Frank noted, “Steward is where our purpose meets our practice. We are grateful to the community of colleagues, students, parents, grandparents, and alumni who make this possible.”

2026 Impact Scholars

Finley Oliff and Colton Rhyne

IN THEIR TEACHERS’ WORDS: “Finley brings spirit to everything she does. She is a leader among her classmates, serving on both the Spirit Squad and the Student Council Administration. Finley … brings a cando attitude to every challenge.”

“Colton’s combination of academic dedication, sustained leadership, service involvement, and strong character [made] him an excellent candidate for the Steward Impact Scholarship. What truly sets him apart, however, is his character: He is friendly, cheerful, and consistently kind to others.”

The Impact Scholars program provides $10,000 merit scholarships for tuition ($2,500 per year) in Steward’s Upper School to two outstanding current Steward students. Impact Scholars are chosen based on character and leadership, as well as community service, academic excellence, and extracurricular activities, and are automatically offered spots in the Leadership Program.

Year in Review

2026 Robson Scholar Julian Young

The Steward School community welcomes a new Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship recipient this fall: Julian Young ’30. Julian most recently attended St. Michael’s Episcopal School, where he participated in community service, choir, theatre, drawing, dance, soccer, and guitar. He served on the dance committee and the leadership and diversity society, and received the Respect Award and the Kindness Award. The scholarship honors Debbie Robson, associate head of school for community advancement, who died in 2014. This prestigious scholarship provides four years of full Upper School tuition for a rising ninth grader who is new to Steward. Recipients are chosen for their academic distinction, outstanding character, and extracurricular involvement. This is the twelfth year that Steward has awarded the scholarship.

S T E W A R D NEWS

Life at Steward is so much more than numbers — it’s lessons learned, hypotheses tested, games played, song lyrics memorized, new challenges overcome, and hugs given and received. But sometimes, the numbers can tell the story too.

525

HOURS OF NATURE PLAY AMONG LS STUDENTS

Upper School students in an honor society

1000 (or more!)

HOURS OF SCHOOL DAYS

1179

90% 139 96

Seniors who took AP exams

alumni, parents, alumni parents, and grandparents who worked with our students through the Upper School career fair and Alumni Inspiration Day, an art show, and the Leadership Program panel

Minimester internships

139 Student buddy pairs (JK/K/Senior, JK/ Grade 3, MS/US)

Clubs on campus

volunteer hours assisting at ArtLink, Parents Association, and Spartan Club community events and concessions

389

938 DONORS supported the Steward community

Attendees at alumni events

EPISODES OF THE ALUMNI PODCAST THROUGH JULY 2026

3000 Minutes rehearsed by fourth graders for Minds in Motion

1500

Steward Stats

People attended “Shrek The Musical”

453

Pieces of art hung in the Art Walk

180

Wins by athletic teams

INTERNATIONAL TRIPS FOR MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS Year in Review |

S T E W A R D NEWS

Inaugural Alumni Legacy Scholarships Awarded Three years after the first dollars were raised, and one year after establishing an endowed scholarship, the first Alumni Legacy Scholarships were awarded for the 2026-27 year. Congratulations to the Baron, Hrabak, Kurfees, and McGehee families, whose children are carrying on the Spartan legacy! (Meet all the current legacy students on page 47.)

It takes a village to support Steward! We are very grateful to those who give volunteer hours, financial support, and assistance to help our community. Your continued generosity signifies a powerful vote of confidence in our school as we deliver mission-driven programming. FUNDRAISING TOTALS

SENIOR PARENT LEGACY GIFT

Steward’s fundraising efforts brought in a grand total of

The Class of 2026 families honored their seniors with a 62% participation rate by giving $19,055 for new furniture on the Lifer Terrace outside the Athletic Center.

$3,257,501 during the 2025-26 year, including an Annual Fund of over

$578,000 GIVING GAMES: A FAIRYTALE COME TRUE Once upon a time (in April 2026), 303 donors from the Steward community gave $129,000 during the week-long Giving Games fundraiser. This includes three generous donordriven challenges.

2025-26 Philanthropic Highlights

MAJOR EVENTS Our volunteer organizations’ three major fundraising events yielded incredible results: • Trucks and Shucks raised over $33,000 • Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic raised over $72,500 • Parents Association Gala and Auction raised over $173,000

Look for details about these events, our hardworking volunteers, and gifts that auxiliary organizations made to Steward in the 2025-26 Annual Report, available in fall 2026. 10

Year in Review

S T E W A R D NEWS

Senior Tradition Transformed: From Paper to Podcast

This spring, the traditional Senior Project received a modern “refresh” designed to boost engagement and adapt to an evolving academic landscape. “We asked ourselves, ‘What is our why?’” said Upper School Academic Dean Melissa Freed. “In the past, students wrote a lengthy paper. This became problematic with the rise of AI. We wanted something more interactive that truly prepares students for college and beyond.” Under the guidance of Ms. Freed, Middle/ Upper School Librarian Crystal Hamlin, and Technology Support Specialist Alex Kight ’20, seniors swapped traditional essays for 7-10 minute podcasts. The requirements remained rigorous: students had to script, produce, and conduct at least two live interviews with subjectmatter experts on topics of their choice.

The shift transformed the student experience. During Minimester, the Upper School buzzed with collaboration as seniors worked side by side. “I like that we’re spending the week together,” noted Audrey Gunderson ’26, who researched TikTok’s influence on politics. “It’s not isolating.” The project culminated on April 8 with a fair-style evening event. Instead of formal speeches, students presented their research, abstracts, and reflections using tri-fold displays, engaging in dynamic conversations with parents and faculty. “By bridging academic research with modern media and community networking, the revamped Senior Project ensures that Steward graduates are ready for whatever comes next,” Ms. Hamlin said.

Disconnecting to Connect by Bobby Pollicino, Director of Upper School Schools are places where students come to learn and build connections within a community. Steward embraces our role in building relationships and helping our students develop communication skills. Therefore, during the 2024-25 school year, we reconsidered Upper School student cell phone access and use. We surveyed families and engaged in discussions across the community. Our approach needed to be values-aligned and meet the students’ and the school’s needs. The resulting policy is that advisors keep students’ phones in grades 9-11 during the school day. Seniors have the privilege of keeping their phones to use in limited spaces and times, which promotes self-discipline, responsibility, and focus appropriate to their age and responsibilities. At the end of the first school year, feedback about the new policy was overwhelmingly

positive from students, parents, and faculty. Students were more attuned and engaged in classes. Teachers remarked that students asked more questions. When scanning the audience during assemblies, instead of seeing a faint glow from lighted screens, I saw smiles and heads nodding along. One of my early memories from September is a student walking out at the end of the school day, then turning around to walk back into the building. They had forgotten to pick up their phone. This student had become so accustomed to not checking their phone throughout the day that they did not think about it when they left the building. In reflecting on the policy change, we are clear that we made the right decision. Student engagement has improved tremendously, and the interactions during lunch and breaks are wonderful to see. We are a community, and our relationships are strengthened through face-toface communication.

TEACHER REFLECTIONS “It’s been wonderful to see them interacting with one another during unstructured times like community time and lunch, rather than silently sitting in groups on their phones.” “Having no devices has encouraged more interaction within the (advisory) group, which has led the students who may not be in the same friend group to grow closer and bond. There are more conversations about school, friendships, and extracurriculars that everyone is contributing to. It has also been nice to have a daily check-in with advisees when they drop off and pick up their phones.”

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D NEWS

Taking the Lead Student-led symposia, such as the Beloved Community RVA Conference and the Women’s Empowerment Conference, give Spartans new ways to take on leadership roles.

BELOVED COMMUNITY RVA CONFERENCE

1 The Beloved Community RVA Conference honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., connecting his efforts to care for humanity with Steward’s schoolwide theme of “nature.” 2 Rev. Dr. Faith Harris, director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, served as the Beloved Community keynote speaker. 3 Emory Burns ’27, who led a craft workshop: “Learning how Dr. King’s messages about nature influenced our keynote speaker’s work was really impactful.”

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE 4 In March, Class of 2027 students Ellie Kersey, Gracie Hayden, and Claire Stuckey, led by faculty advisors Julia Tompkins and Ryan Burgess, organized “Educate Minds, Equalize Lives,” a Women’s Empowerment Conference. 5 Invited panelists discussed their experiences as women, with a focus on mental health. 6 Attendees (students in grades 6-12, plus parents, faculty, and staff) could choose from a variety of workshops that explored gender inequality.

4 12

3 “Student-led symposia encourage students to take full ownership of their education and step into their power as leaders beyond the classroom.” — Humanities Teacher Trevor Smith

5 |

Year in Review

S T E W A R D NEWS

Stepping up to the Pitch

Spartans as entrepreneurs Steward’s Entrepreneurship Studies program is designed to inspire creative thinking and foster connections between Upper School students and the local entrepreneurial community. Upper School teachers Angela Coppola and Jen Maitland lead the program, which features lectures and discussions, plus field trips and pitch presentations. During the 2025-26 school year, students in the program met with professionals from Holon Health, CarMax, and LaDIFF to learn about some of the business challenges they face. Spartans then brainstormed and pitched ideas to the companies’ owners and employees. CarMax, for example, tasked students with the question: What new business venture should we explore? The students presented pitch decks that included market analyses, business cases, and competitive information.

Ms. Maitland noted, “Pitch projects align with Steward’s core values of individuality, innovation, and inspiration. Students who participate in pitches and complete additional program requirements also have the possibility of earning a diploma endorsement that will benefit them as they apply for college and pursue careers.”

Leading the Way Steward’s Leadership Program is a three-year pathway for students in grades 9-11 that combines hands-on learning with academic studies. The program focuses on individual reflection, group dynamics, conflict resolution, global engagement, and social justice. Third-year participants complete a capstone project, and those who complete the program earn a credential on their diploma. In May, 15 students from the Class of 2026 graduated with the credential. Additionally, 17 students in the class of 2027 completed capstone projects this year. “Year three encourages students to put into practice their leadership skills,” explained Eliza McGehee, program coordinator. For the capstone project, students select an issue they are passionate about at Steward or in the broader community and work to make a positive impact. Topics this year included access to quality education, cultural exchange, environmental sustainability, nutrition and food access, and women’s empowerment in STEM fields and in athletics. “I was excited by the range of projects, as they demonstrate how students can think creatively to make a difference at Steward and beyond,” said Ms. McGehee.

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D NEWS

Inspired by Nature In March, Steward welcomed Visiting Innovator Richard James MacCowan for a day filled with nature-inspired activities. Mr. MacCowan, founder of the Biomimicry Innovation Lab in the United Kingdom, spoke to Spartans in all divisions about the wonders of biomimicry — the practice of imitating nature — and gave examples of materials found in the natural world that are used in everyday items. The inventor of Velcro, for example, was inspired after watching burrs get caught on his dog’s fur. In the Bryan Innovation Lab, students participated in a handson biomimicry fair, constructing mock termite mounds, designing seed parachutes, and teaming up to build a giant wasp nest out of papier-mache. Mr. MacCowan, who also hosted an after-school biomimicry fair and a public keynote, encouraged Spartans to continue to look toward nature (Steward’s schoolwide theme for 2025-26) as a springboard for designing and problem-solving. He said, “The best work in biomimicry will be done by people who are now students!”

Outdoor Spartans During the 2025-26 school year, Steward’s schoolwide theme — our connection with nature — was like a self-pollinating flower, with seeds of discovery popping up all around campus. Spartans explored nature through a cross-divisional poetry walk; learned how biomimicry (the practice of imitating nature) helps us solve human challenges; expressed themselves through nature-centric art, song, and photography; and conducted field research at Shenandoah National Park. The theme was so enriching that it will continue to bloom for the 2026-27 academic year, with a twist: Spartans will delve into the stewardship of nature. Both themes were proposed by Dean of Bryan Innovation Lab Programs and Innovation Strategy Megan Young, and a committee that focuses on sustainability initiatives. In 2026, Ms. Young was presented with the Ingrid Moore Champions of Play Award, which is named in memory of a committed educator whose love for children was unmatched. The award is given annually to a Steward faculty member who has incorporated play in a project or installation, course, or curriculum. Among other initiatives, Ms. Young leads Nature Play School, a popular weekly community program that encourages unstructured outdoor play inspired by nature, as well as Lower School Nature Play sessions during the school day.

Year in Review

S T E W A R D NEWS

CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS Across campus, students explored, discovered, and innovated — inside and beyond the classroom. Below is a sampling of Spartans in action!

1 AUTHOR VISIT: CYNTHIA CLIFF When the author of “Pie for Breakfast” visited campus in November, our young Spartans delighted in hearing how she dreams up plot lines and characters for her popular picture books.

2 EXPERIMENTS SPARK CURIOSITY After working through the scientific process (observation, hypothesis, experiment, analysis, and conclusion) over several weeks, fifth graders proudly displayed the results of their experiments at a science fair held in the Bryan Innovation Lab.

3 ARTISTIC EXPRESSION Lower School Art Teacher Emily Wolfe and Lower School Theatre Teacher Craig Smith teamed up for a project that blended puppetry and theatre. The result? A second-grade play, “Three Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm,” complete with charming handmade puppets.

4 WALKING AMONG WORDS Seventh graders in Mary Hopkins’ English classes explored a combination of creative expression: nature and poetry! In the woods behind the Bryan Innovation Lab, they read poems displayed on colorful boards and then composed their own. 5 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Middle School Science Teacher Janell Kauffman’s sixth-grade students conducted research on the Bryan Innovation Lab’s wetlands, its biodiversity, and the interconnected nature of science.

6 POTTERY LESSONS TAKE SHAPE Middle and Upper Schoolers discovered the joys and challenges of using a pottery wheel when guest artist Rhona Arenstein (grandmother of Margot Levy ’38) shared her expertise with them.

7 NATURE NEURONS Combining art and science, Upper Schoolers in Science Teacher Kristen Householder’s AP Psychology class created models of neural structures using foraged natural materials. 8 A CLASSIC TALE, REIMAGINED Upper School English Teacher Janel Nellen tasked her students with retelling “Romeo and Juliet” in non-traditional formats. Scrapbooks, a 3D floor plan of the Capulet home, even a floor-length paper dress covered in poetry: Students’ creativity took center stage.

8 Year in Review |

S T E W A R D NEWS

The Center for Engagement Cares for Spartans

The Center for Engagement’s mission is to positively impact both the individual and community through intentional experiences and practices that increase empathy, responsibility, and purpose. These initiatives are central to our strategic plan, Compass 2028. Read on to learn how the Center’s initiatives enhanced life at Steward.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID Mental Health First Aid training teaches participants to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder. Faculty and staff are guided to connect with professional help and resources when students are experiencing mental health challenges. School Counselor Jentae Scott-Mayo has led the program’s implementation at Steward, and 75 adults have been trained. This year, we added Teen Mental Health First Aid, which teaches teens how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers. The entire sophomore class completed the program, and students in Grade 10 will do the same in 2026-27.

SEASONS OF WELLNESS Tapping into our schoolwide theme of “nature,” Wellness Weeks offered Spartans familyfriendly resources to reset and refocus. Health & Wellness Coordinator Catherine Graves ’98 guided Wellness Weeks. Once each quarter, she sent wellness tips to our community — activities to inspire families to “recalibrate” with nature-inspired, mindful, and movement-based moments that could be incorporated into daily life. She encouraged families: “Pause. Breathe. Grow. When we slow down, we can blossom!”

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Our Service Learning program expanded this year to include grade-level partnerships, with an ultimate goal of having one per grade. This programming is led by Coordinator of Service Learning and Engagement Alexa Bolt. This year’s projects included soil health, food access, and poverty. Ninth graders studied poverty in their social studies classes, and then spent the Minimester week forming real-world connections. The third grade completed a “backyard composting project” at the Bryan Innovation Lab, using food scraps from the Dining Commons. Seventh graders studied food insecurity and deserts. They hosted a bake sale as a fundraiser for their community partner, Mercy Chefs, which provides meals for individuals in need. Partnerships will be added in 2026-27 for grades 4, 8, 10, and 11.

DEVELOPING SELF-REFLECTION AND SOCIAL-AWARENESS A central component of Community and Belonging education at Steward is understanding the role that positive interpersonal relationships serve in building and maintaining a healthy society. This year, Coordinator of Community and Belonging Alejandro Prince put this into practice through a series of lessons on conflict resolution, self-reflection, and social awareness that reached each division. Grades 4 and 5 practiced skills for coping with difficult emotions while practicing empathy; seventh- and eighthgrade English classes studied the layers of friendship while also considering the impact of historical events and stereotypes on how we interact with each other; and ninth-grade students explored the role of conflict resolution in healthy relationships along with academic identity and social identity. Campus-wide, Mr. Prince works with teachers and students in each grade to implement Restorative Practices in everyday classroom culture, building strong bonds that can weather the most difficult challenges.

Year in Review

S T E W A R D NEWS

Living Out Steward’s Values

In 2025, we introduced Steward Insights: columns authored by our school leaders and faculty to keep our community informed about the trends shaping modern education.

Collaborating On Curriculum Design

by Academic Deans Elizabeth Crenshaw, Melissa Freed, Lisa Moore, and Ann Robbins

Learning Through Reflection

by Upper School Director Bobby Pollicino

Prioritizing Wellness for Every Age by Health and Wellness Coordinator Catherine Graves ’98

by Dean of Bryan Innovation Lab Programs and Innovation Strategy Megan Young

Building the ‘Third Space’: Preparing Steward Students for the Agentic AI World

The Growth Zone: Embracing Challenge During Middle School

Leading for the Future: Self, Group, and Community

by Middle School Director Susan Atkinson

Student-led Conferences Empower Learners

by Middle School English Teacher Mary Hopkins

Strengthening Connections Through Restorative Practices

Empowering Students Through Balanced Learning

The Importance of Alumni in a Healthy School Community

by Head of School Dan Frank

by Director of CAL and Assistant Director of Lower School Dr. Yaa Agyekum

by Director of CAL and Assistant Director of Lower School Dr. Yaa Agyekum, Upper School Dean of Student Support Peter Hurley, and Middle School Dean of Student Support Dr. Kadie Parsley

by Special Projects Coordinator for Development Sydney Smith

The Power of Play

by Lower School Director Becky Groves

Wired for the Great Outdoors

by Leadership Program Coordinator and Upper School Social Studies Curriculum Chair Eliza McGehee

The Case for Studentled Symposia

by Upper School Humanities Teacher Trevor Smith

Use the QR code to read the full versions of each column.

Year in Review |

CL ASS OF 2026 SPOTLIGHT

Class of 2026 Stewart MacKinlay Bearden

Jonathan Alexander Gayle

Nathan Ross Bridges

Paul James Gresock

Anthony John Bucco

Dylan Michael Griffin

Joseph Matthew Burmeister

Audrey Marie Gunderson

Mia Isabella Burruss

Miles Alexander Harris

Naiim Amod Anthony Byrd

James Gabriel Heaton

Abigail Marie Calkins

Theo Samuel Hirsch

Riley Douglas Carter

Turner Davidson Hurst

Dante Mossi Castle

Charles Thomas Inge

Kenny Gladimir Charles

William Burke Jennette

Jaeda Ashlynn Cranford

Natalia Andrea JimenezHernandez

Maya Sophia Deasy Iris Jamison English

Lila Rose Katz

James Luke Gallagher

Brooklyn Viktoria Kavanaugh

Gabrielle Rose Garner

Kyriana Faye Knudson

Year in Review

Raiden Motoichi Davieds Liesfeld

Julia Katherine Rhamy

Lochlan Augustus Tribble

Samuel Wyatt Roberts

Thatcher Alexander Tribble

Jack Alexander Magrill

Linkin M. Rose

Hadley Auden Trivas

Gabrielle Hope Marshall

Ella Grace Saunders

Ashley Vanderbeck

Kenya Gabrielle Martin

Peyton Daniel Seeley

Lane Elizabeth Vanderbeck

Oliver Scott McGregor

Madelyn Lily Natina Shawn

Avery Jane VanHimbergen

Tavon Antonio Mckenzie

Jackson Robert Sherman

Campbell Rose Vautrin

Kamran Kumar Arif Mohanty

Jordan Sanford Solomon

Junwei Wang

Caleb John Morrison

Jeffrey Paul Sproull

Camden Pelham-Ellis Welch

Lucas James MoubrayCarrico

Tucker Royden Sprouse

Joseph Howard Wentzel

Juliet Elise Stein

Gisele Ann Mascarenhas Willis

Greenlee Jean Murray Nadine Oghenerugba Odibo Lindsley Reid Ogilvie

Tex McCoy Stinnett Lilly Kathryn Thoman

Taylor Tompkins Pace

Margaret Lorraine Timmerman

Emerson Reese Pollicino

Thu Phan Gia Tran

Lila Grace Wittersheim Elizabeth Lanier Woodrum Rafaela Elena Zepeda Brennan David Zide

CL ASS OF 2026 SPOTLIGHT

GRADUATION AWARDS Junior Marshals Owen Engel and Claire Stuckey Presentation of the Class of 2026 Gift to the School Raiden Liesfeld Graduation Speaker Ella Grace Saunders Graduation Reader Rafi Zepeda

The “Lifers” Award Stewart Bearden Tommy Inge Burke Jennette Oliver McGregor Kamran Mohanty Greenlee Murray Nadine Odibo Wyatt Roberts Molly Timmerman Camden Welch The Dixon Award Rafi Zepeda

Baccalaureate Speaker Nadine Odibo Baccalaureate Reader Gabby Marshall

Year in Review |

Celebrating the

CLASS OF 2026 The 73 students in the Class of 2026 are headed to 41 different colleges and universities this fall. Here, we celebrate the impressive and diverse plans and accomplishments of our recent graduates.

OLIVER MCGREGOR AND TOMMY INGE

Virginia Military Institute

Oliver McGregor and Tommy Inge have been classmates since kindergarten, and when they start college this fall, that will still be true. As “rats” (first-year students) at VMI, their shared experiences will go beyond the classes, athletic practices, and assemblies that have made up life at Steward. Rats rise early to go on long runs together, they live without their phones or many visits home, and they even march in line together to meals. “At the end of your first seven months, you’re not a ‘rat’ anymore, and the group that’s left will be best friends and business connections for the rest of your life,” Oliver explained. Both Tommy and Oliver originally found their way to VMI through family encouragement, but agree that, in many ways, life at Steward has readied them for this next adventure. “Steward prepared me to make connections at VMI, because people are friendly here,” Tommy shared. Oliver added, “Steward taught me to know what I want and then go after it. I applied early decision to VMI because I was confident it was the school for me. Coach Secrest [Bruce Secrest, Oliver’s baseball coach since freshman year] has given me a lot of encouragement and support.” Oliver is planning to major in civil engineering, while Tommy plans to focus on history like his father, Wallace Inge, a Steward Middle School social studies teacher and VMI alum.

Year in Review

IRIS ENGLISH

Wellesley College

Like the flower after which she is named, Iris English’s story has many petals, or layers, that reveal both her history and her goals. Iris will attend Wellesley College this fall, a famed “Seven Sisters” institution that accepts only 14% of its applicants. While there, she plans to study Spanish and psychology. Her story blooms with influences from the women in her life: her college counselor at Steward, who suggested Wellesley; her mom, who encouraged her to apply to Wellesley and found a connection there; her Harvardeducated minister grandmother, who took her to Guatemala to learn the language and befriend the people; and her Upper School English Teacher Stephanie Arnold, who supported Iris as the editor of The Amaranth, Steward’s literary journal. Iris plans to combine her Spanish and psychology degrees to become a bilingual children’s therapist. “Childhood is such an important part of development into a person,” Iris said. “People can begin to have difficulties. If they’re not handled, then you go into life without coping mechanisms. Working with children is really rewarding, so they can develop those skills and better manage their lives.”

KENNY CHARLES

Howard University

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. “There are healthcare disparities in primarily minority places, and doctors don’t always consider their patients’ issues,” Kenny said. “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’s Upper School years were filled with internships, including during Minimester. He’s shadowed an ENT and an emergency medicine doctor, supported prenatal care, and even done cancer research. In his next step toward the medical field, Kenny will matriculate to Howard University, joining his sister Catherine, a 2024 Steward alum. His time at Howard will be supported by a merit scholarship he received as a member of the Richmond chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, Jr.

JULIA RHAMY

Pratt Institute

“I love being able to express myself through art,” shared Julia Rhamy. “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.” As a student at the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Julia will have ample opportunities to explore her feminist interests and all forms of art. Pratt requires all

CL ASS OF 2026 SPOTLIGHT 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. Julia attended Steward beginning in third grade, and she’s also a tennis player and swimmer. She received accolades for her art throughout Upper School, including two honors from The Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. She participated twice in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Teen Stylin’ Program. Pratt awarded Julia a merit scholarship toward her college tuition.

CALEB MORRISON

Virginia Tech

Caleb Morrison became a Spartan in third grade, and his Steward story did not end after graduation. Several of his good friends from Steward are joining him at Virginia Tech, and he is majoring in engineering, an interest that was sparked during a Minimester internship. “I’m well prepared for my engineering major because, at Steward, I could reach out to my teachers when I needed help,” Caleb shared. “That’s an important skill I’ve learned here. I could visit my teachers during office hours and talk to my advisor, [Upper School Academic Dean Elizabeth] Crenshaw, about my goals. She’s been really helpful to me as a person. Her son, Jude, was even my JK buddy.” Caleb is planning to major in civil engineering. At Steward, he won the Nolde Scholarship; played basketball, lacrosse, cross country, and tennis; and participated in the Black Student Alliance, MP3, FOCUS, and a marketing internship.

WYATT ROBERTS

VCUarts

You could say Wyatt Roberts’ acting career started in kindergarten, when his Steward theatre teacher invited him to participate in an independent film shown at a festival. Or, you could say it started as a preschooler, when he would act out stories in his backyard. Or, you could even say it’s in his blood: Wyatt wears his dad’s high school Thespian Society medal around his neck. No matter when it started, it’s not going to end any time soon. Wyatt will major in theatre at VCUarts, a program recommended to him by friend and fellow Steward alum Miera Boyle ’25.

DANTE CASTLE

Northwestern University

Northwestern University 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. Despite the fact that more than 20,000 students attend Northwestern, it reminded Dante of Steward: “When I visited, I saw how much collaboration there was,” he said. “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.” Dante added, “I’m thankful my college counselor suggested I look at Northwestern.” At Northwestern, Dante plans to major in biomedical engineering, a career inspired by his mother (an engineer) and an internship at a cancer facility in Alaska during Minimester two years ago. “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.”

JEFFREY SPROULL

U.S. Naval Academy

LILLY THOMAN

U.S. Military Academy

Lilly Thoman and Jeffrey Sproull share several milestones: both are 2025-26 Ray Tate StudentAthlete Scholarship recipients, both maximized Steward’s academic and extracurricular offerings, and both are heading to national service academies — a complex process they navigated with the expert guidance of Director of College Counseling Heather Jeter. Lilly will attend the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., where she will play basketball and follow a social science track. Jeffrey will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he will major in history and prepare for a military career. Both Lilly and Jeffrey underwent an extensive application process, which included essays, interviews, physical exams, and congressional nominations.

“There will be a lot of opportunities there to develop my craft,” Wyatt said. “You’re never done learning about the things you’re passionate about.”

“In my years at Steward, I have been challenged by my teachers, coaches, and peers to be more disciplined and more organized,” Jeffrey said. “As a result, I feel that I am becoming the best version of myself.”

Wyatt has participated in 13 shows at Steward, his favorite of which was playing King Arthur in “Spamalot.” He also joined Susan Sanford, the recently retired Upper School theatre teacher, for a production of “Hadestown” at Richmond’s Cadence theatre, and calls it one of the proudest moments of his life.

Lilly concurred: “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.”

Year in Review |

CL ASS OF 2026 SPOTLIGHT RAFI ZEPEDA

University of Virginia

“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. Rafi has attended Steward since second grade. She shared: “The interviewing and public speaking opportunities I’ve had since 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.”

THU TRAN

Washington and Lee University

It has only been two years since Thu Tran left her home in Vietnam to become an international student at Steward, but she has packed those days and months with accomplishments. In the fall of 2025, she was named a Commended Student through the National Merit Scholarship Program. A few short months later, she earned a full fouryear scholarship to Washington and Lee University through QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. “When I saw that I had been matched to Washington and Lee University with a full ride, I was overcome with joy,” she said. “My dream had come true. I immediately called my Vietnamese mom, who was overjoyed. Soon after, both sides of my family knew the news. It was one of the most significant days of my life. I barely slept that night because I was so excited to share the news with my Steward college counselors, teachers, and friends.” Thu, who served as president of Steward’s National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, said, “The best part about being a Spartan is knowing that you are always supported academically, emotionally, and personally by a community that truly believes in you and wants to see you succeed.”

Year in Review

The 73 Members of the

CLASS OF 2026 Earned nearly $10 MILLION IN MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS from all the schools to which they were accepted Will attend 41 DIFFERENT COLLEGES/ UNIVERSITIES next year in 16 states and Washington, D.C. Were accepted into 112 DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES in 31 states, Washington, D.C., and Scotland Took 228 AP EXAMS in 13 subject areas Were admitted to COMPETITIVE DIRECTADMISSION PROGRAMS, including: international relations and national security studies; business, international business, management, marketing, business administration and finance; environmental/ natural resources management and policy; clinical counseling and applied psychology; architecture; education; drama/theatre arts and stagecraft; visual art; criminology; kinesiology; nursing; criminal justice; physics; construction management; mechanical engineering; civil engineering; neurobiology and neurosciences; philosophy and religious studies; and anthropology Made 326 EARLY APPLICATIONS (early action and early decision) and submitted 94 REGULAR DECISION APPLICATIONS 96% will attend a TOP-CHOICE college or university 72: will attend a FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION in the fall. 1: playing SEMI-PROFESSIONAL SPORTS 3: NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP Commended (2) and Finalist (1) Scholars 90% took AP EXAMS

CL ASS OF 2026 SPOTLIGHT

Words of Wisdom From our Graduates’ Senior Speeches

1 Jim Rhon once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” That quote has always stuck with me because figuring out who I surround myself with has been a challenge for me ever since I was in second grade. I’ve spent so much time trying to figure out where I fit in, and more importantly, if the people around me were really the right people for me. With successes and failures, I’ve learned to distinguish true friendship.

2 If you’ve ever heard me say, “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” you can thank [my mom] Ma Duke. Or blame her, depending on how prepared you are today. Through discipline, sacrifice, and unconditional love, my mom has shaped me into someone ready to face life’s challenges …. She wanted me to understand that when you stay prepared, you don’t have to panic or scramble when life surprises you.

3 Over the last four years, sports and scenic photography have both taught me very different lessons. Sports taught me how to handle pressure and pace — how to stay focused and motivated so I can perform when it matters most. Scenic has taught me the opposite. It has taught me to slow down, be patient, and take in what is ahead of me.

Mia Burress

Nai Byrd

4 I have come to love that my name is a fun fact about me on its own. Instead of feeling awkward or shy, I’ve become thankful for having a unique name because without it, I know I would be an entirely different version of myself. If there is something you think to be different about yourself, something that you feel self-conscious about, I want you to ask yourself why you feel that way. Why not encourage what is unique about you, whether it be your name, your style, your passions, or your interests? Embracing my name has helped me embrace myself, and I hope you can choose to stand just as proudly in what makes you, you.

5 “Jaws” actually sparked my love of scary movies. There was something about being terrified while also knowing I was totally safe. One sharkinfested movie night turned into a whole new love for thrillers and horror. And looking back, I learned something unexpectedly meaningful: Sometimes the things that freak us out at first are the same things that push us into discovering new passions. Fear doesn’t always mean stop — sometimes it means, “Hold on tight because something awesome is coming.”

6 I think it’s easy to assume that arguing means something is wrong, but I’ve learned that sometimes, it’s actually a sign that something matters. The people who challenge you, disagree with you, and push you to explain yourself are often the same people helping you grow, even when it doesn’t feel like it in the moment. Having someone who can call you out and still stay is one of the most important kinds of relationships there is.

Jack Sherman

Juliet Stein

Paul Gresock

Kyri Knudson Year in Review |

CL ASS OF 2026 SPOTLIGHT

American University Appalachian State University

James Madison University (5) Kenyon College

Farewell to

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Roanoke College Rochester Institute of Technology

University of Miami University of Minnesota University of Mississippi

Auburn University

Lawrence University

Baylor University

Le Moyne College

Belhaven University

Lehigh University

Boston College

Liberty University

Bridgewater College

Longwood University (5)

Brigham Young University

Louisiana State University

The 73 members of The

MD Institute College of Art (MICA)

Steward School’s Class of 2026 are destined for

Marymount University

great things, capping off their impressive Upper

SUNY Purchase College

University of Richmond

Coastal Carolina University

Massachusetts College of Art & Design

School careers with a

Syracuse University

College of Charleston

Michigan State University

very successful college

Texas A&M University

University of South Carolina (2)

College of William & Mary (4)

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

application season. By the

Colorado State University

Morehouse College

Dickinson College (2)

Morgan State University

East Carolina University

Muhlenberg College

Eckerd College

New York University

Elon University

North Carolina A&T University

states and Washington, D.C.

Florida State University

North Carolina State University

On this page, you will find

Franklin and Marshall College

Northeastern University

Christopher Newport University (2) Clemson University (2)

Florida Atlantic University

George Mason University George Washington University Hampden-Sydney College Hampton University High Point University Hollins University

Shenandoah University Southern University and A&M College SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology

University of Pittsburgh University of Rhode Island

University of Tampa

May 1, the seniors had

The College of Wooster

made plans to attend 41 different colleges/ universities next year in 16

United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Alabama

a list of all the college acceptances Steward

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.

University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia (5) University of Wisconsin Virginia Commonwealth University (3)

University of California (Santa Barbara)

Virginia Military Institute (2) Virginia State University

University of Connecticut

attend, and numbers

University of Tennessee

University of Arizona

where our graduates will

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University of North Carolina (Wilmington)

The Catholic University of America

Penn State University (University Park)

Radford University (2)

University of North Carolina (Charlotte)

Day rolled around on

time College Declaration

University of Colorado (Boulder)

Quinnipiac University

University of North Carolina (Asheville)

University of St Andrews (Scotland)

Bolded schools indicate

Pratt Institute

University of Montana

Texas Christian University

Old Dominion University

Indiana University (Bloomington)

Year in Review

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

students earned this year.

Howard University

2026

Rutgers University

Northwestern University

Randolph-Macon College (2)

THE CLASS OF

Virginia Tech (7)

University of Georgia

Virginia Wesleyan University

University of Kentucky (2)

Washington College

University of Lynchburg

Washington & Lee University

University of Mary Washington

Wellesley College

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

West Virginia University Wofford College

CL ASS OF 2026 SPOTLIGHT

Year in Review |

UPPER SCHOOL RECOGNITION

LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE AWARDS The Nolde Scholarship Savannah Martin The Richmond Alumnae Panhellenic Association Award Kaitlyn Freed The Alumni Association Scholarship Fara Alasi The Faculty ABCD Award John Jane The Student ABCD Award Campbell Vautrin The University of Rochester Eastman Young Leaders Award Parker Yocum Order of the Shield Burke Jennette, Raiden Liesfeld, Kamran Mohanty, Nadine Odibo, Ella Grace Saunders, Jack Sherman, Jeffrey Sproull

Camden Welch

ATHLETIC AWARDS

The Janet L. Rice Spartan The UVA Jefferson Club Scholarship Leadership Award Gabby Marshall and Annika Yaratha Linkin Rose The West Point Leadership Award The Ray Tate StudentLucky Moore Athlete Scholarship Jeffrey Sproull and The University of Lilly Thoman Rochester Frederick The SPC James Vawter Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award Buis, USA, Athletic Lourdes Olivencia Scholarship Award Lilly Thoman

FINE ARTS AWARDS Michelle AndersonHaigler Performing Arts Award Jordan Solomon

ACADEMIC RECOGNITION AWARDS

The Entrepreneurship Endorsement Graduates Natalia JiminezHernandez Hadley Trivas The “Lifers” Award James Heaton Stewart Bearden, Tommy Nadine Odibo Inge, Burke Jennette, Kenny Charles Oliver McGregor, Top of the Class Award Kamran Mohanty, Greenlee Murray, Nadine Ashley Vanderbeck Lilly Thoman Odibo, Wyatt Roberts, Molly Timmerman, and Thu Tran

The William & Mary Leadership Award Gracie Hayden

Year in Review

The University of Rochester Bausch and Lomb Science Award Oliver Lentz Dixon Award Rafi Zepeda Senior Project of the Year Award Emerson Pollicino Harvard Prize Book Award Ellie Kersey Hollins University Creative Writing Book Award Jacey Turner

DEPARTMENT BOOK AWARDS English: Iris English Math: Thu Tran

Science: Ashley Vanderbeck Social Studies: Lee Woodrum World Languages: Rafi Zepeda Performing Arts: Wyatt Roberts The Rugene Seaton Paulette Visual Arts Book Award: Julia Rhamy

The Faculty Award Kamran Mohanty, Kyri Knudson, Molly Timmerman, Paul Gresock, Lilly Thoman

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Carolyn R. Brandt Scholarship Award Reid Lower

The Mission Award Maya Deasy, Nadine Odibo, Ella Grace Saunders, Jeffery Sproull, Caleb Morrison, Theo Hirsch

Emily Forbes, Ellie Frank, Kaitlyn Freed, Gavin Gardner, Maddie Hayden, Gracie Hayden, Nora Iwashyna, Oliver Jimenez, Ellie Kersey, Reid Lower, Jennifer Lujan, Kenzie Marchant, Kaylee Morgan, Lourdes Olivencia, Rowen Reynolds, Mohsin Shah, Braden Smith, Claire Stuckey, Mercedes Torres Serrano, Annika Yaratha, Parker Yocom

ADMISSIONS AMBASSADORS Seniors: AJ Bucco, Nai Byrd, Iris English, Audrey Gunderson, Natalia Jimenez-Hernandez, Kyri Knudson, Raiden Liesfeld, Gabby Marshall, Nadine Odibo, Emerson Pollicino, Ella Grace Saunders, Madelyn Shawn, Lilly Thoman, Molly Timmerman, Thu Tran, Hadley Trivas, Laney Vanderbeck, Avery VanHimbergen, Campbell Vautrin

Sophomores: Ava Becker, Zara Borgard, Kate Bradley, Andy Coy, Naomie Crosby, Layla Dwelle, Juliet Forlano, Kayla Galpern, Hope Garnett, Kate Gresock, Sidney Hetherington, Ellie Hirsch, Caroline Kim, Cece Lentz, Gabe Marr, Ellie Massino, Finn Meadows, Julia Murray, Jack Niemas, Henry Pietrantoni, Sofia Ruffin, Scottie Seay, Piper Seeley, Emily Stefanik, Annie Topich, Lexi Turner, Gabe Zepeda

DAR Good Citizen Award Juniors: Shem Abel, Joey Burmeister Fara Alasi, Claire Bates, MAJOR AWARDS Ainsley Bowlin, Henry Burke, Emory Burns, Junior Marshals Karsen Creager, Claire Owen Engel, Claire Stuckey Dougherty, Owen Engel,

Freshmen: Cooper Adams, Faith Akinfolajimi, Erik Avram, Sara Carter, Virginia Dillard, Sydney Duda, Kara Freed, Madelyn

Brantley Blair Scott Leadership Award Raiden Liesfeld, Natalia Jimenez-Herdendez B. Lee Healey Award Lila Katz Carolyn R. Brandt Alumni Award Gabby Marshall Ian M. Coddington Award Joseph Wentzel

UPPER SCHOOL RECOGNITION Gunderson, Sam Herron, Mila Hirsch, Ella Martin, Shalini Masson, Zee Mehta, Carrigan Parsley, Andi Kate Reynolds, Sydnee Stewart, Caroline Tribble, Wysdom Walker STUDENT COUNCIL ASSOCIATION Representatives: Class Officers AJ Bucco Greenlee Murray Molly Timmerman Owen Engel Kaitlyn Freed Ty Rhyne Mohsin Shah Claire Stuckey Layla Dwelle Carrigan Parsley Andi Kate Reynolds STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE Seniors: Raiden Liesfeld, Nadine Odibo, Rafi Zepeda, Gabby Marshall, Kenya Martin, Julia Rhamy Juniors: Shem Abel, Gracie Hayden, Maddie Hayden, Lucky Moore Sophomores: Kate Bradley, Layla Dwelle, Juliet Forlano, Kate Gresock, Ellie Massimo, Henry Pientrantoni, Piper Seeley, Braeden Zehfuss Freshmen: Sydney Duda, Carrigan Parsley, Andi

Kate Reynolds, Emma Wang CLASS OFFICERS Seniors: President: Raiden Liesfeld Co-Vice Presidents: Nadine Odibo and Rafi Zepeda Officers-at-Large: Gabby Marshall, Kenya Martin, and Campbell Vautrin Juniors: President: Annika Yaratha Co-Vice Presidents: Shem Abel and Reid Lower Officers-at-Large: Emory Burns, Gracie Hayden, and Lucky Moore Sophomores: President: Juliet Forlano Vice-President: Henry Pietrantoni Officers-at-Large: Kate Bradley, Piper Seeley, and Braeden Zehfuss Freshmen: President: Faith Akinfolajimi Vice-President: Erik Avram Officers-at-Large: Sydney Duda, Madelyn Gunderson, and Zee Mehta HONOR COUNCIL President: Kyri Knudson Vice-President: Kaitlyn Freed Representatives: Kamran Mohanty, Owen Engel, Jack Niemas, Gabe

Zepeda, and Kara Freed HUGH O’BRIAN YOUTH AMBASSADORS Brooks Johnson Claire Stuckey

ACADEMIC AWARDS

HEAD OF SCHOOL’S LIST By earning an A- or above in each semester, the following students were named to the Head of School’s List. Seniors: AJ Bucco, Maya Deasy, Iris English, Paul Gresock, Turner Hurst, Lila Katz, Brooklyn Kavanaugh, Kyri Knudson, Gabby Marshall, Lilly Thoman, Molly Timmerman, Thu Tran, Ashley Vanderbeck, Laney Vanderbeck, Camden Welch, Lee Woodrum, Rafi Zepeda Juniors: Penn Arnold, Emory Burns, Clara Cason, Owen Engel, Sarah Grace Groves, Gracie Hayden, Maddie Hayden, Nora Iwashyna, Oliver Jimenez, Ellie Kersey, Ollie Lentz, Reid Lower, Lucky Moore, Ishan Shah, Claire Stuckey, Annika Yaratha, Parker Yocom

Sophomores: Noah Bender, Kate Bradley, Layla Dwelle, Juliet Forlano, Kayla Galpern, Andrew Gamache, Kate Gresock, Elijah Kauffman, Ryan Marshall, Henry Pietrantoni, Piper Seeley, Braeden Zehfuss Freshmen: Ryan Adamik, Thor Akesson, Faith Akinfolajimi, Erik Avram, Sara Carter, Eva Deasy, Cooper Druff, Sydney Duda, Claire Durr, Leah Frank, George Guthrie, Sam Herron, Mila Hirsch, Aaliyah Ladak, Lucie Langley, Colman Lord, Logan Manry, Declan Mullis, Claire Sandine, Jackson Saunders, Kaitlynd Spangler, Sydnee Stewart, Holden Teague HONOR ROLL By earning a B- or above in each semester, the following students were named to the Honor Roll. Seniors: Joey Burmeister, Mia Burruss, Abby Calkins, Dante Castle, Kenny Charles, Gabbi Garner, James Heaton, Theo Hirsch, Tommy Inge, Burke Jennette, Natalia Jimenez-Herna, Raiden Liesfeld, Kamran Mohanty, Caleb Morrison, Lucas Moubray-Carrico, Nadine Odibo, Tommy

Pace, Emerson Pollicino, Julia Rhamy, Linkin Rose, Ella Grace Saunders, Peyton Seeley, Madelyn Shawn, Jack Sherman, Jeffrey Sproull, Tucker Sprouse, Juliet Stein, Hadley Trivas, Avery VanHimbergen, Campbell Vautrin, Tommy Wang, Joseph Wentzel, Lila Wittersheim, Brennan Zide Juniors: Shem Abel, Asher Alaimo, Fara Alasi, Claire Bates, Logan Bearden, Ainsley Bowlin, Henry Burke, Karsen Creager, Claire Dougherty, Emily Forbes, Ellie Frank, Jack Frankenburg, Kaitlyn Freed, Gavin Gardner, Anne Soden Henceroth, Ryan Herndon, Brooks Johnson, Hunter Killian, Carson King, Ellie Lavis, Jennifer Lujan, Kenzie Marchant, Kaylee Morgan, Dylan Olexy, Lourdes Olivencia, Locke Pfannebecker, Leah Proffitt, Hanna Qureshi, Eli Rockwell, Mohsin Shah, Braden Smith, Jacey Turner Sophomores: Ava Becker, Zara Borgard, Noah Charity, Hanniya Chaudhry, Bryce Courville, Andy Coy, Naomie Crosby, Andrew

Felton, Hope Garnett, Harrison Hazelgrove, Sidney Hetherington, Ellie Hirsch, Reese Jones, Caroline Kim, Cece Lentz, Presley Letellier, Ellie Massino, Korryn Mayton, Ava McMullen, Finn Meadows, Gordon Miller, Julia Murray, Jack Niemas, Collin Olexy, Molly O’Sullivan, Avery Peterson, Gavin Proctor, Owen Proffitt, Mila René, Scottie Seay, Emily Stefanick, Will Strong, Drew Swift, Annie Topich, Lexi Turner, Callen Tyson, Jack Weldon, Rory Wittersheim, London Wright, Gabe Zepeda Freshmen: Cooper Adams, Marita Allen, Tylan Bell, Jacob Campbell, Meghan Cohee, Virginia Dillard, Roby Fisher, Kara Freed, Naim Giron-Luqman, Madelyn Gunderson, Ethan Herndon, Stefan Jones, Brooks Lee, Whit Lyszyk, Zee Mehta, Henry Ogilvie, Carrigan Parsley, Milla Patel, Andi Kate Reynolds, Matthew Spitzer, Ford Sprouse, Caroline Tribble, Wysdom Walker, Emma Wang, Blake Watkins, Davis Wert, Leo West, Ziayona Woods

Steward celebrated a Donning of the Kente ceremony, which honors the academic achievement, cultural heritage, and community strength of graduating Black seniors. This group of eight includes Lifers; students with outstanding academic, athletic, or artistic accomplishments; class and club leaders; entrepreneurs; and students who have given hundreds of hours of service to both Steward and their communities. Honored students included Nai Byrd, Kenny Charles, Jaeda Cranford, Jonathan Gayle, Kenya Martin, Tavon Mckenzie, Caleb Morrison, Greenlee Murray, Nadine Odibo, and Jordan Solomon.

Year in Review |

MIDDLE SCHOOL RECOGNITION

The following awards were announced during the End-of-Year Assembly on May 28 and the Grade 8 Recognition Ceremony on May 29. THE STEWARD AWARD

GRADE 8 HEAD OF SCHOOL’S LIST

Laurel Kauffman

By earning an A- or above in each class during the first three marking periods, the following students were named to the Head of School’s List.

THE ROBUST ACADEMICS AWARD Emerson Babik

THE INSPIRATION AWARD Madelyn Griffin

THE ENGAGEMENT & SERVICE AWARD Lochy Voeks

THE PEER ADVOCACY AWARD Brady Webb

2026 IMPACT SCHOLARS Finley Oliff, Colton Rhyne

STUDENT SPEAKERS AT GRADE 8 RECOGNITION CEREMONY Opening student remarks: Emerson Babik and Laurel Kauffman Closing student remarks: Tabbi Akinfolajimi and Zoe Basmajian Presentation of class gift: Colton Ryne

STUDENT MARSHALS FOR GRADE 8 RECOGNITION ASSEMBLY Reuben Browning and Eliza Fromer

Year in Review

Tabbi Akinfolajimi, Charlotte Arnold, Emerson Babik, Zoe Basmajian, Isla Boege, Greta Craig, Rosalie Deasy, Harper Heck, Caroline Hewit, Emma Howard, Lilly Kersey, Laurel Kauffman, Ryan Littlefield, Watson Mundy, Finley Oliff, Graylen Kafantaris Rambo, Landon Vassas, Lochy Voeks, Brady Webb

GRADE 8 HONOR ROLL By earning a B- or above in each class during the first three marking periods, the following students were named to the Honor Roll. Fopé Alasi, Julia Aman, Tim Bagwell, Parker Bowlin, James Cason, John Chupp, Ameera Daudani, Brooke Frankenburg, Jake Gallo, Aaron Galpern, Sabrina Galpern, Madelyn Griffin, Richmond Hamilton, Julia Hepper, Wes Herron, Michael Limmer, Griffin McMillan, Ty Nguyen, Sutton Pollicino, Zoe Reynolds, Colton Rhyne, Victoria Sessa, Fiona Simmons, Ethan Smartt, Zoe Smith, Ethan Stefanik, Cam Turner, Liam Turner, Nico Weldon, Will Willets, Kira Yan

ADMISSIONS AMBASSADORS Tabbi Akinfolajimi Fope Alasi Charlotte Arnold Isla Boege Grant Boss Emma Kate Cantrell Ava Faridnia Eliza Fromer Sabrina Galpern Olivia Gladstone Madelyn Griffin Lilly Kersey Saryn Milesh Finley Oliff Sutton Pollicino Graylen Kafantaris Rambo Lochy Voeks Harper Wilkinson Susan Wilkinson

MIDDLE SCHOOL RECOGNITION

Year in Review |

LOWER SCHOOL RECOGNITION

The following awards were announced during the Lower School Recognition and Awards Ceremony on May 29. THE LINDA DUNVILLE AWARD Elise Tester

CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE Art: Johnathan Crosby, Asher Freeman, Cooper Ryland, Charlie Hardman, Grant McCann, Will Steele, Charlotte Hollis, Weezie Tate, Logan Vassas Spanish: Rylan Cheely, Talia Adkins, Cristian Berdichevsky, Natalie Gregoire, Elise Tester Physical Education/Sportsmanship: Hensley Pollicino, Aiden Love, Ruby Reynolds, Parker Webb Music: Hannah Akinfolajimi, Sam Tate, Campbell Reynolds, Evie Moore, Elinor Mundy Theatre: Jack Ivey, Emily SpiziriMcCandless, Austin Grizzard, Zuri Hataway, Quinn Wiles Library: Olivia Blair, Olivia Medley, Maddie Mawyer, Lorenzo Aliberti, Owen Brady

Year in Review

Computational Thinking Certificate of Excellence: King Daniels, Payton Heck, Zachary Blankley, Penn Kovach

Mrs. Silver’s class: Livvie Montgomery

GRADE 3 Mrs. Houston’s class: Lincoln Kovach Mr. Routzahn’s class: Lucy Williard Hands-on Equations Certificate of Excellence: Grayson McCandlish, Henry Ms. Zehfuss’ class: Emme Sisaithong Will, Quinn Gordon, Ryland Hart, Tucker SPIRIT LEADERS Moore, Beckett Gillam, Keene Wilson Hannah Akinfolajimi, Enzo Aliberti, LOWER SCHOOL Olivia Blair, Zachary Blankley, Rylan MARSHALS Cheely, King Daniels, Asher Freeman, Charlotte Gunderson, Jace Parsons, Natalie Gregoire, Austin Grizzard, Ryland Quincy Sullivan, Cathy Zhang Hart, Zuri Hataway, Payton Heck, Maddie Mawyer, Grayson McCandlish, Kudos to the following Spartans Livi Medley, Evie Moore, Tucker Moore, for sharing their time, talent, Elinor Mundy, Hensley Pollicino, and spirit with us! Campbell Reynolds, Ruby Reynolds, Weezie Tate, Quinn Wiles, Henry Will

SPELLING BEE WINNERS

The Steward School Spelling Bee Winner: Juliet Harris GRADE 5 Mrs. Bailey’s class: Cooper Ryland Mr. Coles’ class: Zuri Hataway Mrs. Oliff’s class: Quinn Wiles GRADE 4 Mrs. Kauffman’s class: Juliet Harris Mrs. Pumphrey’s class: John Lakin Trebour

COMMUNITY LEADERS Johnathan Crosby, Beckett Gillam, Charlotte Hollis, Aiden Love, Emily Spiziri-McCandless, Weezie Tate, Elise Tester, Logan Vassas, Parker Webb

BRYAN LAB AMBASSADORS Cristian Berdichevsky, Asher Freeman, Natalie Gregoire, Charlie Hardman, Payton Heck, Penn Kovach, Will Steele, Sam Tate, Weezie Tate, Keene Wilson

PROGRAM SPEAKERS Veterans Day Program: Olivia Blair, King Daniels, Jack Ivey, Hensley Pollicino Thanksgiving Program: Elise Tester Winter Program: Zuri Hataway and Evie Moore Grandparents Day Program: Ruby Reynolds and Quinn Wiles Fifth Grade Recognition: Cristian Berdichevsky and Campbell Reynolds

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN HELPERS Talia Adkins, Hannah Akinfolajimi, Zachary Blankley, Owen Brady, King Daniels, Quinn Gordon, Zuri Hataway, Maddie Mawyer, Grayson McCandlish, Grant McCann, Livi Medley, Evie Moore, Elinor Mundy, Hensley Pollicino, Campbell Reynolds, Ruby Reynolds, Sam Tate, Elise Tester, Quinn Wiles, Henry Will

LIBRARY HELPERS Rylan Cheely, Asher Freeman, Charlie Hardman, Payton Heck, Charlotte Hollis, Jack Ivey, Aiden Love, Maddie Mawyer, Livi Medley, Tucker Moore, Cooper Ryland, Emily SpiziriMcCandless, Sam Tate, Will Steele

LOWER SCHOOL RECOGNITION

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D ARTS

SENIOR ARTS COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

THEO HIRSCH School: The College of William & Mary Program: Music

KAMRAN MOHANTY School: The College of William & Mary Program: Film & media studies

Steward Choir Performs at Carnegie Hall In January, Middle/Upper School Choral Teacher Heidi Taylor and her students performed at Carnegie Hall. The 26 members of the choir performed Welsh composer Sir Karl Jenkins’ “Symphonic Adiemus,” which was written in 1994.

“shock, awe, disbelief, and gratitude. Sir Karl Jenkins wrote his entire concert in a nonexistent language, so each story we told was expressed through emotion alone. I was honored to meet such an accomplished person.”

“It’s a modern song using classical forms, and the lyrics have no meaning … instead, they are used as another instrument,” explained Ms. Taylor. “During rehearsals, we met Sir Jenkins … he’s a living legend!”

This was the second time that Ms. Taylor traveled to Carnegie Hall with students. She noted that making connections with international choir members made this year’s experience even more magical. “We served as interpreters to some of them,” she said. “It proved to me again that music is an international language.”

Lexi Turner ’28 said that being onstage at Carnegie Hall overwhelmed her with feelings of

Year in Review

JULIA RHAMY School: Pratt Institute Program: Visual arts

WYATT ROBERTS School: VCUarts Program: Theatre

JORDAN SOLOMON School: Dickinson College Program: Music

S T E W A R D ARTS

District Choir, Band, and Orchestra DISTRICT CHOIR MIDDLE SCHOOL Tabbi Akinfolajimi ’30 Isla Boege ’30 Rosalie Deasy ’30 Mary-Kate Hrabak ’31 Olive Langley ’31 Zoe Reynolds ’30 Fiona Simmons ’30 Lochy Voeks ’30

The Year in Theatre Steward’s theatre department delighted audiences with its 202526 performances. Superb acting, dancing, and singing, along with delightful costumes and creative set designs, charmed theatergoers. The fall play, “Murder’s in the Heir,” directed by Lower School Theatre and Upper School Acting Teacher Craig Smith, utilized a vote from the audience to determine the killer in this comic mystery. The winter production, “Rough Magic,” also directed by Mr. Smith, was an

SAVE THE DATES FOR STEWARD’S 2026-27 PERFORMANCES! November 5-7, 2026: “Cinderella”

action-adventure-fantasy in the tradition of “The X-Men.”

February 4-6, 2027: “Emma”

Middle School Theatre/Upper School Public Speaking Teacher Susan Sanford directed “Shrek, The Musical,” in the spring. In addition to Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona, Spartans in Middle and Upper School brought storybook characters such as Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, and the Three Little Pigs to life in this production, which featured inspired scenery and fantastical costumes.

April 22-24, 2027: “The Wizard of Oz”

UPPER SCHOOL Cooper Adams ’29 Faith Akinfolajimi ’29 Jordan Solomon ’26 Ainsley Bowlin ’27 Juliet Forlano ’28 Mila Hirsch ’29 Jennifer Lujan ’27 Zee Mehta ’29 Kaylee Morgan ’27 Dylan Olexy ’27 Carrigan Parsley ’29 Lexi Turner ’28 Davis Wert ’29 Rafi Zepeda ’26

ALL-VIRGINIA CHORUS Jordan Solomon ’26

DISTRICT BAND Laurel Kauffman ’30

REGIONAL ORCHESTRA “It’s so rewarding to see the hard work of our talented set builders, actors, and costume committee volunteers come together onstage,” said Mr. Smith. “Theatre is storytelling as a shared experience, and one that we hope our audiences are always excited to experience.”

George Guthrie ’29

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D ARTS

Community Celebrates Nature-Themed Art Walk On a beautiful spring afternoon, families and students from Lower, Middle, and Upper School filled the campus to enjoy the secondannual Art Walk. “Our goal is to have one day, one moment, when the entire community can celebrate our visual artists,” said Kristin Snellings, Upper School visual arts teacher. Lower and Middle School Visual Arts teacher Abby Klein added: “It’s also a space to gather and connect.” Student art from throughout the school year was displayed in the Paul R. Cramer Center for the Arts and all the divisional buildings. In addition to art for viewing, the Art Walk incorporated interactive elements. “Our theme was ‘taking a hike’ to honor the year’s schoolwide theme of nature,” shared Emily Wolfe, Lower School visual arts teacher. Much of the art on display reflected elements of nature. A nature-themed scavenger hunt led participants through the exhibits. Upper School students created a stamping station with nature drawings, such as bluebirds and monarch butterflies, using the Bryan Innovation Lab’s Glowforge printer. ArtLink volunteers collaborated with Director of Dining Services Anne Maury Haapala to create a popular trail mix sampling station. “We also partnered with the Bryan Lab team and the National Art Honor Society students to create an interactive nature loom,” Mrs. Snellings shared. “Community weaving was a way to display our connectedness.”

Year in Review

Steward and Spacebomb Release Collaborative Album “It couldn’t have been made anywhere else.” What is the sound of Steward? It’s children playing, athletes cheering, musicians practicing, innovators inventing, teachers leading, students performing, and more. As Spartans, these sounds are always music to our ears, but now they have been turned into true music. These tones have been woven together, integrated into students’ original compositions, and produced on a new musical album, “Steward x Spacebomb,” which was released this spring. (Use the QR code on the following page to listen to the album.) The album is a collaboration among Steward’s Bryan Innovation Lab, JK-12 students, and Spacebomb Studio, the local record studio of national renown. Spacebomb’s founder, Matthew E. White, was Steward’s first-ever Visiting Innovator in Residence. From August to April, Mr. White worked with students and Brad Kovach, Bryan Innovation Lab dean of engineering and technology, to record, edit, and produce the album. A group of seniors, including Theo Hirsch ’26, Jack Magrill ’26, Nathan Bridges ’26, and Joseph Wentzel ’26, met approximately every two weeks on the project as part of the Bryan Innovation Lab Assistant program. Another group of students spent Minimester as interns with Mr. White: Juliet Forlano ’27, Kate Bradley ’28, Kaylee Morgan ’27, and Jacey Turner ’27.

S T E W A R D ARTS

Outstanding Achievements by Steward’s Young Artists PERFORMING ARTS Michelle AndersonHaigler Music Scholarship: Jordan Solomon Performing Arts Book Award: Wyatt Roberts

CHORUS MR. WHITE SHARED THE FOLLOWING REFLECTION ABOUT THE PROJECT: “The concept was to record pieces of the whole school and collage them together to make an audio representation of the entire student body. In addition, we wanted to create spaces where individuals could shine. It’s essentially a classic “ensemble plus soloists” presentation but in a way you would only be able to do in a recording. We tried as hard as we could to show a fully representational sound palette of what happens at the school: the innocence of kindergarten music class and the advanced harmony of Upper School choir, all in a cohesive way. Along the way, there were exceptional students who showed their individual creativity — with voices or instruments, through composition, lyrics, melodies, and rhythms. And this isn’t always linear; it’s stacked on top of each other — which is a metaphor for a school day. Through all these different kinds of expressions — intuitive, improvised, compositional, formal, informal — and through so many age groups, I think we created something incredibly three-dimensional that is so uniquely representative of this year and this place. It couldn’t have been made anywhere else.”

Listen to the album!

Most Accomplished Grade 7 Chorus Student: Olive Langley Grade 7 Leadership Choral Award: Brielle Green Grade 7 Choral Conduct Award: Saryn Milesh Grade 7 Chorus Progress Award: Finn Crowley Most Accomplished Grade 8 Chorus Student: Rosalie Deasy Grade 8 Leadership Choral Award: Lochy Voeks Grade 8 Choral Conduct Award: Zoe Reynolds Choral Progress Award Grade 8 Students: Aaron Galpern Upper School Choral Director’s Award: Jennifer Luján Most Accomplished Upper School Chorus Student: Jordan Solomon Senior Recognition Award: AJ Bucco, Audrey Gunderson, James Heaton, Lindsley Ogilvie, Jordan Solomon, Tommy Wang, Rafi Zepeda

Upper School Choral Student Progress Award: Dylan Olexy

Most Accomplished Instrumentalist Award: Turner Hurst

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Most Improved Instrumental Jazz Soloist Award: Linkin Rose

Lower School Music Certification of Excellence: Hannah Akinfolajimi, Evie Moore, Elinor Mundy, Campbell Reynolds, Sam Tate

7TH GRADE

Most Accomplished Seventh Grade Instrumentalist: Ellie Mullis Seventh Grade Pit Orchestra Most Valuable Player: Maggie LaRoach Seventh Grade Musical Leadership: Mary-Kate Hrabak

8TH GRADE

Most Accomplished Eighth Grade Instrumentalist: Laurel Kauffman Most Improved Eighth Grade Instrumentalist: Parker Bowlin

UPPER SCHOOL

Most Accomplished Freshman Instrumentalist: George Guthrie Spirit and Leadership Award: Paul Gresock Musical Leadership Award: Jeffrey Sproull Most Improved Instrumentalist Award: Theo Hirsch

Riley Carter, Iris English, Miles Harris, Lindsley Ogilvie, Wyatt Roberts, Jordan Solomon, Thu Tran, Ashley Vanderbeck, Camden Welch, Lee Woodrum, Rafi Zepeda

VISUAL ARTS

Senior Award: Kenny Charles

Lower School Art Certificate of Excellence: Jonathan Crosby, Asher Freeman, Charlie Hardman, Charlotte Hollis, Grant McCann, Cooper Ryland, Will Steele, Weezie Tate

THEATRE

Lower School Theatre Certificate of Excellence: Austin Grizzard, Zuri Hataway, Jack Ivey, Emily SpiriziMcCandless

MIDDLE SCHOOL MOST IMPROVED ARTIST

Outstanding Newcomer: Nai Byrd, Kenny Charles, Claire DeFrancisco, Leah Frank, Tommy Inge, Raiden Liesfeld, Ellie Massino, Henry Ogilvie

7th: Liam Niemas, Ava Overman 8th: John Chupp, Harper Heck

DEDICATION TO THE ARTS

Outstanding Achievement in Acting: Emory Burns, Hope Garnett, Colman Lord, Jennifer Lujan, Saryn Milesh, Zoe Smith, Sydnee Stewart, Claire Stuckey, Lexi Turner, Avery Vorenberg, Campbell Vorenberg

7th: Penn Wilson, Arwen Wolmouth 8th: Emma Howard, Gavin Shepley

UPPER SCHOOL

Outstanding Newcomer Award: Whit Lyszyk and Ellie Massino

Outstanding Achievement in Technical Theatre: Greta Craig, Lucky Moore, Graylen Kafantaris Rambo

Outstanding Freshman Artist: Aaliyah Ladak

Outstanding Achievement in Theatre: Kayla Galpern, Theo Hirsch, Turner Hurst Outstanding Dedication to Theatre: Abby Calkins,

Excellence in Craftsmanship Award: Sam Herron Creative Expression Award: Kaitlynd Spangler Dedication in the Arts Award: Penn Arnold

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D ATHLETICS

SENIOR ATHLETE COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

ATHLETIC

BROOKLYN KAVANAUGH School: Bridgewater College Sport: Basketball

SAVE THE DATE!

TEX STINNETT School: Belhaven University Sport: Baseball

LILLY THOMAN School: U.S. Military Academy at West Point Sport: Basketball

Year in Review

Athletic Hall of Fame THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2027

To nominate an alum or supporter of Spartan athletics, contact alumni@stewardschool.org. Nominations are due by September 15.

S T E W A R D ATHLETICS

Athletics Highlights STATE TOURNAMENTS During the 2025-26 school year, nine Steward teams qualified for and competed in VISAA state tournaments. The varsity girls basketball team finished as VISAA DII state runner-up after a special run to the state championship game! Eleven Spartan athletes from eight sports earned AllState recognition.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ella Grace Saunders ’26

Lilly Thoman ’26

Basketball Standouts Named Scholar Athletes ALL Stars

Congratulations to tennis standout Emma Wang ’29, who was named VISAA DII State Player of the Year! Emma did not lose a single tennis match she competed in all season.

TCIS ACCOLADES During the 2025-26 school year, 24 student-athletes received All-TCIS Conference recognition in their sports. Thirteen Spartans earned 1st Team All-TCIS, and 11 earned 2nd Team All-TCIS. Emma Wang ’29 headlined the group by being named TCIS Player of the Year in girls tennis. She was also named the Most Valuable Player in the TCIS tournament! The varsity girls basketball team finished as TCIS Conference Runners-Up, and Coach Kara Bacile was named TCIS Coach of the Year.

Ella Grace Saunders ’26 and Lilly Thoman ’26 each received $2,500 scholarships at the Sports Backers/Richmond Times-Dispatch Active Living Leadership ALL Stars celebration held in May. The event took place at Richmond’s Hippodrome; Steward’s Assistant Director of Athletics and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Kara Bacile served as the keynote speaker. Throughout the year-long program, ALL Stars work in small groups with the support of a mentor. They attend educational sessions, engage in community service, and team up to address community needs through a capstone project. Lilly was awarded an additional $2,500 scholarship as the recipient of the Sports Standout award, which recognized her career as a Spartan athlete. In her senior year, Lilly was a first-team All-Metro girls basketball selection, and in 2026, she led the Spartans to a VISAA Division II state title game appearance. She will play basketball for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as she begins her college career. In her senior year at Steward, Ella Grace hit her 1,000th career point — an astonishing achievement. She played varsity for five years, and Coach Bacile noted, “She … was always the teammate who put everyone else first and did the hard work that made the team better.” In her keynote, Coach Bacile advised the ALL Stars to value the people who made their journeys special. “I am so proud of Ella Grace and Lilly,” she said. “They are exceptional athletes, dedicated scholars, and true leaders.”

Year in Review |

S T E W A R D ATHLETICS

Outstanding Achievements by Steward’s Student-Athletes

ALL-METRO AWARDS Girls Basketball: Lilly Thoman (first-team), Savannah Martin (second-team) Field Hockey: Piper Seeley (honorable mention)

ALL-STATE AWARDS Baseball: Brooks Johnson (first-team), Oliver McGregor (second-team) Girls Basketball: Lilly Thoman (firstteam), Savannah Martin (first-team), Kara Bacile (Coach of the Year) Field Hockey: Piper Seeley (second-team) Golf: Brennan Zide (All State) Girls Lacrosse: Gabby Marshall (second-team) Girls Soccer: Hanna Qureshi (first-team) Boys Soccer: Linkin Rose (first-team) Girls Tennis: Anne Soden Henceroth (first-team), Emma Wang (first-team, Player of the Year)

TCIS ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS Baseball: Brooks Johnson (first-team), Oliver McGregor (second-team) Boys Basketball: Niles Mason (firstteam), Enrique Ortega (second-team), Blake Watkins (second-team)

Year in Review

Girls Basketball: Lilly Thoman (firstteam), Savannah Martin (first-team), Ella Grace Saunders (second-team), Kara Bacile (Coach of the Year) Field Hockey: Piper Seeley (firstteam), Claire Sandine (second-team), Naomie Crosby (second-team) Girls Lacrosse: Gabby Marshall (second-team) Girls Soccer: Hanna Qureshi (firstteam), Annika Yaratha (first-team), Mila Rene (second-team) Boys Soccer: Andrew Gamache (first-team) Boys Tennis: Finn Meadows (second-team singles) Girls Tennis: Anne Soden Henceroth (first-team singles), Emma Wang (first-team, Player of the Year), Anne Soden Henceroth and Emma Wang (first-team doubles) Girls Volleyball: Molly O’Sullivan (first-team), Mia Burrus (secondteam), Clara Cason (second-team)

SCHOOL AWARDS The Ray Tate Spartan Club Scholarship: Jeffrey Sproull and Lilly Thoman The Steward School 110% Award Winner: Ella Grace Saunders The Steward School Janet Rice Coaches Award Winner: Tex Stinnett

The James Vauter Buis ’92 Athletic Scholarship Winner: Lilly Thoman The Janet L. Rice Spartan Club Scholarship Award Winners: Gabby Marshall and Linkin Rose

TEAM AWARDS BASEBALL VARSITY BASEBALL Spartan Award: Brooks Johnson BASKETBALL MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL BLUE Offensive MVP: Will Willets MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL GOLD MVP Award: Jake Gallo MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL WHITE 110% Award: Asher Solodar MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL GRAY Coaches Award: Owen Merritt

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL Most Valuable Player: Niles Mason Bucket Getter: Blake Watkins Playmaker Award: Enrique Ortega VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL Most Valuable Teammate Award: Lilly Thoman Ultimate Spartan: Ella Grace Saunders Breakthrough Award: Brooklyn Kavanaugh CHEERLEADING MIDDLE SCHOOL CHEERLEADING Coaches Award: Kaili Lovvorn Spirit Award: Sadie Oliver CROSS COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY MVP: Parker Bowlin 110% Award: Everette Rostocil Coaches Award: Sammy Hayden

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL SPARTANS Best Teammate: Mekhi Love

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Most Outstanding Runner: Ava Diatelevi 110% Award: Arwen Wolmuth Coaches Award: Emma Kate Cantrell

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL BLUE Spartan Award: Tabbi Akinfolajimi Coaches Award: Anna Kate Durr

VARSITY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY MVP: Jack Weldon Coaches Award: Jeffrey Sproull 110% Award: Caleb Morrison

JV BOYS BASKETBALL Offensive MVP: Ford Sprouse X-Factor Award: Mateo Blanco Floor General Award: Brooks Lee

VARSITY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY MVP: Karsen Creager Coaches Award: Abby Calkins 110% Award: Presley Letellier

S T E W A R D ATHLETICS FIELD HOCKEY MIDDLE SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY Spartan Award: Fiona Simmons Most Improved: Ryan Littlefield MVP: Isla Boege VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY MVP: Piper Seeley Most Improved: Claire Sandine Spartan Award: Gracie Hayden GOLF VARSITY GOLF MVP: Brennan Zide Co-Rookie of the Year: Holden Teague Co-Rookie of the Year: Brady Webb LACROSSE MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE MVP: Ellie Houston Most Improved: Tabbi Akinfolajimi Coaches Award: Lilly Kersey MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS LACROSSE Offensive MVP: Michael Limmer Defensive MVP: Parker Bowlin Spartan Award: Sutton Pollicino VARSITY GIRLS LACROSSE Most Improved Player: Parker Yocom Rookie of the Year: Claire Sandine Spartan Award: Greenlee Murray VARSITY BOYS LACROSSE Outstanding Defender: Paul Gresock MVP: Burke Jennette Heart of Our Team: Caleb Morrison SOCCER MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER Spartan Award: Madelyn Griffin Defensive MVP: Lochy Voeks Coaches Award: Brooke Frankenburg MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER BLUE Golden Boot: Gray Bernier Golden Ball: Liam Turner Golden Glove: Cam Turner MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER GOLD MVP: Tripp Oliff

Most Improved: Archer Gorbutt Spartan Award: Liam McCarthy VARSITY BOYS SOCCER MVP: Linkin Rose Leadership Award: Lucky Moore Spartan Award: Gavin Proctor VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER: Most Valuable Attacking Player: Mila René Most Valuable Defensive Player: Drew Swift Spartan Award: Piper Seeley TENNIS MIDDLE SCHOOL CO-ED TENNIS Most Improved: AJ Pelligrino Sportsmanship Award: Morgan Manry MVP: Liam Wieker Coaches Award: Megan Welch Most Improved: Liam McCarthy VARSITY BOYS TENNIS MVP: Ollie Lentz Coaches Award: Finn Meadows VARSITY GIRLS TENNIS Coaches Award: Sam Herron MVP: Emma Wang Most Improved: Juliet Forlano VOLLEYBALL MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL BLUE MVP: Brooke Frankenburg Most Improved: Violet Shane Most Outstanding Hitter: Finley Oliff MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL GOLD Most improved: Claire DeFranciso Coaches Award: Alana Ross JV GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Spartan Award: Faith Akinfolajimi Energy Leader Award: Caroline Hewit Most Improved: Brielle Green VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Spartan Culture Award: Molly O’Sullivan Spartan Sword Award: Mia Burruss Spartan Shield Award: Clara Cason

Year in Review |

FAC U LT Y & S TA F F R E C O G N I T I O N

Kristen Householder Receives 2026 Cramer Award The eighteenth annual Paul R. Cramer Award was presented to Upper School Science Teacher Kristen Householder at the 2026 Board, Faculty, and Staff Awards presentation. The award is given in memory of the former Steward head of school to a faculty member who epitomizes balance, perspective, and humor. Ms. Householder also received a grant for professional development. “Kristen was fully herself from the very first day she interviewed on campus,” said Head of School Dan Frank as the audience viewed photos of Ms. Householder throughout the years on a screen onstage. “Energetic, smart, kind, curious, effervescent, irrepressible!” Reflecting on Ms. Householder’s life and career, Mr. Frank said that her “boundless energy, persistent positivity, and authentic desire to help others come across in all areas of her life.” He continued, “Teaching is the thing that centers her and brings together all her loves: the science itself, bringing data to life, contact with others, radiating joy and passion and curiosity.”

For the Love of Reading

Year in Review

“I am always happy to share my love for books with students,” said Fifth-Grade Teacher Heidi Bailey. “It is so rewarding to match a student with a book that sparks their joy of reading.” That sentiment inspired Mrs. Bailey to earn a library media add-on endorsement from UVA/UVA Wise, a 24-credit program, which she completed in May 2026. The program includes a 200-hour internship.

“This [library media add-on endorsement] is something I have wanted to do for a long time, ever since I was a public-school teacher,” said Mrs. Bailey. “Over the past several years, I worked with Mrs. Smith on fifth-grade library activities such as ‘book tastings’ and research. She saw how fulfilled I was by the entire library experience and encouraged me to pursue my dream.”

Most of her internship hours were done under the guidance of Lower School Librarian Carlee Smith; she also put in 25 hours with Middle/ Upper School Librarian Crystal Hamlin. In addition, a visit to St. Christopher’s Lower School gave her a vantage point of how other school libraries operate.

The UVA/UVA Wise program was a bit challenging (“I hadn’t used a reference section of a library since college,” she shared). It was also tremendously rewarding. “Helping Spartans find just the right book during my Lower School library internship allowed me to get to know more students!” said Mrs. Bailey.

FAC U LT Y & S TA F F R E C O G N I T I O N

A Pathway to Meaning Middle School Division Assistant Ben Brown had long considered pursuing a degree in mental health. “It took me a while to decide that it was the path for me,” said Mr. Brown, who this fall begins an M.S. in mental health counseling program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Brown, who joined the Steward community in 2024, said, “I realized that the greatest source of meaning in my life is my relationships, and counseling presents a mechanism to anchor meaning-making as the focus of my work.” Mr. Brown, who will continue to work at Steward while taking classes at VCU, looks forward to learning the research-based nuts and bolts of how counseling works and noted, “I am most excited to hone my ability to listen, empathize, and communicate.” As a division assistant, Mr. Brown’s relationships with students, faculty, and staff contributed to solidifying his plan to pursue counseling. “I am uniquely positioned to be a supportive adult to students,” he explained. “I’m not a teacher, an administrator, or a parent. That’s where the real work of my job takes place: being a consistent, trusted presence. The experience of seeing the impact I can have on students was a major step in realizing the work I most want to do.”

Fostering a Sense of Belonging

“Serving as the freshman class coordinator has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work because it centers on something I care deeply about: helping ninth graders navigate one of the biggest transitions of their school careers,” said Upper School English Teacher Janel Nellen. In her coordinator role, she works with colleagues to support the social, emotional, and academic well-being of freshmen. She also helps to monitor the “social climate” of the grade, plan advisory programming, and coordinate gatherings — from movie nights to field trips — that help students develop a sense of belonging. In noting that ninth grade is a year of “tremendous change,” Ms. Nellen said, “Students should never have to navigate that change alone. We want them to feel supported, knowing they have people who believe in them and care about them.” Ms. Nellen, whose work begins long before the first day of school, also opens her classroom to prospective students during eighth-grade visiting days and participates in new-student orientation in August. “These opportunities allow me to begin building relationships with students before they officially arrive,” she said. “I hope that when they arrive on the first day of school, they recognize a caring face. Starting Upper School can feel overwhelming, and I want students to know from day one that they have someone on their team.” She added, “Ninth graders bring so much enthusiasm, curiosity, humor, resilience, and heart to our community, and it is a privilege to support them.”

Year in Review |

FAC U LT Y & S TA F F R E C O G N I T I O N

The following remarks were shared by Lower School Director Becky Groves at the June 3 Peer Recognition ceremony. SANDY DACUS

Lower School Music Teacher | Retiring after 4 years “Sandy has meticulously planned and directed Lower School winter and spring music programs, which have consistently been highlights of the school year. This past Grandparents Day program, in particular, was absolute magic. From inspired song choices and clever choreography to the artful costuming and all the little extra touches, Sandy pulled out all the stops.

She has an incredible way of directing, infusing every rehearsal and performance with joyful energy that encourages every child to shine. Beyond the stage, Sandy has woven music into the daily fabric of our school. Sandy, thank you for nurturing a deep appreciation for music in our students and for enriching our community with your talent.”

CATHERINE HATHAWAY

Kindergarten Teacher | Retiring after 21 years “Over the past 21 years, Catherine has helped build a home for countless families. As we celebrate her retirement, we reflect on a career defined by quiet consistency, unwavering compassion, and a deep love for our youngest learners. She understands that early childhood education is often unpredictable, and she navigates those moments with a joyful spirit that makes her classroom a

safe place for academic and social growth. She teaches her students much more than letters and numbers; she models resilience and responsibility. To her colleagues, Catherine has been far more than a coworker. She’s been a trusted mentor, a loyal friend, and a foundational pillar of the Lower School. Her grace and dedication have left an indelible mark on this community.”

KATHY McELFRESH

Lower School Technology Facilitator | Retiring after 27 years “Kathy has guided hundreds of students through an ever-evolving digital landscape, from the first days of internet use in the Lower School to the implementation of 1:1 iPads. But Kathy never just taught technology. She transformed her classroom into a vibrant launchpad for computational thinking, making robotics and computer science come alive with creativity and hands-on projects.

Year in Review

She has a gift for recognizing the exact moment a creative spark ignites in a young mind, and she knows exactly how to nurture it. To her colleagues, Kathy is a cherished friend, always ready with a helping hand, whether solving a technical issue or sharing a word of encouragement. We are grateful for her dedication, her joy, and the immeasurable impact she has had on our community.”

FAC U LT Y & S TA F F R E C O G N I T I O N

CAROLYN R. BRANDT

PEER RECOGNITION AWARDS

FAREWELLS

At the end of each school year, faculty and staff are asked to nominate co-workers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty throughout the school year. Congratulations to the following winners!

Ryan Burgess, Melissa Calkins,

MOVING ON: Christen Fratter, Alyssa Kovach, Brad Kovach, Susan Sanford, Ann Robbins, Corbin Orgain, Andy Routzahn, EJ

Yaa Agyekum, Kara Bacile, Suzanne Casey,

Watkins, and Jalyn Wheatley

Christen Fratter, Mary Hopkins, Peter Hurley, Diana Niemas, Emily Oliff, Corbin

RETIRING:

Orgain, Taylor Palkovics, Will Pattie,

Sandy Dacus, Catherine

Shahwar Qureshi, Ann Robbins, and

Hathaway, and Kathy

Julia Tompkins

McElfresh

SERVICE AWARDS These faculty and staff members are recognized for their milestone years of service at The Steward School.

5 YEARS: Colleen Carpinelli, Kathryn DiPasqua, Kelly Frankenburg, Joseph Hardcastle, Amy Harris, Meredith Harris, James Haske, Kendall Hrabak, Kelly Lester, Craig Redmond-Cilley, Jentae Scott-Mayo, Tony Sorrell Jr., Danny Spiziri, Sarah Wark, and Jalyn Wheatley

10 YEARS: Melissa Calkins, Peter Hurley, and Kimberly Wharram

15 YEARS: Wendy Aldaz Moran, Elizabeth Crenshaw, Drew Forlano, Becky Groves, Katy Koppanyi, and Chad Montgomery

20 YEARS: Eric Hopp

Year in Review |

ALUMNI

Alumni on Campus

1 1

2 YOUNG ALUMNI SOCIAL There were hugs all around at this annual event, which coincided with a varsity basketball game in January. Special thanks to the host committee: Anna Carpinelli ’25, Kennon Cummings ’21, Sabina Mohanty ’23, Connor Murray ’24, Zak Qureshi ’24, Morgan Shigley ’25, Cassidy Snow ’22, and Cole Tyler ’23.

2 A LUMNI INSPIRATION DAY

The sixth annual Alumni Inspiration Day was fantastic: a career fair with alumni and parents, followed by 12 breakout sessions for seniors. We are so grateful to the volunteers who were part of this day! Jay Bach, Harry Baron ’01, Chris Beach, Will Bearden, Kathleen Bobbio, Paul Cantor, Katherine Chambers ’16, Aaron Chupp, Tara Daudani, Kyndall Diamond ’19, Dionne Dow, David Durr, Mike Edwards ’03, Alex Fabiato ’19, Gracie Goodpasture ’19, Graham Hickerson ’89, Greg Holzgrefe, Sarah Austen Holzgrefe ’13, Kristie Inge, Trip Ivey, Lindsey Jennings ’04, Windy Jennings, John Keefe ’15, Kate Key, Chris Koerner ’17, Rebekah Lowenstein, Hollie Sue Mann,

Year in Review

Kathleen Mearns, Davis Mohr ’17, Morgan Mohr ’17, Blair Moring ’15, Anna Pastore ’21, Kim Penberthy, Liz Perkins, Rusty Perkins ’99, Will Perkins ’01, Molly Perknison, Amanda Shepley, Dorothy Suskind ’92, Caroline Willhite ’18, Mary Warden Good ’07, and Corbin Ryland ’01. 3 A LUMNI DECADES SOCIAL

This year’s event was for the classes of 19771999, and we had excellent representation from all eras. Thank you to our host committee: Jamie Brock Benson ’93, Jimmy Benson ’92, Denise Featherston Dietz ’81, Robert Dietz ’81, Brian McGehee ’97, and Mary Harvard Nolde ’93. 4 A LUMNI AND PARENTS

ART EXHIBIT

Steward alumni and parents took over the Carolyn R. Brandt Gallery for a winter exhibit, which was celebrated with the annual Alumni Parent Social. Thanks to all our alumni and parent artists: Angie Allen, Rhona Arenstein, Paula Delfs, Jim DePasquale, Aynsley Fisher,

Carley Hamilton, Greg Holzgrefe, Ada Long ’25, Meridith McCarthy, Jake McKenna, Andy Orgain ’25, Todd Parsons, Tikia Reynolds ’99, Morgan Smartt ’25, Amy Speer ’04, Blair Sutton Van Selow ’05, Gray Tuggle ’77, and Walter Wash ’00. 5 U PPER SCHOOL

LEADERSHIP PANEL

The annual Leadership Panel, featuring alumni and parents, included a knockout group: Andrew Gary ’12, Christine Paschal ’09, Glenn Rhodes ’11, and Gerald Walsh (father of Grady ’22 and Wesley ’24). 6 P OPSICLES ON

THE PLAYGROUND

An early summer treat for our alums and their kids! 7 D ONNING OF THE

KENTE CEREMONY

The weekend prior to Graduation, several alumni participated in the Donning of the Kente ceremony (see page 27), and Alaina Jefferson ’22 was a featured speaker.

ALUMNI

7 Year in Review |

ALUMNI

2025-26 ALUMNI BOARD

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Harry Baron ’01, President Susan Mire ’14, Vice President Chloe Staples ’14, Secretary

YEAR 2 OF THE STEWARD ALUMNI PODCAST In season two of the alumni podcast, host Harry Baron ’01 had some fascinating conversations with Steward alumni and friends.

Michael Stein ’20, Treasurer

MEMBERS AT LARGE Taylor Brewer ’02 Andrew Caldwell ’13 Will Farmer ’15

Campus Secrets with Shahwar Qureshi ’90

Grammy Awardwinning music producer Michael Congdon ’00

Braeden Glancy ’15 Laura Weisiger Leech ’02 Delaney Turnage Mescall ’92 Meg White Montgomery ’05 Frazer Orgain ’95 James Schreiber ’05 Kam Smith ’16

Recognition of Alumni Association Board Members

New Alumni Association Board Member Spotlights

We extend our gratitude to three exceptional members of the Alumni Board whose terms have ended. Heartfelt thanks to Harry Baron ’01 for seven years of service, and Will Farmer ’15 and Delaney Turnage Mescall ’92, who are rolling off the board after two years. We’re grateful for their hard work!

Year in Review

The Class of 2020’s 5th reunion

Alumni Achievement Award winner Minh Khoa D. Tran ’12 and Preston Huennekens ’12

Former Athletic Director Janet Rice

Our first video interview: Natalie Bendheim ’14; includes student co-hosts Emory Burns ’27 and Claire Stuckey ’27

Young entrepreneurs Alex Fabiato ’19 and Ryan Odibo ’18

The Alumni Association will welcome seven new members to the Alumni Board for the 2026-27 year: Mike Edwards ’03, Alex Fabiato ’19, Sarah Austen Holzgrefe ’13, Ethan Hopp ’21, Amy Lane ’11, Molly Sauer ’01, and Ned Trice ’98.

Classes ending in 1 and 6 will celebrate reunions during Homecoming Weekend (October 16-17). Please contact alumni@stewardschool.org to learn more about organizing your reunion!

Alumni Inspiration Day interviews: Graham Hickerson ’89 and Caroline Willhite ’18, along with her mom, First-Grade Teacher Sabra Willhite

ALUMNI

CONTINUING THE TRADITION: STEWARD LEGACIES

This fall, Steward will welcome five new legacy students to our growing list of families with multiple generations of Spartans. Students whose parents or grandparents graduated from Steward are considered legacies. As our alumni community grows, so will the number of families who are Spartans for life!

2026-27 LEGACY STUDENTS

Piper Levin ’40 and Eliza Levin ’37, children of Kaitlin Meyer Levin ’07

Enzo Aliberti ’33, son of Rob Aliberti ’98 Maddie Baron ’32, daughter of Caitlin Rossmoore Baron ’01 and Harry Baron ’01 Mac Ellington ’40, daughter of Madison Ellis Ellington ’09 Stryker Graves ’40 and Greenlee Graves ’34, children of Catherine Woody Graves ’98 and Adam Graves ’98 Lisa Harless ’40, Mark Harless ’39, and Frances Harless ’36, children of Veronica Tharp Harless ’09 Campbell Hrabak ’34, Sam Hrabak ’32, and Mary-Kate Hrabak ’31, children of Kendall Tate Hrabak ’04 Helen Izac ’36, daughter of Cynthia Johns Izac ’01 Lawson Kurfees ’40 and Finley Kurfees ’37, children of Ashlee Healey Kurfees ’01

Luke McGehee ’32, son of Brian McGehee ’97 Rivers Montgomery ’37 and Livvie Montgomery ’34, children of Meg White Montgomery ’05 Stella Overman ’32 and Ava Overman ’31, daughters of Brittney Bertozzi ’05 Hanna Qureshi ’27, daughter of Faisal Qureshi ’92 Ella Rhodes ’37, daughter of Glenn Rhodes ’11 Cooper Ryland ’33, son of Corbin Brierre Ryland ’01 Lena Smith ’38, daughter of Beth Farmer-Smith ’09

STEWARD FAMILY CONNECTIONS

NEWEST LEGACY GRADUATES

Pheona Blumberg ’38, daughter of Steward attendee Jessica Blumberg

Luke Gallagher ’26, son of Leslie Muldowney Gallagher ’90

Claire Defrancisco ’32, niece of Richard Wheeler ’06

Kamran Mohanty ’26, son of Shahwar Qureshi Mohanty ’90

Cali Garvey ’39, niece of Cameron Jarvandi ’20 and daughter of Steward attendee Sarah Jarvandi Levi Huff ’38 and Lucy Huff ’36, nephew and niece of Claire Stout ’10 Jax Phillips ’34, son of Steward attendee Shara Buxton Phillips Quincy Sullivan ’34, son of Steward attendee Dave Sullivan Mila Hirsch ’29, daughter of Steward attendee Meggie Tronfeld Hirsch

Will Steele ’33, son of Taylor Steele ’85 Lucas Wiseman ’35, son of Melissa Beck Wiseman ’01

Year in Review |

ALUMNI

Stew-Artifacts In honor of the school’s 50th graduating class in 2026, we started wondering if we could find an original diploma. Thankfully, Gray Tuggle ’77 had his readily available! We then wondered what other treasures from the early days still exist on campus. Remember these?

CIRCA 1976 Cheerleading uniform

This uniform is framed and currently on display in the Upper School, but it was first used in the 1976-77 school year.

1977 Diploma

On June 10, 1977, three seniors graduated from The Steward School: Caroline Davenport, Billy Moncure, and Gray Tuggle.

1972 Campus master plan When Steward was in the development stages in 1972 — before the campus at the intersection of Gayton and Ryandale Roads existed — this rendering was the master plan for the future.

Year in Review

ALUMNI CIRCA EARLY 2000s School sign

This sign was used at the corner of Ryandale and Gayton Roads until 2019, when the Parents Association gifted the sign that now announces the entrance to campus.

1980 Homecoming poster

This was the first dance held at Steward, and it was sponsored by the Steward Boosters. Senior Heidi Steeber ’81 was crowned Homecoming queen.

CIRCA 2005 Spartan mascot

This costume was used as the school’s mascot until 2014, when a new-and-improved (smiling) Sparty was introduced.

1997 Oversized check

This game show-style check was presented at the school’s 25th anniversary reception on September 19, 1997. It was the gift that transformed Steward from a small school to a vibrant campus.

Year in Review |

Class Notes 1

10 11

Year in Review

1 Debbie Goldstone

8 Drew Coker ’09 and his

Horwitz ’90 caught up with John Knorr ’89 and his family in January.

wife, Alexis, welcomed baby Ozzy James on April 30, 2025.

2 3 The Hanover County Fire-EMS Department announced in the spring that two employees were being promoted: Matthew Stainback ’03 was promoted to the rank of assistant chief, and Blake Frostick ’03 was promoted to the rank of battalion chief.

Claire Kirchmier Sims ’14 welcomed a daughter, Evelyn Mackenzie, on April 21, 2026; she joins big brother Charlie.

Lindsey Jennings ’04 is the director of philanthropy for ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. She reported that Steward’s Cancer Awareness Club was among the top fundraising teams that participated in ASK’s 5K event in May 2026, raising over $5,000.

Anna Fuhr ’14 earned her MBA from Emory University in May 2026.

4 Katy Kasper ’07 married Paul Brown on September 20, 2025, at Wootton Hall in Lincolnshire, England. Christine Kasper Flanagan ’09 was her sister’s matron of honor. The couple lives in Wysall, England. 5 When performing with a local band at St. Mary’s Woods Retirement Center in May 2026, Middle/Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher John McAlister ran into Mary Warden Good ’07, who is the assistant activities director for the community. 6 Alexander Tharp ’08 and his wife, Molly, welcomed a baby girl, Janie Cooke, on April 7, 2026. 7 Jamie Adams ’09

married Tyler Hickok on September 28, 2025, and celebrated with a ceremony and reception on April 11, 2026. Liz DeLaney Boschen ’08, Mary Martha DeLaney ’08, and Kemis Noble Rawls ’08 were in the wedding party.

9 Michael Sims ’13 and

10 Mark Tharp ’13 and

Allison Mitchell Tharp ’15 welcomed their second baby, a daughter named Louise Lawson, on May 10, 2026.

Mary-Kate Kelleher Graziosi ’14 and her husband welcomed twin girls in December 2025. 11 12 Cabell Harper ’14 married Riley Williams on September 28, 2024. They welcomed a baby girl, Harper Elizabeth, on October 30, 2025.

Holly Highfill ’14 married Josh Smith on May 13, 2026. 13 Braeden Glancy ’15 married Bailey Lien on December 20, 2025.

Mason Mire ’15 and his wife, Haley, welcomed a baby boy, Graham Fitz-Hugh, on December 9, 2025. 14 Megan Norman ’15

married Bishop George on March 20, 2026. The couple was introduced by Sam Trepp ’15, who officiated the wedding. 15 Tom Stack ’16 and Olivia Emmich were married at the Virginia House on November 1, 2025. They live in Chattanooga, TN, with their two-year-old golden retriever, Honey. 16 Chris Koerner ’17 married Emma Cooper on

May 9, 2026. The wedding party included best man Davis Mohr ’17; groomsmen Jack Clifton ’17, Tucker Diveley ’17, and former Steward student Connor Hughes; and bridesmaid Morgan Mohr ’17. 17 Cole Richardson ’17 and his wife, Mary, welcomed a baby boy, Carter David, on May 22, 2026. 18 Ethan Stein ’17 married Caroline High on May 24, 2025. Michael Stein ’20 was the best man; groomsmen included Davis Mohr ’17, Chris Koerner ’17, and Will Harrison ’17. 19 John Orgain ’18 married Korey Ellen on November 7, 2025. The wedding party included best man Peter Orgain ’18, and groomsmen Sam Barden ’18, Alex Fabiato ’19, and Blake Hollier ’18. Other Steward attendees were Shawn Brown ’18, Rob Henkel ’08, Harrison Johnson ’20, and Ryan Odibo ’18. 20 Jabari Atkinson ’20

is an account executive in the Athletic Department at Wake Forest University. Mark Carnes ’20 graduated as a Distinguished Graduate (top 10% overall) and the top economics major from the US Air Force Academy. In summer 2026, he started the formal ENJJPT program, flying T-6A aircraft in Class 27-06 and looking to fly the F-16 Viper upon completion. 21 In January 2026, Will Eiben ’20 and Sydney Johnson ’20 were employees at Homes.com in Richmond. In total gross revenue sold in 2025, Sydney placed first and Will placed second, making them the #3 overall team in the company.

Sydney has since moved to California. 22 Allison Langenburg ’20 graduated in May 2026 from the Harvard Kennedy School with a masters degree in public policy/ international government affairs. She was also promoted to First Lieutenant in the Air Force and is currently at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas completing the intelligence officer course. Upon completion this winter, she will be stationed as a combat-ready intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance professional. 23 George Goldstein Toscano ’21 and his wife, Ana Sofia, were married on Dec. 20, 2025. The couple lives in New York City. 24 Jama Ibrahim ’22 graduated from the University of Mary Washington in May 2026. 25 Alaina Jefferson ’22 graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in neuroscience in May 2026. She was profiled in an article on the university’s website, “From brain circuits to birth equity: how arts and science helped shape Alaina Jefferson’s journey.” 26 Erin Langenburg ’22 graduated summa cum laude with degrees in biology and math from the College of William & Mary. Her senior class led the Tribe women’s swim team to a CAA championship. She is pursuing her doctorate of physical therapy at VCU. 27 Gates Orgain ’24 was a VMI “rat” when his class marched in Virginia’s inaugural parade in January 2026.

Memorials Terry Adams, father of Jamie Adams Hickok ’09, November 1, 2025 Vincent Cassel Adamson, Sr., father of Cassel Adamson ’92 and grandfather of former students, December 12, 2025 Erin Anderson ’04, April 9, 2026 Rick Anderson, husband of retired teacher Bonnie Anderson and father of former student, June 16, 2026 Vanessa Bearden, mother of Trooper Bearden ’21, Henry Bearden ’23, and Stewart Bearden ’26, April 24, 2026 Miri Eynan, mother of Libey Eynan ’21, May 2026 William “Chip” Loving Farmer, father of Beth Farmer-Smith ’09, Kate Farmer Walker ’12, and Will Farmer ’15, May 20, 2026 Susan Rand Hazell, mother of Margaret Hazell Tilson ’00, December 26, 2025 Gloria Levermore, mother of Chris Levermore ’88 and former student Paul Levermore, March 30, 2026 Edith Willodean “Deanie” Massey, mother of Kelly Massey Owens ’86, April 4, 2026 Whitney Robeson, sister of Griffin Robeson ’20 and Payton Robeson ’23, March 7, 2026 John Rodriguez, former substitute teacher and husband of retired teacher Melaine Rodriguez, April 28, 2026 The information on these pages has been submitted, listed publicly, or is printed with permission from the family. Please contact the Development Office at alumni@stewardschool. org or (804) 740-3394 if you have information to share.

Year in Review |

VO LU N T E E R A P P R EC I AT I O N

Stew-pendous in Every Way: Parents Association Volunteers Did you know? Every Steward parent is a member of the Parents Association! PA President Krissie Wilson (parent of Keene ’33) loves the enthusiasm that PA volunteers bring to everything they do. “It’s exciting when parents exchange ideas and let their creativity shine. The energy is incredible!” she said. “I also love that PA volunteers can tailor their involvement to what best suits their schedules. Whether it’s helping to plan a fundraiser, scooping ice cream at a spring gathering, or organizing Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week, we love it when parents step into this fun, fulfilling role.” PA members work together to build community and raise funds that benefit all aspects of the school through events such as the Gala and Auction, Fall and Spring Socials, Bingo, and SpartaFest. Funds raised throughout the year support an annual gift to the school. Parents Association volunteers can also show their Spartan pride by preparing surprises for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. In 2025-26, the PA raised over $173,000 at the Gala! This year’s gifts from the PA will help fund a variety of items to enhance the school experience, including furniture for the Junior Commons in the Upper School and two outdoor play structures in the Bryan Innovation Lab for Lower Schoolers. In addition, the PA is setting its sights on Phase One of the Middle School’s new playground space.

Year in Review

Learn more! Scan this QR code or contact Development Associate Amy Sherman at amy.sherman@ stewardschool.org.

VO LU N T E E R A P P R EC I AT I O N

Behind the Scenes Magic: The Spartan Club Steward’s Spartan Club volunteers help make great things happen. They manage the school’s yearly golf tournament, work the concession stand during games, and serve on events sub-committees. Their dedication supports our studentathletes, coaches, and blue-and-gold fans! The Spartan Club is 81 families strong; members pay annual dues and are invited to volunteer.

During the 2025-26 school year, the Spartan Club provided funding for:

➤ Middle School lacrosse helmets

➤ athletic merit scholarship

➤ screen for the baseball diamond

➤ coaches’ gear and appreciation gifts

Scan the QR code to learn more about the Spartan Club.

➤ streaming equipment

➤ concession stand improvements ➤ leadership-building workshop ➤ media scoring table for the gym

➤ video sports-analysis membership ➤ weight room equipment We are grateful to our Spartan Club officers: Melissa Johnson

(president), Mike Proctor (vice president), Debra Wert (treasurer), Nichole Jenkins (secretary), Dr. Yaa Agyekum, Susan Atkinson, Kara Bacile, John Haar, Windy Jennings, Jamie King, Bruce Secrest, and Neil Wert.

We’ve Got Mascots … Yes, We Do! From the first day of school to graduation, Steward’s Spirit Committee makes sure that our campus shimmers with blue-andgold pride! Co-chairs Colleen Carpinelli (Spartan Shop manager and parent of Anna Carpinelli ’25 and Addison Magin ’27) and Carley Hamilton (assistant director of marketing and communications and parent of Richmond ’30 and Phillip ’32) encourage the Steward community to show their school spirit throughout the year. School spirit ramped up even more in 2023, when Steward welcomed its second mascot, Spartina, who joined longstanding mascot Sparty. “Spartina was a welcome addition,” said Ms. Carpinelli. “Together, these two best friends exude spirit wherever they go!” Students, faculty, staff,

and parents can volunteer for the Order of the Shield by portraying Sparty or Spartina at games, pep rallies, and special events. Bonus: Spartina’s suit design allows more volunteers to portray her, significantly increasing student engagement. “We had two students attend a mascot camp in summer 2025 at the Richmond Squirrels’ original stadium (The Diamond),” said Ms. Hamilton proudly. “They threw the first pitch at a Squirrels game and had fun learning some cool moves from the team’s mascots, Nutzy and Nutasha. Plus, we had a recordbreaking seven graduates from the Class of 2026 who had been members of the Order of the Shield ... talk about something to celebrate!”

Year in Review |

VO LU N T E E R A P P R EC I AT I O N

The Heart of Art With unparalleled enthusiasm, Steward’s ArtLink volunteers are a palette of creativity!

showed up with enthusiasm, creativity, and a willingness to help wherever needed.

“This year, the ArtLink committee proudly supported Dinner and a Show decorations, concessions, and flower sales; choral and instrumental concerts; five BlackBox performances; pumpkin sales during SpartaFest; and the popular schoolwide Art Walk,” said Kelly Rambo (parent to Graylen ’30 and Sawyer ’34), who co-chairs the committee along with Julie Forbes (parent to Emily ’27). Behind every event was a group of dedicated volunteers who continually

Ms. Rambo added, “All Steward parents are invited to join this energetic team. We are already looking forward to all that next year will bring!” Save the date! Join us on November 5 for Dinner and a Show on the opening night of “Cinderella.”

Scan this QR code to learn more about ArtLink.

The Annual Fund Committee

Did you know? The Annual Fund bridges the gap between tuition and the true cost of a Steward education. The Annual Fund Committee, powered by dedicated parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty, and staff, works to educate our community about the fund’s role. They encourage support for the programs that give students opportunities to thrive, including academics, athletics, the arts, technology, and professional development. During the 2025-26 academic year, 17 committee members connected with families, shared treats on Giving Tuesday and Valentine’s Day, and wrote thank-you notes to donors. They also played a critical role in our annual donor participation challenge campaign, Giving Games, which was — true story! — filled with fairy-tale-themed surprises. These steadfast Spartans exemplify what Steward does best: They build connections, inspire generosity, and are committed to making the school experience better than ever.

Year in Review

VO LU N T E E R A P P R EC I AT I O N

STEWARD WELCOMES New Board Members

Thank you to the 2025-26 Board of Trustees who have completed their terms of service: Carolyn Brandt, Jane duFrane, Mark Morton, and R. Jay Poling. We welcome Betsy Kersey and Frances Wilkinson to the 2026-27 Board of Trustees.

BETSY KERSEY Betsy Kersey brings nearly two decades of experience in human resources and operations, supporting organizational leadership, people strategy, and operational effectiveness. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where she earned a degree in human development with a minor in psychology; she later founded and operated her own HR consulting firm. Throughout her career, Betsy has served on a variety of nonprofit boards and committees, viewing civic engagement as an essential part of leadership. She recently focused her professional energy on volunteer leadership within the school community, serving on numerous school committees and as the 2024-25 Parents Association president at Steward. Betsy and her husband, Michael, have two daughters, Ellie ’27 and Lilly ’30.

FRANCES WILKINSON Frances Wilkinson is a brand marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in sports marketing, event management, brand management, project management, strategic sponsorship negotiation, and marketing analysis. She is the president and CEO of Wilkinson Sports Advisory, an independent marketing firm. She is also an adjunct professor in Georgetown University’s Sports Industry Management Graduate Program, and she serves on the advisory board for Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Sport Leadership. Frances spent 10 years as a senior director at WME IMG, managing brand marketing for a stable of blue-chip clients. Before WME IMG, she was a senior program manager at The Martin Agency’s MVPGROUP. She holds a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky. Frances lives in Richmond with her husband and twin daughters, Harper ’32 and Susan ’32.

Year in Review |

SNAPSHOTS

Gala

You can download additional photos from these events and more on Steward Snaps!

Year in Review

SNAPSHOTS

Winter Spirit Week

Bingo

Year in Review |

SNAPSHOTS

LS Grandparents Day

Year in Review

SNAPSHOTS

Spring Ice Cream Social & Book Fair

Year in Review |

SNAPSHOTS

Field Day

Spring Spirit Week

Year in Review

SNAPSHOTS

Beach Day

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

Year in Review |

SNAPSHOTS

Trustee Social

Year in Review

Why do our families choose Steward? Year after year, our key metrics continue to improve.

IN OUR ANNUAL SURVEY, YOU SHARED YOUR INSIGHTS

100%

99%

94%

95%

of respondents are satisfied with Steward’s delivery of its mission

of respondents are satisfied with Steward’s value

would recommend Steward to another family

of respondents are satisfied with their Steward experience

at Steward. d ve ri th y ul tr s ha n so ur O the school has provided a

confidence, and He has grown significantly in takes, learn to explore new things, make mis him for ce spa e rtiv po sup e, saf ul for the successes. We are very gratef from them, and celebrate his experienced here. environment and care he has

PARENT RATINGS ON KEY ASPECTS OF STEWARD 5-point scale

4.4  Academic challenge for your children 4.5  Atmosphere, culture, and community 4.7

Campus facilities

4.8  Campus settings and grounds 4.2  Connection to the Steward community 4.4  Curriculum continuity across the divisions 4.5  Graduate placement record 4.5  Quality of communications from school leaders 4.6  Reputation 4.7  School spirit 4.2  Teacher communication about your child(ren)’s progress

TOP 5 REASONS NEW FAMILIES CHOOSE STEWARD Academic Excellence Small Size Faculty and Staff Enthusiasm Individual Attention and Personalized Instruction Community TOP 5 THINGS PARENTS SAY STEWARD SHOULD NEVER STOP DOING The Known Child & Individualized Attention Small Class Sizes & School Community, Traditions, & Belonging Focus on the Whole Child & Emotional Well-being Exceptional Faculty & Staff

11600 GAYTON ROAD RICHMOND, VA 23238 stewardschool.org

THIS YEAR, WE KICKSTARTED OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN …

d n e k e e W

and that was only possible because of YOU! Your stewardship makes the school experience better than ever, inspiring students to be change-makers and leaders.

OCTOBER

16 -17

Help us inspire the future!

T R U C K S A N D S H U C K S , S PA RTA F E S T, C L A S S R E U N I O N S , HOMECOMING DANCE, & MORE!

For more info visit: S T E W A R D S C H O O L . O R G / H O M E C O M I N G