The Colonnade 2026

Colonnade

School life is enriched when community members are part of campus life.

Dear Steward Community,

As you settle in to read this issue, I invite you to see it not just as a collection of stories, but as a living tapestry of the values that define the Steward experience.

OUR VALUES ARE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, CARE & RESPECT, CIVIL DISCOURSE, INDIVIDUALITY, INNOVATION, AND INSPIRATION.

Our community has confirmed these core values as part of the strategic plan, Compass 2028. The definitions were built with input from many Spartans and represent the best in us. I invite you to scan the QR code to read the full definitions on our website.

In the August 2025 Year in Review magazine, we first published “I Am a Spartan”: our values translated into simple, actionable language that guides how we behave, both as individuals and in community, every day. Now, halfway through this school year, “I Am a Spartan” is a part of all aspects of school life, including classroom conversations, curricula, discipline, events, budget, and more.

Currently, cross-divisional committees are developing variations of the language specific to each constituency within our community. These documents will serve as our guiding star and a tangible, daily reminder of who we aspire to be and what we hold dear. They will become the lens through which we see ourselves: who we are and who we hope to become as Spartans living our core values.

As you read this magazine, you’ll see examples of “I Am a Spartan” coming to life across campus. There are also stories of our alumni living these values within thriving careers in athletics, the arts, and business. Thank you for being an essential part of the Steward community, where our shared values serve as the guiding light for all we achieve together.

DAN FRANK, HEAD OF SCHOOL

ADMINISTRATION

Dan Frank, Head of School

Lisa Dwelle, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

Bobby Pollicino, Director of Upper School

Susan Atkinson, Director of Middle School

Becky Groves, Director of Lower School

PUBLICATION STAFF

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.

I AM A SPARTAN

Spartans prioritize ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

I engage in the educational process, celebrate accomplishments, and remember that there are as many ways to learn as there are people. Knowledge is one of my most powerful tools.

Spartans show CARE AND RESPECT

I demonstrate the power of kindness and empathy by thinking carefully about the impact of my words and actions on all members of my community.

Spartans engage in CIVIL DISCOURSE

I have respectful dialogue with my fellow community members, remembering that understanding different perspectives leads to growth. I will honor the thoughts and opinions of others by speaking and listening with care.

Spartans’ INDIVIDUAL

STRENGTHS

enrich our community.

I embrace my individuality with confidence and honesty. I recognize that valuing my individuality goes hand in hand with treating others with dignity.

Spartans INNOVATE.

I understand that today’s classroom is my opportunity to prepare for tomorrow’s world, and I welcome an atmosphere of creative exploration and critical thinking.

Spartans inspire and Spartans are INSPIRED

I believe that inspiration is the life of our school and sparks positive change in each of us. This happens within and beyond the classroom, through relationships forged in class, clubs, teams, casts, and other collaborations.

Sharing Their Expertise

Steward faculty presented at the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) annual conference, held in November at Collegiate School. We are proud to have had so many faculty presenters at the conference.

Dr. Yaa Agyekum (director of the Center for the Advancement of Learning and Lower School assistant director) presented “Culture Beyond Handbooks: Live It!” in which she shared examples of how faculty and leaders shape school culture. She also provided tips on how to foster a more inclusive and values-aligned school culture.

Eliza McGehee (Upper School history teacher and Leadership Program coordinator), Scottie O’Neill (Upper School math teacher and Leadership Program assistant coordinator), and Dr. Austin Council (collegiate assistant professor, Virginia Tech, and frequent collaborator with the Leadership Program) presented “Excellence in Student Leadership: Self, Group, and Community.” They spoke about equipping students with the skills, self-awareness, and hands-on training they need to be successful leaders.

in School Conferences,” an exploration of how to build trust and deepen engagement to support student growth and development.

Megan Young (Bryan Innovation Lab dean of programs and innovation strategy) presented “Nature Play School” and shared how Steward is building community through free play in a weekly social group for young children.

The Steward School’s Foundation Board of Directors is responsible for the financial health of Steward’s $28 million endowment. The board is composed of a small group of volunteer members with expertise in investment strategy as well as school administrators.

The Foundation Board approves an annual grant to the school based on the market value of the endowment. These funds from the Foundation are part of the school’s annual operating budget. This grant enables the school to fund programs that align with the mission and strategic plan, Compass 2028.

The Foundation Board members provide an important service to the school by sharing their expertise and making personal financial contributions as valued and generous donors.

The 2024-25 Foundation Board members are supporting the school this year in a special way.

“As a board, we value the priorities set forth in Compass 2028,” said Steve Henderson, chairman of the Foundation Board. “When a unique request for professional development on civil discourse arose, we came together as

individuals to help fund the training. School leadership, including our board, sets the community’s tone. Our personal participation speaks volumes about this project’s relevance and importance.”

Thanks to a generous gift from the 2024-25 Foundation Board members, all faculty and staff will have the opportunity to participate in training about “Crucial Conversations.” The school is exceptionally grateful to the Foundation Board for the gifts of their time, expertise, and personal financial support.

Special Thanks to the 2024-25 Foundation Board

Steve Henderson (Chair)

Don DeLaney

Larry Eiben

Larry French

Dan Ludwin

Welly Sanders

John Sherman

Mac Stuckey

Bill Waddell

David Wright

Stewarding the Future: Foundation Board Members Invest in Faculty Excellence Crucial Conversations

Effective dialogue starts with the heart

In the summer of 2024, faculty and staff read “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High.”

The book, recommended by Steward’s strategic plan committee on civil discourse, offers tools for navigating important conversations. Last fall, faculty and staff gathered in the Lora M. Robins Theatre for a workshop led by J. Lynn Jones, a master trainer for Crucial Learning, the book’s corresponding training organization.

An engaging speaker, Mr. Jones advised faculty and staff to “start with heart” when embarking on potentially stressful conversations. “Focus on what you really want,” he said, and stressed the importance of seeking mutual purpose in one’s personal and professional conversations.

Following his talk, faculty and staff participated in breakout sessions led by Steward’s “Crucial Conversations” trainers Robbin Hataway, Kendall Hrabak ’04, Karen Hudson, and Danny Spiziri. The four were the first faculty members trained in both the “Crucial Conversations” methodology and as trainers. Training will be held for additional faculty and staff throughout the year; the first 15 people were trained in October. Civil Discourse is one of Steward’s core values, and ensuring these skills among our community will enable faculty to integrate the “Crucial Conversations” principles into their classrooms.

We are grateful to the members of the 2024-25 Foundation Board of Directors for their generosity, which made this training possible.

Virginia Tech Professor Expands Role as Mentor to All Leadership Program Students

Steward’s Upper School Leadership Program has expanded its partnership with Dr. Austin Council, collegiate assistant professor at Virginia Tech, to offer students an unparalleled, multi-year mentorship experience. Dr. Council, who has visited Steward for the past several years, will now work with Steward students in all three years (or cohorts) of the Leadership Program.

He will return to campus in April to conduct workshops with program participants about topics such as identifying core values, dialogue, and the relationship between leaders and followers. Further enriching the experience, juniors will again travel to Virginia Tech in March for an overnight field trip to engage with multiple departments across the university’s campus, as they have done for the past two years. The Virginia Tech trip is underwritten by the Wheless Family Stewardship Fund.

Understanding Entrepreneurship: Students Partner with CarMax on Real-World Business Challenge

Local automotive resale giant CarMax recently asked Upper School students a big question: What new business venture should CarMax explore?

The students’ partnership with CarMax is part of the Entrepreneurship Studies program, in which students are briefed on a real business challenge by employees of a local business. The students then spend 6-8 weeks working with the company to research, ideate, and then present business pitches. Six student groups presented their ideas for consideration to CarMax representatives in November.

This project exemplifies how Steward’s Entrepreneurship Studies program offers opportunities for hands-on learning and skill building, as well as the possibility of earning a diploma endorsement that will benefit students as they apply for college and pursue careers.

Nearly 40 Upper School students are participating in the program. In October, the juniors and seniors among the group toured CarMax’s Midtown Design & Innovation Center. They were led by alumni parent Rusty Jordan (Jessica ’18 and Jack ’23) and alumnus Parker Wright ’18, who are both part of CarMax’s Financial Services and Products division. Mr. Jordan and Mr. Wright guided the students throughout their project this fall, in coordination with the program’s coordinators, Upper School teachers Angela Coppola and Jen Maitland

“Participating in Entrepreneurship Studies will help prepare me for my future because I will gain experience in work-like environments, learn how to problem solve in real-world situations, and overall broaden my knowledge of entrepreneurship and business,” shared Stella Cole ’27

Dr. Council conducted a formal research study on Steward’s Leadership Program last year (his findings won an award at the Association of Leadership Educators Annual Conference), and he is now writing a journal article on the results of the study.

Upper School teachers and program leads Eliza McGehee and Scottie O’Neill presented with Dr. Council last fall at the 2025 Virginia Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference. The session was called “Excellence in Student Leadership: Self, Group & Community.”

“For students, it is rare to be mentored by the same thought leader across multiple years of their development,” said Ms. McGehee. Ms. O’Neill added: “Dr. Council’s workshops and the immersive Virginia Tech visit provide time for self-reflection, meaningful dialogue, and inspiration that will shape how students lead at Steward and beyond. This sustained mentoring prepares our students to be effective, thoughtful leaders today and in their future careers.”

Whirled Peace Day

Whirled Peace Day honors Pinwheels for Peace, a national project for art teachers and students. Lower Schoolers created pinwheels (symbols of peace) in their art classes, and on September 22, they “planted” them near the Lower School playground. An especially charming part of this year’s event was a get-together for senior students and their JK/K buddies. Buddies spun pinwheels, blew bubbles, and drew with sidewalk chalk.

Each year on Whirled Peace Day, the Steward community collects donations to present to a local organization. For the second consecutive year, the school partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Families in all divisions donated snack items and other supplies to benefit RMHC. In all, three carloads of donated items were collected!

Seniors Recognized for Outstanding PSAT Scores

Congratulations to Jordan Solomon ’26, Thu Tran ’26, and Christian Vanderbeck ’26, whose remarkable PSAT scores earned them recognition in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Jordan, Thu, and Christian were celebrated by teachers, classmates, and the College Counseling team on October 8.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a competition among high school students that is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Students enter the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen of over 1.3 million entrants each year.

Thu and Christian each scored in the top three percent of all test takers in the nation and were named Commended Students, and Jordan’s score on the PSAT placed him in the top one percent of all test takers in the nation. Jordan is currently in the running to be a finalist, which would make him a National Merit Scholar. We are so proud of these exemplary Spartans!

Inspired Connections

In November, students in grades 2-8 explored a range of career interests and engaged in experiential activities at Steward’s Future Me Fair. In the Bryan Innovation Lab, the expo-style event featured volunteer presenters — parents, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends of Steward — who shared their professional experiences and expertise with Spartans.

The event was designed as an interactive experience: Students were given suggested questions to guide their conversations as they visited the booths and tables. This structure aligns with how students learn at Steward – through exploration, connection, and active learning.

School Counselor Jentae Scott-Mayo, who organized the fair, said, “The Future Me Fair was intentionally designed as a hands-on approach to encourage curiosity, meaningful interaction, and authentic, real-world learning.” Presenters — including an epidemiologist, traffic engineer, nurse anesthetist, industrial designer, and attorney — were grouped into categories that reflect Steward’s core values (academic achievement, care & respect, civil discourse, individuality, innovation, and inspiration) and helped students make connections between what they are learning in school and their future goals. “We are grateful to our hardworking presenters,” said Mrs. Scott-Mayo, “who suggested actionable steps that students can take as they explore their possible career paths.”

Be a part of Spartan life!

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED in THE STEWARD SCHOOL

Know what makes Steward extra special? YOU! We love when community members are part of campus life. There are so many ways to get involved, and when you do, you enrich your connections to our students, teachers, parents and grandparents, alumni, and more. Experience the magic of blue and gold spirit!

JOIN IN

FUN WHEN YOU… Be a part of Spartan life!

THE

CONNECT!

• at Dinner and a Show before a theatre performance

• at Nature Play School

• at parent and alumni coffees

• at an athletic game

• at SpartaFest, Trucks and Shucks, Spring Social and more

HELP OUT!

• be a PA class, grade-level, or division representative

• provide game-day snacks for athletic teams

• provide snacks for cast and crew during play rehearsals

• help plan Dinner and a Show

• volunteer for Lower School classroom parties and field trips

ATTEND!

• spirit nights with professional sports teams

• athletic events on campus

• Parent Speaker Series

• theatre and musical performances

• Parents Association meetings

SHARE!

• your family traditions

• your expertise on a particular topic

• your creative talents

• career tips with Leadership and Entrepreneurship students, at the Future Me Fair, and on Alumni Inspiration Day

SPARTICIPATE!

• in spirit events at restaurants and stores

• with the Parents Association at community events and fundraisers

• in creating spirited messages along the athletic fields fence

• with ArtLink at shows and performances

• in the Order of the Shield as a mascot

• at the Bryan Innovation Lab

• with the Spartan Club in our concession stand

Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic

Teeing up for a great cause

At the 22nd annual Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic, held at Independence Golf Club in October, 118 participants enjoyed friendship, blue-and-gold swag, and lots of great golf. Named in memory of Ray Tate, the founding member of the Spartan Club, this fundraiser has brought hundreds of golf enthusiasts together throughout the last two decades to benefit the school’s athletics program. This year’s Classic raised almost $75,000.

Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the event supports two Ray Tate Student-Athlete Scholarships, which are awarded to seniors who exemplify athleticism and community involvement. Congratulations to this year’s recipients, Jeffrey Sproull ’26 and Lilly Thoman ’26. The additional funds raised at the Classic enable the Spartan Club to purchase equipment, uniforms, and other items for our student-athletes.

Thank you to Golf Committee members Windy Jennings, Melissa Johnson (Spartan Club president), Jamie King, and Neil Wert; Vice President Mike Proctor; Treasurer Debra Wert; and the 20 volunteers who worked at the tournament for teaming up to ensure a fantastic day for golfers. And a special Spartan shoutout to the generous companies and individuals who sponsored the Classic!

GOOD SPORTS

Spartan Club volunteers are blue-andgold champions! Members pay annual dues and are invited to volunteer at Steward’s annual golf tournament, in the concessions stand during home games, and on special events subcommittees. In the 2024-25 school year, the club provided funding for:

• AirCAT volleyball training machine

• field tarp for water remediation on the baseball field

• lawn mower for fields

• new sideline chairs for the gym

• equipment for our athletics trainers

• weight room equipment

• a pilot leadership-building workshop for the varsity girls basketball team

• Hudl video sports analysis membership

• coach appreciation gifts

Spartan Alums Go Pro

NIC ENRIGHT ’15

Team: Cleveland Guardians Position: Pitcher

Alma Mater: Virginia Tech

Mr. Enright’s impact on the mound helped lead the Spartans to the program’s first state championship in 2014. As a Steward senior in 2015, Mr. Enright was the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for Virginia. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 2015, but opted instead to play college baseball at Virginia Tech. After Virginia Tech, he signed with the Cleveland Guardians and made his Major League debut in 2025. In his first Major League season with Cleveland, Mr. Enright finished with a 2-1 record with an ERA of 2.03 in 31 innings pitched.

For Steward athletes, love of the game doesn’t end when they hang up their Spartans jerseys. Many of our Upper School athletes go on to play at the collegiate level. In fact, the class of 2025 had a record-setting 11 college players out of 69 seniors. Recently, three young alums have signed professional contracts.

SHERESE PITTMAN ’21

Team: Young Angels - Košice, Slovakia Position: Forward Alma Mater: Tulane University

Ms. Pittman is the only basketball player at Steward to post 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds in four seasons. In her junior year, she helped lead the varsity girls basketball team to the program’s first state championship and was named VISAA DII State Player of the Year. She went on to play for JMU and Stony Brook University, and finished her collegiate career at Tulane, where she was named to the AAC All-Conference First Team. Currently, Ms. Pittman is averaging 14.4 ppg and 10.8 rpg for Young Angels - Košice.

EFTON REID III ’20

Team: Kobrat of the Korisliiga, Finland

Position: Center

Alma Mater: Wake Forest University

Mr. Reid was an ESPN Top 20 recruit during his final year as a Spartan (when he also reached the 1,000 point mark). He received various offers from colleges and universities across the country after graduating early from Steward and spending a post-grad year competing for IMG Academy. He ultimately played for the Louisiana State Tigers, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Mr. Reid spent the summer with the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Summer League before signing his rookie contract with Kobrat of the Korisliiga in Finland.

The Soundtrack of Steward

What does a day at Steward sound like? A year?

That is the question before Matthew E. White, the Bryan Innovation Lab’s first-ever Innovator in Residence, and his JK-12 collaborators.

This year marks the launch of the Innovator in Residence program, an initiative that invites creative professionals to collaborate with the Steward community over an extended period. This initiative is part of our strategic plan, Compass 2028.

“Unlike short-term visits, this residency model allows for deeper, more targeted work with smaller groups of students and faculty — building lasting connections among innovation, collaboration, and learning,” said Brad Kovach, Bryan Innovation Lab dean of engineering and technology.

Mr. Kovach and Mr. White are leading an ongoing exploration of sound, nature, and human creativity. Together with students and the broader Steward community, they are capturing the voices, rhythms, and ambient sounds that define daily life on campus — transforming them into musical

and artistic expressions that reflect the spirit of Steward. Sound captures this fall included everything from Lower School students on the playground and cowbells at a cross-country meet to classroom sounds and custom music composed by students.

The project will culminate in a community-made album composed entirely of Steward-sourced sounds and performances — an evolving portrait of what it means to learn, create, and connect through sound.

“Our goal at Steward is to inspire our students’ futures,” Mr. Kovach said. “We have learned from Mr. White that anything you can learn, anything you’re interested in, you can do in the music world, from math to technology to marketing to fine arts … anything.”

A Whodunnit with a Twist

Steward’s fall play, “Murder’s in the Heir,” showcased Spartan talent and offered a special treat for the audience. The play’s unique ending, utilizing a vote from the audience, determined the killer in this comic murder mystery. After a tyrannical billionaire gathers his family and employees to announce the contents of his will, he delivers the bombshell: He informs them that they will receive a very small amount so that he can pursue a rather questionable method of keeping his money.

Directed by Lower School Theatre and Upper School Acting Teacher Craig Smith, “Murder’s in the Heir” delighted theatregoers and featured a cast and crew of 26 students.

“The actors and crew worked tirelessly for weeks,” said Mr. Smith. “Audiences loved the interactive aspect of the play, which kept actors on their toes and added a heightened sense of mystery to each performance.”

Alumni Careers in the Arts

VISUAL ARTS

Like many teenagers, William “Bunt” Young ’82 was fascinated with film and television; with an internship and part-time job at WCVE (now VPM) by the time he graduated from Steward, his career was launched. After 45 years in the business, he’s a three-time Emmy Award-winning (for technical team remote work) cinematographer and adjunct professor at VCUarts Cinema. Mr. Young’s résumé includes roles as the director of photography and cinematographer for dozens of commercials, TV series, documentaries, and films, in addition to time as part of a traveling production company. Some of the items on his list of favorites: shooting the Indianapolis 500 from inside the pit, the unearthing of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus for “Opening the Tombs of Golden Mummies Live,” 36 episodes of the crime series “Wicked Attraction,” and seasonal scenery for the film “The New World” with director Terrence Malick. Mr. Young considers himself a “mixed bag” of experience, and now enjoys the relative steadiness of teaching; in sharing his wisdom with aspiring cinematographers, he advises them that even in an era of AI, “Don’t get discouraged. There’s still a place for anyone who wants to tell a story.”

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

On paper, Jared Pease ’10 is a working musician and industry professional. In reality, he’s a rock star and a businessman. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston, he moved to New York City and played the drums as a touring/ studio musician for several years. He was also briefly a bartender, often working at events until 11 p.m., then going to jam sessions until 3 or 4 a.m. He jumped at a few opportunities to work with several Grammy-winning producers through record labels, including one with an over-the-top “Whiplash” style, which led to an interaction that Mr. Pease considers a formative moment in his career. “[The instructor] said to me, ‘You’re capable. You’re just too much in your own head.’” Despite setbacks for performers during the COVID pandemic, he continued to play in multiple bands and settings while he pursued a master’s degree in music business at NYU, which he completed in 2025. He now works in metadata management at Swell, a music synchronization library; as the business manager for Immediate Family Music; and as a private instructor. He says the hardest part of working in the music industry is keeping up with trends and technology. After having to learn carpentry, upholstery, music law, and more, Mr. Pease believes in a mantra he learned from Beyoncé’s former drummer, Nikki Gillespie: “If you’re gonna be a musician, you have to be willing to do anything.”

VOCAL PERFORMANCE

Stephanie Mann ’93 has been performing on stage since the age of 15. She takes on three or four shows a year in addition to a fulltime job as the office manager and bookkeeper at Powers Music School in Belmont, Mass. She majored in theatre at Brandeis University, then focused on voice opera at Boston Conservatory for graduate school. In contrast to other sub-genres of the arts, she believes that the business has not changed much in her three decades of performing. As a performer, Ms. Mann focuses on musical theatre or operas with a few plays thrown in —“I miss the music when I do plays.” She is an operatic soprano and says that while most of those roles go to younger performers, she’s learning to shift into other opportunities that suit her voice. Her most recent roles include Alice Beineke in “The Addams Family,” Phoebe D’Ysquith in “A Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder,” Cherubino in “The Marriage of Figaro,” Tobias Ragg in “Sweeney Todd,” Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni,” and Mother Abbess in “The Sound of Music.” When not on the stage or at work, she also teaches voice lessons to teens and adults.

MUSICAL THEATRE

Ally Dods Keefe ’16 jokes that her full-time job is auditioning. She says she usually completes 60-100 auditions per year, most of which are virtual, though she prefers in-person when possible. In the last five years, she has performed throughout Virginia, adding, “I’m lucky Richmond has a thriving arts community that allows me to work [locally] as much as I can,” including “9 to 5” with her former Steward director, Susan Sanford Mrs. Keefe travels to New York City frequently for auditions and callbacks; she admits that it can be a difficult and humbling career because most auditions turn into rejections. Between contracts, she works as a barista because she needs flexibility to attend auditions or take a leave of absence while working on a show. She also takes voice and dance lessons as often as possible and dabbles in theme park entertainment, including Kings Dominion’s live shows. In the latter half of 2025, her performances included “Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812” at Richmond’s Firehouse Theatre and the role of Betty Haynes in a production of “White Christmas” at the Riverside Center in Fredericksburg.

Inspired by Nature

THE THEME FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR IS NATURE, and faculty have woven purposeful, meaningful experiences into the curriculum to strengthen students’ connections to the natural world. These lessons have taken root at every grade level and across all disciplines. Students have sung and acted outside. They have sketched, measured, analyzed, and created as late summer gave way to fall and then winter. The following pages showcase a small sample of the countless ways students and faculty are exploring nature this school year.

2028

Strategic Plan Alignment

The Nature theme was proposed by an ad hoc group working on strategic plan initiatives related to sustainability, led by Megan Young, Bryan Innovation Lab dean of programs and innovation strategy. The Program Steering Committee, a cross-divisional team of academic leaders, approved it.

This theme aligns with three initiatives in Compass 2028:

Expand the Bryan Innovation Lab program and impact

Seek ways to use the campus in ways that support sustainability

Care and balance: health and wellbeing

“We’re excited about incorporating our schoolwide theme of nature in all aspects of Steward life. Success will be measured not just in knowledge gained, but in how we feel. This year, we will get outside more, disconnect, slow down, appreciate, feel a sense of awe, and maybe discover a new passion! We want to share with our students a connection with a lifelong resource — one that nurtures their well-being, fosters a relationship with the natural world, and empowers them to build a sustainable future.”

—MEGAN YOUNG, Bryan Innovation Lab dean of programs and innovation strategy

Bryan Innovation Lab

Jennifer Pharr Davis was our fall Bryan Innovation Lab Visiting Innovator. Ms. Pharr Davis is a renowned longdistance hiker, author, and conservationist who engaged our school community in conversations about resilience, exploration, and the transformative power of the outdoors. She spent the day on campus before leading a community hike at a nearby park. In 2011, Ms. Pharr Davis became the first woman to complete the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail in 46 days (an astonishing 47 miles a day on average), a world record. Throughout her hiking career, she covered more than 14,000 miles of trails across six of the seven continents (“Antarctica is just too cold for me!”), started her own business, and authored 10 books.

Every summer, a group of cross-divisional faculty gather for Bryan Innovation Lab Week. During this time, they exchange ideas and think ahead to the upcoming academic year, discussing innovative ways to teach and inspire their students. This year, the professional development opportunity, which featured workshops, brainstorming sessions, and presentations, focused on nature.

Lower School

Abby Klein’s Grade 5 art students explored the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama this fall, as part of a series of “Pumpkin Palooza” lessons. Ms. Kusama’s art is deeply intertwined with nature, part of her lifelong fascination with plants, flowers, and the cycles of nature that began in her childhood spent at her family’s plant nursery. Nature serves as a central inspiration for her signature motifs, such as pumpkins, flowers, and polka dots.

“Creating Kusama-inspired pumpkin collages and clay lanterns gave our fifth graders a hands-on way to connect her story to their own creativity,” Ms. Klein said. “It was a joyful way to explore art, creativity, and the natural world.”

Students in Junior Kindergarten-Grade 2 explored their curiosity about Virginia’s native trees with Lower School Visual Arts Teacher Emily Wolfe. Students matched native tree names with their corresponding leaf shapes, then chose their favorite leaf to create for a collaborative installation. They practiced paintbrush care, line recognition, and color blending to complete a largerthan-life representation of a native leaf. The final project was displayed in the Lower School hallway, creating a warm and inviting environment that reminded students each day of their connection to the natural world around them.

Middle School

Community Week offers Middle School students experiences beyond the traditional classroom. Students traipse through nature trails, collaborate in team-building activities indoors and out, tap into their creativity, connect with friends, and immerse themselves in new ways of thinking — at times while high up on a climbing wall or ropes course. Grades 7 and 8 students attended overnight trips at outdoor camps near Charlottesville and Roanoke. Grade 6 students stayed closer to home, but also engaged in outdoor activities.

As part of Middle School English Teacher Mary Hopkins’ Poetry Walk, teachers in all divisions chose their favorite poems to display along the Bryan Innovation Lab trail on colorful boards. As students walked, they read the poems — some quietly, some aloud — and then discussed them as a group. The students then analyzed the poems, and, using lessons learned, sat down outside the Lab to pen their own poems.

Upper School

As part of Steward’s partnership with Innovator in Residence Matthew E. White of Spacebomb Studio, Upper School students are recording sounds all over campus, including in nature. Their “sound captures” include sounds both natural and manmade. The recordings are part of a yearlong project that will culminate with a full musical album in the spring.

Upper School Teacher Kristen Householder’s AP Psychology students built models of neurons as part of their study of the brain. Neurons are the basic functional units of the nervous system, and creating these models — built entirely out of materials found in nature — deepened their understanding of how neurons communicate via electrical impulses. The students foraged for their building materials on the Bryan Lab grounds.

Alumni Achievement Award

The annual Alumni Achievement Award, presented at Convocation each year, recognizes outstanding members of the alumni community. This year’s award was presented to Minh Khoa D. Tran ’12, and retired faculty member Kate Strickland presented the award. Mr. Tran, who is from Vietnam, joined the Steward community as a sixth grader immediately after moving to the United States. He quickly found his place, making friends, excelling in sports and academics, and developing a deep appreciation for the arts.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Tran recalled his early days at Steward, noting that they weren’t always easy. Thanks to Steward’s warm community and caring teachers, though, he learned to navigate what he calls “life’s surprises.” He went on to say that three types of courage have guided him over the past 20 years since he first set foot on the Steward campus.

The courage to be different, to fail, and to be vulnerable have been touchstones in his life, he said. “Steward gave me the space to grow, to stumble, and to find this courage, and it’s given you that same opportunity,” Mr. Tran told the students. “These qualities embody the Spartan spirit — bold, resilient, and true. My challenge to you is this: Embrace what makes you unique, learn from your setbacks, and build trust through vulnerability. These principles will keep you grounded in who you are, just as they have for me. I am proud to stand with you today. Go forth, be courageous, and let your Spartan spirit shine.”

After graduating from Steward, Mr. Tran earned his B.A. from Georgetown University and his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles. He had a successful legal career before returning to his birthplace to serve as vice chairman for DUYTAN Recycling, a family-owned business and Vietnam’s top plastics brand. As a second-generation family business operator, he is committed to supporting a global circular economy. Mr. Tran also serves as a board member of a non-profit that provides services to people with developmental disabilities.

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

In August, former Alumni Board President Mary Harvard Nolde ’93 shared the great news with fellow Spartans: Steward’s Alumni Legacy Scholarship is officially endowed. Generous donors exceeded the initial fundraising goal of $100,000 by more than $9,000!

The funds will be invested, and the income will contribute to the money available to award as scholarships, the first of which will be awarded in 2026. In the first year, four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded, for which the children and grandchildren of Steward alumni will be eligible.

The Alumni Board has an annual goal of raising additional funds to increase the scope and amount of the scholarships.

2025 Class Reunions

The classes ending in 0 and 5 celebrated reunions last fall! While most groups held their gatherings at Trucks and Shucks, the Class of 2010 got together at Brambly Park in Scott’s Addition, and the Class of 2020 planned a party during the holidays.

Reflections on the 12 Alumni Employees by Their Former Teachers “Most Likely to Work at Steward”

GRACE INGE ’21

Development

Associate - Alumni

At the end of ninth grade, Grace wrote me a sincere and thoughtful thank-you note for all she learned in our Honors English 9 class. She had been quiet in class, so I was happy to hear that our class made an impact on her. It was a reflection of the lovely, kind person she was then and still is today! — Melissa Calkins, Upper School teacher

Grace was an incredible artist. I still have a magnificent scrapbook that she made during her tenth-grade year to show what she had learned in the course. — Stephanie Arnold, Upper School teacher

EMMA ZEHFUSS ’17

Third Grade Teacher

I remember Emma wrote a beautiful piece about the book “The Things They Carried,” documenting a necklace she had from her grandmother and the strength she inherited from her. — Stephanie Arnold, Upper School teacher

Emma Zehfuss seamlessly wedded pleasant poetic lines of decency, grace, and kindness in class each day. In her quiet and unassuming manner, she possessed the vital root flame of curiosity to launch into the deep end in studying history to widen her understanding and historic sensibility, always aware that the true treasure of the journey in school is gaining knowledge and understanding with a sense

of gratitude. She understood the congenital good of studying, reading, and thinking to enlarge the world of the mind. Although Emma was somewhat quiet and self-effacing, she was notoriously goodnatured, gracious, composed, and positive. Emma was a young lady of humble dignity and understated magnanimity, lyrically wedded together, poetically so. — Chip Chapman, former teacher

BRAEDEN GLANCY ’15

College Counseling Administrative Assistant Braeden was voted “Most Likely to Work at Steward” and took the superlative picture sitting at my desk! — Gardner Mundy, Upper School teacher and dean of students

Braeden was such an engaging student. She was always personable and warm. I remember during the Elizabethan Faire, she gave everyone in her class French braids, helping us all to get in the spirit of the day. — Stephanie Arnold, Upper School teacher

BETH FARMERSMITH ’09

Associate Director of Admissions

Beth was a very good athlete: a fast, quick player on our varsity field hockey team. The Farmer family was so supportive of all things in the Athletic Department and instrumental in helping the Spartan Club get off the ground. As athletic director, I was involved in hiring her husband, Casey, one of the coaches for our boys

varsity soccer team. I like to think that Steward had a hand in bringing that couple together! — Janet Rice, former director of athletics

In sixth grade, Beth was new to Steward and to my advisory. She was a quiet, cautious student, so I was somewhat taken aback when she boldly announced during one of our weekly advisory meetings that she didn’t want to call me Dr. Robertson. She said, “I want to call you Dr. Rob.” It was such an innocent and respectful familiarity, I couldn’t contest. The nickname stuck, and for the remainder of my tenure at the school, everyone addressed me that way. Now in retirement, I often run into Steward folks, and they always shout, “Hey, Dr. Rob.” Thanks, Beth! — Louise Robertson, former teacher and Middle School dean of academics

BROCK SHIFLETT

’09

Athletic Operations Manager

I am so happy that Brock is back at Steward because we need someone to keep an eye on Coach Bruce

Secrest! Brock was a very talented baseball player who honed his sport under the guidance of Bruce, a very good and respected baseball coach. In the early years of the sport, Bruce needed some help and one man stepped up to help him (and is still one of his coaches to this day): Kenny Shiflett, Brock’s dad. He stayed on after Brock graduated and played in college, and he stayed at Steward when Brock got a position at Collegiate. So happy that Brock is currently playing a key role in several aspects of the Athletic Department, including as one of the baseball coaches. — Janet Rice, former director of athletics

KENDALL TATE

HRABAK ’04

School Nurse

Kendall was a sweetheart of a student because she was diligent, hardworking, and just really easy to teach. She was attentive and organized. It is easy for me to see how she became a caring nurse and wonderful that she is on campus continuing to contribute to the Steward community. — Mary Greenlee, former teacher

Kendall was a quiet but terrific participant in the classroom. I was so impressed when she presented her act for Talent Night … quite a dancer!

— Bonnie Anderson, former teacher

TAYLOR BREWER ’02

Executive Assistant Taylor was part of the first senior class I taught at Steward. She liked to have fun and was always up to something (all in good taste) – her class was filled with folks who were always having a good time. They were seniors when 9/11 happened so that always sticks with me about her class.

— Justin Lee, former teacher

I remember that Taylor was in my class when my classroom was in a large trailer that sat next to the Middle School, near the old gymnasium. The trailer had five classrooms that were interconnected. Mine was at the far end of the trailer, and Mrs. Brumberg’s classroom was adjacent to mine, so we could overhear discussion from her history class from time to time. Taylor seemed amused by overhearing those conversations. — Todd Serr, Upper School teacher

CHAD HEALEY ’00

Plant Operations

When I remember Chad, I think of a kind, creative young man with a great sense of humor. He and his

buddy Stewart Felvey were in one of the first Environmental Science classes that I taught. I have distinct memories of the very creative and often humorous approach they took to each project. Designing a sustainable city was a particularly memorable one. Chad made detailed drawings to illustrate each unique attribute of a very imaginative city! I kept that drawing for many years. The dynamic duo was also pivotal in initiating the first Environmental Club on campus, which began Steward’s long history of recycling, which was not easy back then. The club members had to collect papers, sort them, and deliver them to the recycling center – a lot of after-school work. I also have strong images of them flying around the circular driveway during a homecoming parade on bikes, wearing newspaper capes and lab goggles as “recycling heroes!”

— Mary Greenlee, former teacher

CATHERINE WOODY GRAVES ’98

Health and Wellness

Coordinator

Catherine was a steady member of the cheerleading squad and friend to my daughters, Meghan and Whitney. She was kind to all of those around her. — Bonny Hajek, former teacher

Catherine was a regular guest in my home as she was good friends with my children. I could always count on her to be honest and fun. She brought a voice of reason to the shenanigans.

— Rugene Paulette, former teacher

CORBIN ADAMSON ORGAIN ’96

Middle School Math Teacher

During a fast dance routine in the production of “Mary Poppins,” Corbin’s skirt fell off. Without skipping a beat, she danced right off stage and then quickly returned, in perfect step, to the

dance. A true professional. — Rugene Paulette, former teacher

I served as Corbin’s advisor, coach, and teacher for many years. Back in the day, when we had the old gym, there was limited space and time for basketball and cheerleading teams to practice since it had only one regulation court. With creative scheduling and flexibility, it all worked out. I started to notice that little Corbin was hanging out after her practice and watching the boys’ team during their practices. Dumb me finally figured out that she was scoping out a boy on the team who was a year older – and that boy was Frazer Orgain. She was smitten, and look what happened!! The two got married and are the proud parents of four children. — Janet Rice, former director of athletics

DELANEY TURNAGE MESCALL ’92

Spartan Shop Associate

Delaney was always very involved in our athletic program. She and her brother, Corey, were multiple-sport athletes. Neil Turnage, their father, was also the athletic director and soccer coach. He had a tremendous impact on our school, especially in those early years. I will be forever grateful for the guidance Delaney gave me in the early days of the Spartan Golf Classic, now known as the Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic. — Janet Rice, former director of athletics

SHAHWAR QURESHI ’90

Director of Technology

Shahwar was my daughter’s good friend. I loved watching her attempt to play the recorder in eighth-grade music class … not sure that she enjoyed one single minute! I think [my daughter] Michelle talked her into participating in “South Pacific.” She was so reliable and a good friend to all in her friend circle! — Bonnie Anderson, former teacher

9 6 7 8 1 4 3 2 5

1 Jimmy Benson ’92 and Jamie Brock ’93 were married on October 15, 2025, and took a honeymoon trip to Italy.

Whitney Hajek Richman ’98 recently launched Richman Run Coaching, an independently owned and operated personalized ultrarunning coaching company. She has been racing ultramarathons for the past five years and is now one of the most competitive women on the East Coast and in the US. Recent highlights include: Pistol 100 Mile (2024), C & O Canal 100 Mile (2024), Old Dominion 100 Mile (2025 –2nd fastest female time in 47-year course history), Jarmans Invitational Marathon (2024 and 2025, female course record), Catherine’s Furnace 50k (2024 and 2025), and she is the current holder of the 10th fastest female 100-mile time in the United States (2025).

2 Laura Weisiger ’02 married Chris Leech on April 13, 2024, in

Richmond. Her sister, Holly Weisiger ’07, was maid of honor. Laura lives in Richmond and works in corporate communications at Capital One and is a member of the Alumni Association Board.

3 After seven years of living overseas and working at the U.S. embassy in Jordan, Allison Worley ’03 and her family moved to Tampa, where her husband now works at Central Command (CENTCOM), in summer 2025. Last spring, the U.S. Department of State presented her with the Superior Honor Award for being an outstanding community liaison officer.

4 Lindsey Carter Jennings ’04 and her husband welcomed baby Rex Edge on August 24, 2025. Rex weighed 8 pounds and measured 20 inches long; he joins big brother Wolfgang.

5 Adam Lonon ’06 and his fiancée, Christina D’Angelo, welcomed baby Adam Timothy Lonon II on July 5, 2025.

6 Liz DeLaney ’08 and Luke Boschen ’13 were married on August 2, 2025. The wedding party included Mary Martha DeLaney ’08, Ann Marchetti Keller ’13, Kemis Noble Rawls ’08, Beth Farmer-Smith ’09, Jamie Adams ’09, Heather Mitchell Cropper ’09, Mark Tharp ’13, and Henry Bassett ’13

7 Mike DeCredico ’12 married Haley Hoefer on November 1, 2024, at Keswick Vineyards. The couple met in high school, and one of their first dances was Steward’s homecoming. [photo credit: Lily Magnolia Photography]

8 Sam Douma ’13 married Mallory Nipper on October 18, 2025, at the VMFA. [Photo credit: Aly Hansen]

9 Chloe Staples ’14 married David Heym on October 18, 2025.

10 Cameron Bachman ’15 and his wife welcomed a baby girl, Rowan Lee, on June 30, 2025.

11 Chance Diffee ’15 married Kalie Creasy at Dover Hall on August 2, 2025. Steward alumni who attended the wedding included Cameron Bachman ’15, Kevin Cameron ’15, Patrick Neale ’15, and Braeden Glancy ’15

12 Patrick Neale ’15 married Kathleen “Katie” Morgan on June 7, 2025, at Dover Hall. He works as an underwriter in the environmental division at Kinsale Insurance.

13 Kam Smith ’16 married Abigail Huser on July 5, 2025. The couple lives in Manassas, Va.

Do you have an important life announcement? Scan here and submit a class note!

After graduating magna cum laude from Virginia Tech, Ryan Odibo ’18 earned his Ed.M. from Harvard University and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. In 2025, he was named the first Economic Development Fellow at the Global Black Economic Forum, where he contributed to a published report on disparities in federal contracting and solutions for minorityowned businesses. Ryan currently works as a consultant at Ernst & Young in New York City and is also the founder and CEO of PRSU, an edtech startup helping students visually map their academic and career paths.

14 Kyndall Diamond ’19 graduated from Marymount University in May 2025 with a Master of Science in cybersecurity on the data science track.

In the fall of 2025, Evelyn Dumeer ’19 started a graduate program in theatre design and technology, with a focus in sound design, at the University of

Minnesota. She discovered a passion for the work during her undergraduate years, and upon completion, she’ll obtain her MFA.

Anya Bhargava ’21 graduated from The McIntire School of Commerce at UVA in May 2025. She’s working for Bank of America in the risk management department in Charlotte, NC.

15 The day that Harrison Gelber ’21 arrived in Colorado for graduate school in the summer of 2025, he ran into instrumental music teacher John McAlister, who was in town for a conference.

16 Preston Day ’25 runs his own company, The Perfect Plat, which creates visual stories for real estate listings.

17 A group of retired teachers gathered on campus for lunch in October! Pictured: (back row) Estelle Grossman, Charlene Wilton, Carole

Butler, Barbara Daniel, Brenda Turner, Robin Ricketts, Susan Grymes, Jane Whitely, Nancy Loyd, Bev Fox, Kate Strickland; (front row) Kerry Blum, Cindy Grissom, Debbie Hanger, Lynn Zinder, Bonnie Anderson. Not pictured: Susan Latourelle

For arts and athletic updates about these alumni, check out pages 13 and 15!

Bunt Young ‘82

Stephanie Mann ‘93

Jared Pease ‘10

Nic Enright ‘15

Ally Dods Keefe ‘16

Efton Reid ‘20

Sherese Pittman ‘21

Memorials

Terry Lee Adams, father of Jamie Adams ’09, November 1, 2025

John Ruffin Branham Jr., former Board of Trustees member, June 13, 2025

Ronald Stephen Kallman, father of Lee Kallman ’91 and Monica Kallman Moehring ’95, September 16, 2025

Lloyd Levermore, father of Chris Levermore ’88, May 8, 2025

Jean Tinsley Martin, former Lower School teacher, September 4, 2025

Martha Howard Narron, mother of Jill Narron ’85, September 29, 2025

Sally Cooke Newcomb, mother of Sarah Newcomb Kitchin ’05 and former Board of Trustees member, October 23, 2025

Patrick Phillips ’12, July 11, 2025

Roy Reynolds, father of Susanne Reynolds Kain ’95, June 28, 2025

Matthew Gilmour Thompson, former Board of Trustees president and member, co-founder of The Steward School Foundation in 1982, and father of a former student, September 24, 2025

The memorials information 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.

MS/US Grandparents & Special Friends Day

Thanksgiving Assembly