Titan Trail (Spring 2026)

TITAN TRAIL

Catching the Titan Spirit

VAIS Accreditation Team Praises Trinity’s Commitment to a Strong and Vital Mission

—See story on page 22

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

MISSION STATEMENT:

Our charge is to challenge Trinity students to discover their paths, develop their talents and strengthen their character within a dynamic academic community.

Dear Trinity Families,

As many of you know, this fall we welcomed to Trinity an accrediting team of teachers and school leaders from the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS). On a 10-year cycle, this organization conducts a thorough review of every member school in the state. The visiting team spent three days on campus getting to know Trinity and spoke to everyone: students, staff, trustees and parents.

We are pleased and proud to share that we passed with flying colors, and that is due in no small part to each of you. Thank you! The accreditation team complimented our breadth of programs and how they accentuate and reinforce important student development, leadership and skill-building. What the team saw in the hallways, the classrooms and on the fields was what they called “Trinity’s unified approach to student opportunities, growth and development.”

Compliments came from the visiting team about how grounded Trinity students are by the mission and how they “live it” each day. In classrooms, on the stage and through athletic competition, students develop their talents. In moments like Chapel and Morning Meeting, they strengthen their character in a dynamic community environment. The team noticed again and again the care extended between community members and how students intentionally craft a wide variety of experiences and nurture their interests on their own path of discovery.

The VAIS team also recognized our Morgan Hall expansion as a highly intentional approach to Technology, Research and Innovation (TRI). Trinity was praised for the way ethical decision making is woven into this area of study as our students learn to innovate, design and build. It isn’t enough just to invent — the inventor has to know that the product is good for humanity and makes people and communities better as a result. As you know, we are nearing completion of “right-sizing” the campus with added space for TRI as well as our Academic Resource Center (ARC), plus additional classrooms and outdoor spaces. Look for these spaces to open for student use in the coming months.

Reflecting on all we have accomplished this school year has reminded me of the ways in which colleagues, parents, and students support one another here at Trinity every day. Again, thank you all for your participation in a successful accreditation cycle. We do this work together. We are better together and the treasured community we create leads to the richness we find in each day.

Rob Short Head of School

TITAN TRAIL

www.trinityes.org

The Titan Trail is published twice yearly by Trinity Episcopal School’s communications and development offices.

Communications: David Ready Director of Communications & Marketing

Breanoh Lafayette-Brooks Digital Marketing Manager

Development: Sam Mickens Director of Development

Courtney Claud Assistant Director of Development

Lauren Flood Alumni Engagement Coordinator

Please report errors to communications@trinityes.org

Please report changes of address to development@trinityes.org

Photography:

David Ready, Breanoh Lafayette-Brooks, Kyle van de Kamp ’12, Bridget Hazel Photography, Tom Woodward, Debbie Duncan, Carter Tyree, Adam Lonon, TESPN

Cover Photo: David Ready

Contributing reporter: Carter Tyree (page 34-35)

Publication and Graphic Design: Creative Worx, LLC

ADMINISTRATION

Robert A. Short, Head of School

Mary Jordan, Head of Employee Life

Brian Phillips, Head of Campus Life

Maria Bartz, Head of Student Support and Academic Program

Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, Head of Community Engagement

Sam Mickens, Director of Development

Adam Lonon, Athletic Director

Margie Vaughan Snead ’85, Director of Admission

David Ready, Director of Communications & Marketing

Joseph Monaco, Chief Operating Officer

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Cynthia L. Coleman, Chair

Jana McQuaid, Vice Chair

David C. Kearfott ’94, Treasurer

Cheri Anthony

Jeffrey M. Bourne

Yolanda Macklin Crewe

Danielle Crowley ’93

Sourya El-Ayoubi

Chris Ellis ’81

Richard Flaherty

Keegan Hines ’05

Asheley Jewett

Anne McCray

Rebecca Muminovic ‘93

Clay C. Reynolds

Ann Roberts ‘80

Ashley Sommardahl

Todd Willett

Sam Williams '08

ADVISORY BOARD

J. Read Branch, Jr.

Otis L. Brown

Milton Cerny

Swannee Goodman Ericson ’75

Carol Estes-Williams

Daniel Allen Gecker

Stephen E. Hupp

Joseph C. Kearfott

Kelly J. O’Keefe

Ralph Nesbit, Jr.

W. B. Perkinson, Jr.

Martha V. Singdahlsen

Richard Thweatt Wilson, III

Charles F. Witthoefft

In early December 2025, a rare, heavy winter storm blanketed the Trinity campus in several inches of snow.

AROUND THE COURTYARD

SUNRISE ON A NEW SENIOR CLASS

The class of 2026 came together bright and early on a Friday morning to kick off the new school year with laughter, memories and coffee. An early wake-up was worth it for this special new Titan tradition as seniors signed their class banner and paraded in Morning Meeting with energy and enthusiasm.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS FUN RUN

For the 15th year in a row, Trinity hosted runners from the Special Olympics of Virginia for the mile fun run at Aycock Stadium. Runners trained alongside the Titan cross country team leading up to the big day and were cheered on at the finish line by the spirited Trinity field hockey team. The emotional event ended with smiles, medals and sweet treats.

STARRY NIGHT

Students and staff spent an evening under the stars as members from the Richmond Astronomical Society came to campus with super-powered telescopes ready to view the cosmos. The Science

Society sponsored the event and served “Rocket Dogs,” Star Crunch cookies and Starburst candy. Family and friends were also invited to learn how to navigate star maps and enjoy a night viewing far-off galaxies.

COME ONE, COME ALL

With more than 30 clubs and organizations on campus, students have the opportunity to explore interests beyond the classroom by participating in the fall Club Fair. Student organizations took over the campus breezeway as they showcased their organizations and recruited new Titans to join their ranks. All clubs meet during Discovery period in the middle of the day, ensuring every student can participate regardless of their after-school schedule.

GREEN TO GOLD

In September, the campus turned from green to gold to educate and highlight pediatric cancer. Inspired by Lyla Gans ’29, who encouraged her classmates to wear gold clothing and shared gold ribbons in the courtyard, the community came together to make a meaningful impact and showcase our Titans values.

CELEBRATING DIWALI

During Chapel in October, Brinda Mitra ’28 and her family shared the joy and meaning of Diwali with our Titan community. Brinda and her father reflected on thousands of years of Indian culture and how the festival’s message of light overcoming darkness connects to our Titan values of being altruistic and neighborly. At lunch in the Speight Alumni Room, students enjoyed traditional treats like potato samosas and peda while learning more about this special celebration.

LOVE IS AN OPEN DOOR

A joyful group of Trinity faculty and staff pitched in to prepare and deliver a baked potato bar for more than 50 guests at The Doorways in October. One of Trinity’s longtime community partners, the area nonprofit is a “home away from home” for patients and their families receiving medical care in Richmond.

CARVING OUT COMMUNITY

Several clubs and groups came together in the courtyard for the annual pumpkin-carving contest, competing for titles like “scariest,” “most creative,” “best use of accessories” and “most visually appealing.” This year, the pumpkin designs were the most detailed and creative in recent memory — from the Louvre-jewel-heist-inspired French Club entry to the Science Society’s great smoking pumpkin.

KING OF THE JAMES

The James River Rush outdoor adventure competition took over downtown Richmond's trails and rapids this fall. This annual race featured Trinity students and faculty as they biked for eight miles, ran for 4.5 miles and paddled down the river. For the first time ever, a Trinity team took home first place: Tyler Chulick ’28, Matthew Wadelich ’26 and Mac Mahoney ’27

ELECTRIC SLIDE

Student Life Coordinator Torey Burston ’12 had nearly the entire school dancing in the gym in November. Students, faculty and staff came together to learn new steps, try out classic moves and enjoy a mid-day burst of joy. Burston kept the crowd laughing and smiling as he and a group of students taught several different types of line dances in the Estes Athletic Center. No matter the dance skill level, everyone had a blast. It was a moment of community, energy and pure Trinity spirit!

DRONE ON

Students had an exciting, hands-on look at real-world technology when Sergeant Chris Lee of the Chesterfield Police drone unit visited campus. Sergeant Lee shared how drones are used in the field, demonstrating everything from aerial searches to crime-scene support. Both indoors and outdoors, students watched several live demonstrations and learned about responsible drone use and the laws that guide it. Afterward, students in Cynthia Chinworth’s robotics class had the chance to show off their own drone-flying skills.

TOXICOLOGY 101

John Benson’s Crime & Science class visited the Science Museum of Virginia’s The Power of Poisons exhibit. Students explored the history of poisons alongside contemporary techniques for identifying them. The exhibit reinforced classroom learning by highlighting specific poisons and real cases in which they were used. The experience connected hands-on exploration with academic study and sparked thoughtful conversations about chemistry, biology and ethics.

ST. MICHAEL’S STUDENTS SING FOR TRINITY

Each year, Trinity alumnus Phillip Tickle ’09 brings the St. Michael’s 5th-grade Chorus to share the gift of holiday cheer during Chapel, and the joy is contagious. Everyone gets into the spirit, especially when it’s time to sing about “Dominic, the Italian Christmas Donkey.” This cherished tradition is one of the most anticipated of the year for Trinity students.

TRINITY WELCOMES…

SEPTEMBER 26

Phyl Demetriou

Richmond Debate Club

“I guarantee you that if you speak well, if you focus on your own words and the way that you present to the judge, in a clear and simple way, you have a very good chance of winning that round.”

NOVEMBER 6

Enrique Maldonado Roldán

Spanish Literary Translator

“Translating is writing. Translating is not only creating a new work of art, it’s also creating literature.”

NOVEMBER 13

Alexis Tyree

Forensic Investigator, Richmond Police Department

“We don’t determine innocence or guilt, we just present the evidence... We don’t open a door to opinions at all. Everything is what we have.”

NOVEMBER 13

Heather Creswick

Genetic Counselor, VCU School of Medicine

“The disorders that we test newborns for are disorders that we can treat and make a huge difference, if not completely cure, but negate all clinical side effects of these different genetic disorders.”

NOVEMBER 24

Rev. Ben Robertson

Rector, All Saints Episcopal Church

“What I am thankful for this year is not things or accomplishments or accolades, but nearness, the closeness, the gathering of family and friends… Even those far away and even those who have gone on to the other side, they are near. They are near in our memories and in our hearts. And God is near too.”

NOVEMBER 24

David Waidelich

Chief Collaboration and Programs Officer, Feed More

“Everyone knows if you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, it’s going to be really hard to study. It’s going to be really hard to learn. If you’re little, it’s going to be really hard to grow and develop. And so it’s a real problem here in Central Virginia.”

DECEMBER 1

Rev. John D. Rohrs

Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

“Look at the world a little bit sideways like John the Baptist did… remember to look out for who is hungry, who’s hurting, who’s afraid of the world around us, and… look at the places where you need more love or attention or honesty or truth in your own life.”

JANUARY 14

Rev. Andie Rohrs

Associate for Pastoral Care, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

“Just as the wise men followed the star to find the Christ child, we are called to seek the light of God in one another. Sometimes this means standing up for those who are in need. Sometimes it means standing up for those whose rights are in jeopardy. Sometimes it means truly listening to someone with whom we disagree…”

FACULTY NEWS

Tom Condon, photography teacher, was awarded the Plaza Outstanding Regional Educator Award by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond in conjunction with the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Blick Art Materials, for supporting his students in creating artwork. “I’m committed to encouraging our students to pursue success beyond the walls of Trinity,” said Condon. “The more they are able to develop their talents, abilities and curiosities during their time with us, the more prepared they are to move forward with confidence and thrive.”

“I’m committed to encouraging our students to pursue success beyond the walls of Trinity”

MASTER GARDENER

Nick Seetin, History Teacher, received his Master Gardener certification from the Virginia Cooperative Extension. The 50-hour training program provides researchbased information on a variety of horticultural and environmental topics. Nick also had to complete 50 hours of volunteer service, and he will participate with continuing education each year to keep his certification.

FACULTY MILESTONES

Courtney Claud, Assistant Director of Development, welcomed a new baby, Corinne Claud, born February 12, 2026. 7 lb., 11 oz. and 21 inches.

Athletics Director Adam Lonon welcomed a new baby, Adam Timothy Lonon III, born July 5, 2025 weighing 8 lb., 6.9 oz.

IN MEMORIAM

José Santiago, who worked for Trinity from 2004 to 2022, passed away January 26, 2026. In his time at Trinity, he was a teacher in the World Language Department, a staff member in the Technology Department, a tennis coach and served on the school’s Advisory Board after his retirement. In all of these areas, José made a significant impact on the school, our students and fellow faculty.

The following is from his official death notice: “Born in Placetas, Cuba, José grew up in Havana and later lived in Miami, where he graduated from the University of Miami, and Ann Arbor before settling in Midlothian in 1979. José spent most of his career as a software engineering leader and technologist. In his later years, he found his greatest professional fulfillment teaching and providing IT strategy at Trinity.”

Convex Character Charlotte Morris

has expanded her repertoire to nearly every math class offered at the school, but her passion is trigonometry. Any alum of a Morris classroom remembers the sign in the corner reminding students not to “kill kittens” by making calculation errors while simplifying rational functions.

“Charlotte has perfected her method for teaching IB Maths: Analysis SL/ Pre-Calculus Honors,” says colleague Mitch Farleigh ’79. “She pushes her students hard, but not for the sake of making their lives harder. She does it to make them stronger math students and better prepare them for

for a walk-on spot on the basketball team, but there was one big problem. “My SAT score was a little bit low, and they said that I couldn't qualify for the first semester,” Burston recalls. “At that moment, college felt out of the picture.”

Enter Charlotte Morris. Teaming up with fellow math teacher Diane Monaco ’81, the two reached out to Burston with an offer he couldn’t refuse. “She said, ‘I'll tutor you in SAT Math, and we'll get you straight.’” Every evening for the next month, Morris provided pointers on polynomials, while Burston buckled down. “I threw my phone away for four weeks and worked with her, and I ended up being able to qualify to go to VCU the next semester.”

Burston is now the student life coordinator at Trinity and isn’t shy about sharing this. “Mama Morris and Mama Monaco saved my life,” he boasts. “My heart is forever in debt.”

While Burston’s tale of a Titan turnaround may be the most prominent, there are dozens, if not hundreds, more journeys of mathematical persistence and achievement that have begun in room C-1, the math hallway at Trinity, where Morris, the head of the department for over a decade, has taught with an intrepid attitude and infectious smile.

Path to Pittaway

The child of two educators, growing up as a “faculty brat” on the campus of Woodberry Forest School until kindergarten — and then following her father, Dr. Robert Cox, to Hampton Roads Academy, where he served as headmaster from 1972 to 1987 — convinced Morris of one thing: “I was adamant about never being an educator!”

After earning her BS in math and statistics at JMU, she worked as a trust officer at Bank of America in Richmond. “I disliked every minute of it,” she says. “I came home every day unfulfilled.” When she looked back on her most fulfilling moments, she realized all of them involved tutoring classmates in high school math and teaching horseback riding at summer camp. And she was inspired by Mrs. Fichter, her high school math teacher, who “instilled my love for the beauty and clarity of math.”

Her first stint as a Trinity teacher lasted only one year (1993-94), in which she taught all geometry classes. After taking time off to raise her young children, she returned in 2002 and never looked back. In that time, she

A Prime Example

Morris’ indomitable community spirit has often put her at the helm of some of the most popular extracurricular activities that Trinity is known for. Every February, her enrichment class prepares Trinity juniors for the SAT. Every March, she and the Mathletes celebrate the world’s most famous irrational number, Pi, with a week of games and puzzles. And every October, students fill Dunn Courtyard with creative gourds at the annual Halloween Pumpkin Carving contest — a tradition started by Morris and the Operation Smile Club. From 2007 to 2018, the club raised funds for the eponymous international charity, providing more than 150 facial reconstruction surgeries to children with cleft palates. The club also generated kaleidoscopic community events like the Miles for Smiles Color Run.

As a Senior Class Sponsor, she helped empower seniors to be a positive force within the school for 20 years. The senior class elected her graduation speaker for the ceremony in 2007, the year of Virginia’s 400th anniversary. Comparing them to the settlers of Jamestown about to embark on an uncharted voyage across the Atlantic, she told the seniors to have courage to face hurdles, and promised them the rewards of discovering their own path.

Morris herself is no stranger to such intrepid journeys, challenging herself again and again over the years through outdoor adventure, horseback riding and river exploration. She spent over 25 years at all-girls Camp Strawderman in the Shenandoah Valley, learning and teaching horseback riding in a setting focused on outdoor living and building strong character. At Trinity, she worked closely with the late Bill Snead, social studies teacher and head of the Trinity Rivers Program, and chaperoned more than a dozen trips to Camp Sheridan, the 9th-grade rite of passage now called the Freshman Class Retreat.

In 2024, she received the Faculty Discovery Award from the Trinity Board of Trustees. With the accompanying grant, Morris spent a week at a working ranch in the Rocky Mountains, learning herding techniques, animal care, cattle-moving strategy and about the importance of land restoration.

A Leader who Listens

When you talk to colleagues and former students about Charlotte Morris, the one thing that they all agree on is that Morris is a world-class listener. “No matter what I was going through, pressures of school or otherwise, it felt like Mrs. Morris had the answers,” says Liam O'Neil ’25. “She is the type of person who will listen intently, without judgment, and that's a very rare thing.”

“Math is not a subject that comes naturally to us. It is a series of steps that must be explained, taught and understood,” says Robert Morris ’15, Charlotte's former math student and son. “My mother always had the incredible ability to navigate this process with an abundance of patience. She would never move to the next step until she was confident that you understood the first.”

“I can honestly say that my mom is one of the best teachers I have had,” says Ashley Morris Houser ’13. “During my years at Trinity, I realized that she is a ‘mom’ to so many more than just my brother and me,” says Ashley, “As a new mom myself, I can only hope to be half as nurturing and supportive as her.”

“The same qualities that make her a great teacher also make her a great department head,” says Farleigh. “She is always there to support us but allows us to be ourselves and find successes in our own ways.”

The trust she has shown her fellow math teachers has built their confidence. For Stacey Woodson, the transition from teaching in a testdriven public school to Trinity was a welcome change. “She told me, ‘Don’t rush it where they're not understanding. Take your time,’” recalls Woodson. “I could try different things in the classroom and not feel like I wasted a day because of a standardized test coming.”

Becky Currier has taught math with Charlotte for 20 years and praises Morris’ energy, insight and compassion. “She never hesitates to step in and fill a gap, and always does it with a smile,” says Currier. Whether by sharing new approaches or insights, helpful articles or lessons, she “challenges us to be our best every day.”

“She's super organized. She has high expectations that she applies to herself, and then she models it for people,” says Diane Monaco. “Charlotte is the ultimate professional in everything that she does.”

Cool in Crisis

A case can be made that it has been Morris’s quiet, steady leadership by example that has helped guide the Trinity community through three of the biggest disruptions of the last decade and a half.

“When Page Mauck died, it was devastating,” says Diane Monaco, recalling the spring break in 2016 when the Trinity community learned about the tragic death of her fellow math teacher and beloved community member. Monaco says it was Morris’ dutiful, steady leadership that helped them make it through. “We all wanted to just go into a room and cry, but she helped us recognize that we needed to put the kids first and help them continue to learn — honoring everybody’s grief, but continuing to do what we needed to do.”

Nearly four years to the day later, the Trinity community learned it would not be coming back from spring break at all, following nationwide school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later that summer,

Morris was asked to help lead the planning committee for the school’s safe reopening that fall. “Like most educators during the height of the pandemic, I was uncomfortable in my home-classroom environment, worried about students on the other side of my screen, and frustrated with trying to deliver content in a meaningful way,” she recalls. After spending the summer researching, listening to experts and meeting frequently to stay abreast of the latest developments, the team devised plans and policies to keep the community safe through a hybrid remote and on-campus daily schedule. “I believe that Trinity did an outstanding job of opening school and creating an environment for teenagers to have as much of a normal life as was possible at that crazy time,” she says. “I never want to return to those days, but I have confidence in the ability of our school to work together and pull through just about any obstacle.”

When former Head of School Tom Aycock announced his retirement in the winter of 2014, Morris was serving as the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees. Morris was tapped to serve on the committee tasked with finding Trinity’s fourth head of school. “I was impressed with the support we received from all constituents and the amount of time/effort our board members (who have other full-time jobs) put forth in finding the best person for the job,” she says. As a result, the committee recommended Rob Short, who has now led the school with a caring and community-focused style for the past 11 years.

Proof of Excellence

How does Morris herself account for her longevity as a math teacher and consistently active community participant over two and half decades? “I think when you've been in a place for 25 years, you have to grow along with the school and with the world,” she says. “Teenagers are always going to represent the change in how we learn and what we learn, so you have to adapt and adjust and move with them.”

Also playing a big role in the length of her tenure is the school’s warm and welcoming community. “Trinity feels like family to me,” she says. “The people here embraced me, as well as my husband and children. The faculty and staff are passionate about what they do and feel both supported and safe in their jobs. The students are fun and engaged. They bring me joy on a daily basis.”

Token of Appreciation

Charlotte’s favorite anecdote is one that also demonstrates her humility and dedication to Trinity. Tom Aycock, the former head of school, asked Morris to name one thing he could do to make her time in the classroom feel better. Feeling relatively content and supported, she said, “Tom, the only thing you could do for me is give me a window.” For a few months, she went about her teaching without giving the conversation much thought and went home for Christmas Break. “When I walked in for the first day of school in January and opened my door, there was a window in my classroom! It was one of the greatest gifts that anybody could have given me. It made me so happy.”

Purpose with a Passion Rick Hamlin

dream is to someday follow in your footsteps and be the basketball coach at Trinity,” he wrote. “And if I could ever impact half as many people as you have, I would consider my life to have been a success.” Amazingly, Travis’s widow, Marty, saved the letter and personally delivered it to Hamlin on the court before his first game as boys basketball head coach in 2011, saying “you're about to live your dream.”

The View from E-Hall

Room E-6 — the lone classroom on the long corridor between the Commons and E-Hall — may be the last windowless room in Trinity’s Academic Building. While a teacher with his seniority would have had every opportunity to move to a more spacious home, Hamlin has stayed put for the last 22 straight years. Papering the walls are the accumulated mementos of a lifetime as a sports fan: Redskins, Red Sox, Liverpool, and of course, his beloved Trinity Titans. Yellowing news clippings and treasured team photos compete for space on bulletin boards with laminated maps of the U.S.

A point guard for the Titans’ historic 1995-96 state championship team, Hamlin hangs the banner proudly on the back wall of his social studies classroom. Some 21 years later, Hamlin was on the court again after coaching the team to its second state title, a historic run that drew gobs of media attention to Dale Travis Court. “His leadership helped create unforgettable seasons: the 2012 Prep League Championship, the 2013-14 breakthrough season and the 2017 state championship victory,” remembers Stephen McCarthy ’05, assistant coach with Hamlin for 11 years. “But the trophies tell only part of the story.”

“I think Rick is really that classic independent school teacher,” says Social Studies Department Head Marcus Jones ’00. “He truly loves Trinity — it's not a job for him, it's a passion and he's always going to give his best to help the school thrive.”

The Path Back to Pittaway

The child of two former public school teachers in Northumberland County, Va., Hamlin grew up with a deep-seated appreciation for the value of education. Although he originally planned to be a psychology major at the University of Virginia. it was Linda Verdery, then assistant head of school at Trinity, who convinced him to change majors and become a social studies teacher. “Linda gave me the blueprint for how to get back to Trinity,” he says. “I often described her as my second mom.” Enter Tom Aycock, then head of school, who hired him as a 23-year-old only a year out of college and gave him the confidence that he was ready for the job. His good fortune continued when he ended up teaching next door to the late Page Mauck, multitalented and devoted math teacher and Hamlin’s former soccer coach.

But it was his Trinity basketball coach and mentor, the late Dale Travis, who Hamlin calls “the most impactful male figure in my life” next to his own father. Learning of Travis’s devastating cancer diagnosis in 1996, Hamlin wrote Travis a personal letter, encouraging him to fight the disease. “My

Often perched at the front-corner lectern, Hamlin has educated, inspired and often entertained a generation of students on the subjects of US history, world history, IB geography and more. Colleagues praise his teaching style as a mix of humor, innovative projects, class participation and content. “I often walk past his classroom and hear him using voices, singing songs or telling stories to keep students interested,” says Jones. Former students recall Hamlin singing about the impactful invention of the printing press, putting on various English accents when covering the Middle Ages or shouting "This is Sparta!" during a lesson on Ancient Greece.

One of Hamlin’s favorite periods to cover in 9th-grade world history class is the Age of Reason. “In a lot of ways, our education at Trinity is a direct byproduct of Renaissance and Enlightenment thought,” he says. “The marriage of believing in a higher power spiritually, but also seeing the need to experiment and to prove things as a driver of truth. That’s what we do as a school.”

But his most indelible, formative moment came amid his first two weeks as a Trinity teacher in September of 2001, only one year out of college, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on a Tuesday morning. Hamlin found himself confronting a lot of reflexive anger and passionate jingoism in the moment, alongside his responsibility to teach critical thinking skills. “I feel really strongly as a social studies teacher that I don’t want to silence any perspectives,” says Hamlin, “9/11 prompted me to be really intentional about every assignment and discussion. It forced me to become a better teacher quickly.”

Attitude of Gratitude

Through his nascent years as a young teacher, Hamlin says he was blessed to be guided by a Mount Rushmore of mentors that included Travis, Verdery, Aycock and Mauck, among others. “The people of this school have formed me into the person that I am,” he says. “I try to pay it forward by being a light for students and for young teachers and coaches. I would like to think of myself as someone whose door is always open.”

Carter Tyree, assistant girls soccer coach and co-sponsor of TESPN, is one of those young coaches and colleagues grateful for Hamlin’s mentorship. Since 2021, Tyree and Hamlin have served as cosponsors of TESPN, Trinity’s burgeoning sports broadcasting club. What began in the pandemic has grown into a considerable media presence in its own right, giving dozens of Trinity students hands-on learning experiences in

Guided by a Trinity Mount Rushmore of mentors that included Dale Travis, Linda Verdery, Tom Aycock and Page Mauck, Hamlin says: “The people of this school have formed me into the person that I am.”

2017 state

sports broadcasting and media. “He has such a depth of knowledge of the history of the school and all of the people who pass through it,” says Tyree. “My favorite memories with Rick are… the excitement he shares with us assistant coaches and his players when we've pulled off a big win and the pride we take in our TESPN work.”

When Hamlin does color commentary for TESPN broadcasts, he rarely needs notes. “I often marvel at his ability to recall facts and events in great detail,” says Marcus Jones. “I can't imagine that there is a bigger Trinity sports fan — or anyone who has watched as many Trinity sports or cheered harder for Trinity athletes — than Rick.”

Jones recalls taking a road trip to Lynchburg on a Saturday morning in 2004 to witness the return of football to Trinity after 15 years. “They were playing a JV schedule in their first year, and there were only a handful of parents at the first game at VES,” recalls Jones, “but we stood on the dirt track behind one of the old rusted uprights, and we cheered like it was the state championship in what was a 22-0 defeat.”

An Outpouring of Passion

For fellow coaches and teachers, along with former students and players alike, the word that comes to mind most often when asked about Rick Hamlin is “passion.” Passion for teaching history. Passion for coaching. Passion for Trinity and its impact on the community. Passion as a sports fan and for the power of sports to bring people together to do incredible things. “For decades, he has poured that passion into Trinity, into bringing history to life in the classroom, and into every arena of athletics,” says Steven McCarthy. “He has a gift for seeing potential in others — and an even greater commitment to helping them realize it.”

For Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, Rick’s sister and longtime Trinity coach and staff member, the quintessential image is of him leaping on the sidelines while coaching a game in the 2017 state basketball tournament. “His entire essence is on display in that moment,” says Weiler. “He is clearly pouring every ounce of himself into that moment, and his teams played harder because of that passion. It captures the camaraderie he built on those teams, the culture of team first, doing everything you can for the larger goal of the team.”

For Hamlin, though, there is another indelible image that comes to mind: when Bobby Oldfield ’16, team manager, drained a late-game threepointer versus STAB on senior day. “Bobby arrived as a ninth grader in a wheelchair,” recalls Hamlin. “He loved basketball, and he loved Trinity, but managing was all he could do.” On senior day, with the league title on the line, Hamlin was determined to flip the script and give Oldfield a chance to play minutes in a varsity uniform. In overtime, the Titans built an eight-point lead with 18 seconds left. Oldfield entered the game, dribbled the ball up the court and nailed the three-pointer at the buzzer. “That is my very favorite memory,” says Hamlin, misty-eyed. “I mean, I've got a lot of great ones, but that will be really hard to top.”

Moments like those — where students are included, celebrated and make unexpected contributions to the community — are when Hamlin says he feels proudest to be a Titan. “I want to find the best in everyone,” he says. “Whether you play cello or quarterback. Whether you are the most popular kid in school or the most awkward… I have always felt that Trinity Episcopal School allows students to be who they truly are.”

Courtney Frayser Jenkins ’08, now a marketing manager at Redeemer Episcopal Day School in Richmond, says Hamlin instilled support, respect and perseverance in her as a coach and teacher. “The biggest lesson he taught me was how important and transformative it is to be a part of something bigger than myself,” she says. “And in order to make a difference and to have a positive impact on a collective — whatever that may be — I must be that person individually first. That has stuck with me my entire life.”

Building Community

Former players like Torey Burston ’12 remember him as a relatable motivator who practiced what he preached. Burston recalls 30-minute drill sessions in “the rebound room,” where toughness was paramount. “We came out of there bruised sometimes, but we would always leave the room with our arms around each other because we knew at the end of the day, we were teammates and brothers,” recalls Burston. Now the student life coordinator at Trinity, Burston recently enlisted Hamlin to join him back on the bench as an assistant coach with the JV boys team — and will follow in Hamlin’s footsteps as the varsity boys coach in 2026.

Morgan Taylor Pilkington ’05 was a member of the girls varsity soccer team during Hamlin’s first year as coach and saw firsthand the impact he has on his students and athletes. “He always made time, always listened, and always offered thoughtful guidance,” says Pilkington, now an instructional designer with Chesterfield Public Schools. “The lessons, conversations and example he set continue to influence me today.”

Henry Coleman III ’20, who wore a Titans uniform for three seasons (2018-2020) before playing for Duke and Texas A&M, now works for the University of Arizona Athletics. “Coach Hamlin for me was more than a coach,” recalls Coleman. “He taught me lessons both on and off the court: how I should play the game the right way, but how I should treat others and go about my life in the right way.” Coleman says Hamlin modeled positivity through adversity. “This trait of being positive at all times has helped me through a ton of ups and downs of life.”

Hamlin’s former player, student and assistant basketball coach Steven McCarthy offers an even broader perspective. “While sports often measure success in wins and losses, Rick measures it in growth,” he says. “His greatest victories are found in the character, confidence and development of the students and athletes he serves. That is where his passion shines brightest — and where his legacy is most deeply felt.”

Unsung Hero Shannon Puckett

Most students know Shannon Puckett as one half of the lunch delivery duo with Michelle Bavaro, where the pair of friends look forward to brightening each Titan’s day with a hot, fresh meal. But behind the scenes, Puckett has been the dutiful and dependable doyenne of Trinity’s everyday business operations and financials for nearly 25 years. “I don't think everyone realizes all that she does for Trinity,” says Bavaro. “She is the wizard behind the curtain that makes this place run as smoothly as it does. She wears so many hats, I think we need another building for them all.”

Most teachers know her as a red-tape cutter, solving benefits quandaries for a confused coworker one day, then finding just the right set of office or classroom supplies another. “Shannon is always there when you need her to order something that makes your room feel truly like your own,” says Head of School Rob Short. “She gets to work early and is always willing to lend a hand.”

If Trinity were a car, she would be the fuel pump — hidden under the hood, yet dependably gathering and applying the school’s revenue at the precise moment when it’s needed most. Joe Monaco is Trinity’s chief operating officer and Shannon’s next-door neighbor on the second floor of the Wright House, home of the school’s business and development offices. He says Puckett’s superpower is the diligence needed for the daily, sometimes tedious, but always critical, tasks that no one else wants to do. Pouring herself into such selfless, often anonymous work is just how she likes it, he says. “In fact, she would be irritated with me for contributing to this article!”

Visitors to Puckett’s office will immediately learn three things about Shannon — her impeccable labelling and organizational skills, her affinity for true-crime podcasts and her deep affection for animals. The child of a Chesterfield K9 police officer, Shannon’s first pet was a German shepherd. Over the years, she has rescued eight dogs from area shelters, including current pups Harper Lee (10, long-haired shepherd mix), Kona (9, mix) and Wallen (6, a dachshund who “runs the show”). “My [long-term] dream would be to have enough land to save as many as I could,” she says.

“One of my favorite memories was when I convinced her to do the SPCA Dog Jog 5K and we trained together in the neighborhoods around Trinity,” says Laura Hamlin Weiler ’00, head of community engagement. “Rain or shine, we were out there… On race day, she ran joyfully in support of the dogs and cats who receive new families and new lives through the SPCA.”

Raised in Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County, Shannon graduated from Matoaca High School, where she began taking accounting classes. After stints in optical services and construction materials, she landed at Slabaugh Morgan White & Associates, an employee benefit consulting firm, in the late 1990s. After a merger, the company decided to move the accounting department to the home office in Savannah, GA. “It was funny, stressful and kind of ironic,” she recalls. “This all happened the year I finally purchased my home. I literally went from signing the paperwork into the office that day to learning I no longer had a job!”

"She wears so many hats, I think we need another building for them all.” Michelle Bavaro

Fortunately, one of her former coworkers at SBW&A, Diane Monaco ’81, told her that her husband, Joe, was looking to hire an accounting associate at Trinity. “I remember one time she showed me an inventory of all the items in her attic, and I thought, ‘Who does that? Shannon does!’,” recalls Diane. “If you’ve ever visited her office it is the most organized beautiful space I’ve ever seen!”

Her job interview with then-headmaster Tom Aycock convinced her that Trinity was like a family. “I got that feeling from the very start,” she said. With Trinity’s tremendous growth and expansion over the past 25 years, she says she is sometimes nostalgic for those earlier, closer-knit days. Still, she says, “I just really love working with the people I still interact with on a daily basis, which is why I have stayed.”

Head of School Rob Short is especially grateful for Puckett’s contributions to the community over that time. “Shannon demonstrates deep compassion and care for her colleagues, family and pets,” he says. “It is great to have such a caring person in the Trinity family.”

For Joe Monaco, it’s hard to imagine a better colleague. “She is a team player,” Monaco says fondly. “She is one of the nicest, most caring people I have ever met, and it has been my privilege to work with her for the last 25 years.”

FRESH HORIZONS

The Trinity class of 2029 enjoyed three days of outdoor adventure, nature exploration and challenge-by-choice ropes course activities on the annual Freshman Class Retreat in early September 2025. For decades, this rite of passage has been a cornerstone of community building for Trinity — bringing together over 100 freshmen from nearly 40 different feeder schools and 30 zip codes across Metro Richmond — and uniting them as Titans. Special thanks to the enthusiastic and caring staff of Camp Horizons for hosting our group, along with the dozen Trinity faculty and staff who chaperoned the trip.

THE ARTS

A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO

Winter Art Show showcases original student works across nearly a dozen mediums Students, parents and guests enjoyed the return of the annual Winter Fine Arts Festival to the Perkinson Arts Center and Powell Library on Monday, December 15, featuring hundreds of original works of art produced by Trinity students across nearly a dozen categories of media. From paintings and drawings and photographs, to sculpture and ceramics, to mixed media and video, all levels of student progress were represented. Professional artists judge the works in ten categories according to technical skill, content, display and overall creativity.

Congratulations to all of the participants. Here is a complete list of this year’s honorees:

STATE OF THE ART

Twenty-three Trinity artists have been recognized in the annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, described as “the nation's longest-running, most prestigious educational initiative supporting student achievement in the visual and literary arts.”

Submitting work photography as well as 2D and 3D art, Titans earned 30 visual arts awards, including seven Gold Key, eight Silver Key and 15 Honorable Mention awards, all of them selected from thousands of entries by high school students in the region. Gold Key winners of art and writing will advance to the national level of judging in New York City.

In recognition of his work guiding students in their creative processes, Tom Condon, Trinity photography teacher, was presented with a 2026 Plaza Outstanding Regional Educator Award, one of only six awarded in the region.

After advancing to the next round of judging, three Titans earned national recognition: Fitz McClure ’28 earned a National Gold Medal for his photograph “Ripples of Light; Claire Griffen ’28 earned a National Silver Medal for experimental photography for her work “Spirit of the Unknown”; and Tom Condon won a National Gold Medal for Excellence in Teaching.

“Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients,” reads the official award description from Scholastic. “Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.” Recognizing exceptional artwork by students in grades 7–12 throughout the U.S., Scholastic provides the largest source of creativity-based scholarships for middle and high school students.

The Trinity visual arts curriculum includes photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, mixed media and much more. Course levels are designed to meet the needs of beginning students through IB art certificate students. Trinity’s 4,000-plus square-foot visual arts center brings together artists, painters and sculptors in a spectacular collaborative space. Learn more at www.trinityes.org/arts.

National Awards:

Fitz McClure ’28, Gold Medal, Photography

Claire Griffen ’28, Silver Medal, Experimental Photography, Title Tom Condon, National Gold Medal for Excellence in Teaching

Regional Awards:

FACULTY AWARD:

Tom Condon, Plaza Outstanding Regional Educator Award, 2026

30 AWARDS

7 Gold Keys

8 Silver Keys

15 Honorable Mentions

23 AWARDEES

Childress Alverson ’26, Silver Key, 3D

Josh Aminzia ’27, Honorable Mention, Photo

Maddie Cranston ’26, 2 Honorable Mentions, 3D

Henry Decker ’26, Gold Key, and Silver Key, Photo

Lucia Fischi ’26, Honorable Mention, Photo

Claire Griffen ’28, Gold Key, Photo

Allie Hilferty ’26, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, Photo

Avery Johnson ’26, Honorable Mention, 3D

Ainsleigh Jones ’27, Honorable Mention, Photo

Mia Jung ’26, Honorable Mention, Photo

Nicole Lartey ’28, Silver Key,3D

Mac Mahoney ’27, Gold Key, 3D

Fitz McClure ’28, Gold and Silver Keys, Photo

Mary Clare McDade ’27, Honorable Mention, 3D

Nick McDonald ’26, 2 Silver Keys, Photo

Ainsley McNeer ’26, Silver Key, 2D

Ruby Mills ’26, Gold Key, and Honorable Mention, Photo

Lelia Richardson ’26, Honorable Mention, 3D

Henry Robertson ’29, Gold Key, Photo

Sarah Rowe ’26, Honorable Mention, 3D

Lily Veech ’27, Honorable Mention, 3D

Wesley Welcher ’29, 2 Honorable Mentions, Photo

Mathew Woodward ’27, Gold Key, 3D

OUT OF THIS WORLD

performance highlighted not only individual talent, but also the collaboration that defines Trinity’s performing arts program. Audience favorite Grace Parker shared the stage alongside Cabaret legends Matthew Majikes ’17, Craig Akers and Pauline Crowling, a cherished fixture of this event since 1990. Their performances are a reminder that Cabaret is more than an annual show; it is a unique Trinity tradition where students collaborate alongside faculty to perfect their craft.

While the performance itself sparkled, what audiences may not have seen were the weeks of dedication behind the scenes. “Cabaret requires countless hours of rehearsal, coordination and technical preparation,” says Brian Rollins, band director. “Performers and ensemble members balanced practices with academics and athletics, refining vocals, tightening instrumentals and perfecting transitions. Our tech crew worked diligently to craft lighting, sound and staging that elevated every number. It was truly a team effort in every sense!”

Winter weather forced the event to be rescheduled, testing everyone’s patience and flexibility. Yet, as the saying goes, the third time is the charm. When the curtain finally rose, the energy in the room was electric.

SKETCHING THE SKYLINE

In the heart of a cold January, Trinity juniors and seniors in IB Visual Art classes boarded a train bound for New York City with a clear mission: to immerse themselves in culture, gather inspiration and return home ready to create their own masterpieces.

During their time in New York, students visited some of the world’s most renowned museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. They also spent a full day exploring Brooklyn, highlighted by a visit to the Brooklyn Museum. However, this was not a passive sightseeing trip. Before traveling, students carefully explored each museum’s website to identify specific works they wanted to see, why those works resonated with them and where they were located within the galleries. This intentional preparation gave them focus and purpose as they navigated the vast collections, each equipped with a sketchbook in hand.

Allowing students to encounter artworks in person that they had previously known only through textbooks was a key goal of the trip. Whether students travel to New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago or other world-class art destinations, this annual IB trip consistently reinforces a vital lesson: art is meant to be experienced.

Although she had discussed the piece many times in class, encountering Judy Chicago’s ‘The Dinner Party’ face-to-face at the Brooklyn Museum nearly brought Lilly Veech ’27 to tears. Veech said she was inspired by the way Chicago’s work gave voice to the forgotten women throughout history through her use of historical symbolism. “Her contributions to the expansion of women’s rights,” said Veech. “This has translated to my art back home by encouraging me to conduct in-depth research on each of these women. I am using the challenges they had to overcome as inspiration for my work.”

Ruby Mills ’26 was similarly inspired when the snow started falling outside the Brooklyn Museum. “This felt like a scene from a movie,” she said, “My art was heavily influenced after being able to visit these museums, and I became instantly inspired for my final exhibition. Being able to go on this trip for the last two years has been a privilege and an incredible opportunity for all of us in IB Art."

For their teachers, watching students respond so powerfully to the art was a visceral reminder of why experiences like this matter. As Trinity’s IB Art students returned to their studios, they did so with not only full sketchbooks but also renewed perspective, deeper understanding and a strengthened commitment to creating meaningful work of their own.

Catching the Titan Spirit

Visiting Accreditation Team from VAIS Praises School’s Commitment to Mission

Every 10 years, each member school in the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) invites a team of fellow educators from other Virginia schools to campus for a thorough evaluative multiday visit. No stone is left unturned, as the team meets with teachers, students, alumni, parents and more. The team reviews hundreds of pages of documents and reports prepared by the school while simultaneously experiencing the daily life of the school through conversations and presentations.

This year, six faculty and staff from peer schools across Virginia put Trinity under the microscope from November 16 to 18, and, at the conclusion of their visit, shared their findings with the assembled students and faculty in a special assembly in the Perkinson Arts Center theater. The group invoked both pride and validation for the school, as they reaffirmed what so many Titans already know: Trinity is a community of robust engagement and palpable authenticity. Their account portrayed Trinity as a deeply mission-driven and caring community that is also forward-thinking in its approach to education. They praised Trinity for thoroughly living out its mission, while bringing innovative programs and myriad opportunities to bear for the benefit of all students.

“Their biggest takeaway is that you are living your mission and the mission is at the center of everything that goes on on this campus,” said Laura Weiler ’00, Trinity’s head of community engagement who worked closely with Office Manager Carole Forkey, Head of School Rob Short and several teams of teachers and administrators to guide the visit and its preparation. “It was very rewarding and inspiring to see the specific work that’s happening every day, putting into action every single day, the work that fulfills our mission.”

Signature Programs

The visiting team was particularly impressed with what they called Trinity’s “signature programs,” student experiences unique to Trinity that realized the lofty goals of our mission: Morning Meeting, Discovery Period, Junior Work Week, the Honor Committee and Titan Prep.

“Every day students… meet as clubs, get additional help from teachers, or try something new like line dancing,” stated the report. “All 8th and 9th grade students are enrolled in the ‘Titan Prep’ course [which] allows for an introduction to what it means to be a Titan and gives them tools to be successful.”

The report praised Trinity’s “extensive course offerings,” strong faculty content expertise, and the flexibility for students to “to build schedules that fit their interests and needs.” During a panel interview with students, the committee heard about “Discover Your Path” in action, as Titans reflected on how they were able to switch gears and try new things. “You couldn’t be in that room and not feel how much people care about one another and how this really highlighted connections between students and faculty and the opportunities that creates,” said Weiler.

Tons of Opportunities

Stephanie Crosby, director of student experience at the Miller School of Albemarle, was impressed with Trinity’s unique eightday rotational schedule. “It’s really clear that you guys are taking advantage of tons of different opportunities to learn and explore and challenging yourselves,” she said.

The visiting accreditation team reaffirmed what so many Titans already know: Trinity is a community of robust engagement and palpable authenticity.

“You all do exactly what you say you do. You talk about community, you talk about connecting to one another and you talk about how you all are interconnected and really a family."

—Scott Kennedy, Head of School, Norfolk Collegiate School

Trinity students can truly discover their paths among a spectrum of academic choice, the team said, thanks in large part to the commitment of the faculty to pursue professional development. “It starts with the expertise of your faculty and the love and the care that they put in their classes,” said Shannon Fusina, upper school science department chair at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, “both from working with you all for also advancing their own practice with the professional development that the school offers them and that they willing to take.”

Freedom with Guardrails

The committee also singled out Trinity’s commitment to meeting the challenges of 21st century teen life by helping them navigate modern complexities.

“The notion of self-regulation and helping students have the freedom with guardrails to learn how to use the tools that are going to exist for them as adults,” says Weiler, referencing AI, to ethical decision-making, to free time management, to teen driving. “That is a hallmark of our school and one that comes certainly with challenges when you’re talking about a teenage population. However, it’s something that we do very well.” Weiler says parents and alumni often remark about their post-Trinity experience and the preparation for life’s challenges. “They’re able to say, because I did this at Trinity, I was comfortable in this environment.”

Weiler also points to our IB World School principles, which emphasize teaching students how to think, not what to think. “I think navigating complexities is a good one because complexities are not going anywhere.”

Parent Pathways

Interviews and survey data from parents reinforced that “layers” of socio-economic, cultural and geographic diversity across the RVA region contribute to parent affinity and engagement.

Jay Lasley, vice chair of the committee and head of school at Hampton Roads Academy, was effusive in noting how Trinity welcomes and values parents, especially through programs like the Trinity Parents Association and Parent Pathways. “Your parents feel the same way about Trinity as you do. They feel like they are welcome here. They feel like they belong here and this is a community that has welcomed and valued them. This is a unique strength to your school.”

Finally, the committee noted Trinity’s commitment to careful fiscal and resource stewardship and the maintenance of its unique campus. The school was commended for “creativity in upgrading facilities by repurposing facilities to a new best use,” particularly for the Morgan Hall Expansion set to be completed in 2026. The report also noted significant security upgrades and sustainability measures including “significant solar infrastructure” and “removing invasive plant species from the surrounding property.”

Pat on the Back

Head of School Rob Short is appreciative that the process allows for seamless integration into the already intentional and significant work that the school does each year to implement its five-year strategic plan. Now in year three, the feedback from the visiting VAIS committee will be fed into the existing work to advance this plan.

“It’s an augmentation to what we see as a vision for the next five, 10, 20 years of Trinity,” says Short. “And this particular series of commendations and recommendations easily fits into everything that we do, and more importantly, maybe keeps momentum going in areas that just give us a lot of joy… It’s a nice pat on the back that we are not only doing what we say we’re doing, but also that we have a strong vision for the next five to 10 years at Trinity.”

Concluding his presentation to the assembled school on November 18, Committee Chair Scott Kennedy, head of school at Norfolk Collegiate School thanked all of the people that contributed to the process. “This has been one of the most inclusive processes that we’ve seen,” he said. “You all do exactly what you say you do. You talk about community, you talk about connecting to one another and you talk about how you all are interconnected and really a family. And, as we leave, I think all of us have got a little bit of Titan Spirit.”

“Your parents feel the same way about Trinity as you do. They feel like they are welcome here. They feel like they belong here and this is a community that has welcomed and valued them."

—Jay Lasley, Head of School, Hampton Roads Academy

Accreditation BY THE NUMBERS

Trinity’s 10-year Accreditation in 2025 required the work and input of the entire community. The results are reaffirming and encouraging as we look ahead to the next 10 years.

Compiled here are excerpts from the VAIS report itself, along with qualitative and quantitative responses from the community surveys that Trinity parents, students and alumni completed in 2025.

As the accreditation evaluated the school’s current five-year strategic plan (Ever Onward: 2023-2028), so too did the findings listed here.

FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Showing a strong commitment to advancing best practices and staying at the forefront of educational pedagogy.

PILLAR

I: EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Faculty or staff received funding for Professional Development during the 2024-2025 school year 74

EXTENSIVE COURSE OFFERINGS

The school’s extensive course offerings highlight the faculty’s strong and varied content expertise and give students the flexibility to build schedules that fit their interests and needs.

Faculty or staff who have already applied for funding for the 2025-2026 school year 61 IB Courses 30+

As one student shared, Trinity is a place where students are encouraged to “diversify their [academic] portfolios,” and it is clear that the school is giving faculty the tools they need to support students on their unique and varied paths.

PILLAR

II: NAVIGATING COMPLEXITIES

In their own words:

Every day students have a “Discovery Period” that allows for students to meet as clubs, get additional help from teachers, or try something new like line dancing. All 8th and 9th grade students are enrolled in the “Titan Prep” course. This course allows for an introduction to what it means to be a Titan and gives them tools to be successful.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is authentically interwoven in the culture of the school, evident through the “discover your path” anchor to belonging and reinforced by institutional structures such as the Titan Prep program, Episcopal identity (and Chapel program), and an active, collaborative, and impactful DEI advisory committee.

“Many organizations claim to value “discovering your path”, but Trinity really lived that mission statement. I felt like students with all sorts of different gifts and interests were valued and celebrated at Trinity, and students were supported in exploring all different paths. At Trinity, I was encouraged to try new things in the classroom, music, art, sports, clubs, etc. - and found some passions that I never expected and likely wouldn’t have found if I’d gone to another school.” — Trinity alum

“Trinity was a place I felt welcome to every day. Where I was challenged and yet celebrated. The lessons I learned from my teachers and mentors, I still carry to this day.” — Trinity alum

Parent Feedback:

“Thanks for your approach and how you are pushing my son to think, problem-solve, and develop perspectives on the world. The types of conversations we have sometimes is a byproduct, in large part, from his Trinity experience. It's some of the best money I spend.” — Trinity parent

PILLAR III: PARENT PARTNERSHIPS

A theme throughout the visiting team’s engagement with parents at Trinity is that they felt welcomed and comfortable here in ways they often did not when touring and/or applying to other area independent schools. Parents noted a genuine atmosphere of warmth and welcoming at Trinity, a notable lack of cliques (or at least not as overtly a presence of them) as at K-12 schools where students and parents had been together for years prior to high school.

In their own words:

“I like that as a parent when I am on campus, my son's friends and teammates will say hello to me. I think it shows the students desire to include everyone in their community. The staff and teachers are all very welcoming and kind when I am on campus or have a question.” — Trinity parent

“Parents appreciate the multiple layers of diversity–socio-economically, culturally, and geographically–and this seems to be a key element of parents feeling engaged in the school community.” — VAIS Report

PILLAR IV: CAMPUS & FACILITIES

Trinity operates on a 42-acre campus that is well-maintained, visually pleasing, and whose layout serves to foster a sense of community between and amongst students, faculty, and staff. The campus is largely landlocked with infrequent and limited opportunities to expand the campus footprint. Within this constraint, Trinity has shown creativity in planning new construction opportunities and by repurposing spaces to adapt to changing needs.

Trinity has invested heavily in security technology and equipment to create a safer campus.

In their own words:

“Trinity has shown creativity in upgrading facilities by repurposing facilities to a new best use, and through a creative approach to new construction, such as the digging out of the bottom level of Morgan Hall.” — VAIS Report

Trinity enjoys tremendous support from parents, students, and alumni in gifts of time, talents, and financial contributions. The school has invested in supporting a culture of philanthropy through communication outlets, events, and digital media.

In their own words:

“I value that our students feel safe to be themselves in a supportive environment, surrounded by others that genuinely want to see them succeed. This supportive essence is hard to define but extremely palpable.” — Trinity Board Member

“Everyone is friendly and the TES community has a bond formed through shared experiences, common values, and a shared goal of wanting the best for our kids/students.”

— Trinity Board Member

“Helping students discover their own path is the most compelling value proposition offered by Trinity that ties back directly to the school's mission and philosophy.” — Trinity Board Member

Titan Impact: Your Gifts in Action

At Trinity, every gift strengthens our community and continues to provide valuable experiences and opportunities for our students. From faculty and trustees to parents, grandparents, and alumni, this support makes a difference every day. Your generosity fuels our mission, enhances academic and extracurricular programs, and ensures that every Titan thrives. Together, we are building a legacy of excellence, shaping future leaders, and fostering a spirit of giving that extends far beyond the classroom.

TRINITY’S PHILANTHROPY BY THE NUMBERS

So far this school year, we’ve seen a record-number of participants in philanthropy. The figures in this report are current as of March 31, 2026.

100% Trustee participation

29% Current total parent participation

5% Grandparent participation

$23,010 Faculty/staff giving (including outstanding pledge payments)

$118,791 Parent giving

$279,465 Grandparent giving year to date

68 Grandparent donors

84 Faculty/Staff donors

136 Parent donors

395 Grandparents Day attendance

128

Titan Society member households (gifts of $1000 or more)

340

Parents, alumni, faculty & friends attended the annual Oyster Roast

102 Alumni Reunion attendees

ALL FOR TRINITY! 2025 Giving Day Raises the Bar

On a Thursday in early November, alumni, parents, grandparents and friends came together for what proved to be one of the most successful Giving Days in school history. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Titan community, more than 350 donors contributed over $135,000 to the Annual Fund, providing vital support for programs across academics, athletics, the arts and more.

The energy throughout the day was palpable. Our development team transformed the Goodman Room in Morgan Hall into a vibrant hub of philanthropy, where faculty, staff, students, and volunteers worked together to celebrate the spirit of giving that defines our community. The room buzzed with excitement as gifts came in and milestones were reached throughout the day.

As a special thank you to faculty participation in Annual Giving, teachers enjoyed treats from a visiting coffee truck, while students celebrated the successful day of philanthropy with cupcakes in the courtyard.

Giving Day continues to serve as a powerful reminder of what makes our community so special. The collective commitment of our alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends ensures that we can continue to provide exceptional opportunities for our students in every area of school life.

“I am always proud to be a Titan,” said Sam Mickens, Development Director. “But on days like Giving Day, I am truly inspired by our philanthropic spirit and community giving.”

Titan Tee-Off

Philanthropy Golf Tournament Returns to Trinity

On Monday, October 6, alumni, parents, coaches and friends of Trinity convened at Salisbury Country Club for the revival of Trinity’s annual philanthropic golf tournament, now dubbed the Titan Tee-Off, presented this year by the Trinity Parents Association (TPA). Nearly 100 golfers enjoyed a sunny, warm October day on the links, raising over $25,000 for the school’s athletic program.

After 18 holes, participants gathered for a catered BBQ lunch to hear the results and awards. The winning score to par was -17 (55) by the three-person team of Brian Kagey, Tom Scioscia and Kellen Roach.

“This generosity makes a real difference for our student-athletes and helps strengthen the programs that shape their growth both on and off the field,” said Development Director Sam Mickens. “We are deeply thankful for our partnerships and everyone’s commitment to Trinity.”

Mark your calendars for Monday, October 5, 2026, when we will reconvene at Salisbury for the second installment of this popular event. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Please contact development@trinityes.org.

1st Annual Golf Tournament Supporting Trinity Episcopal School OCTOBER 6, 2025

Presented by the:

Sponsors:

Cart Sponsor:

Hole Sponsors: TRINITY PARENTS ASSOCIATION

FALL/WINTER ATHLETICS

CROSS COUNTRY

HEAD COACH: Evan Leach (2nd Season)

CAPTAINS: Matthew Waidelich ’26, Molly Heston ’26, Kailyn Harris ’28, Olivia Rodenhaver ’26

W/L RECORD: Girls: 5th at LIS, 11th at VISAA (States)

Boys: 6th at VPL, 16th at VISAA (States)

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-League: Kailyn Harris ’28 (Runner-Up), Matthew Waidelich ’26 (8th place)

All-State: Kailyn Harris ’28 (4th place)

All-Metro: Kailyn Harris ’28 (Honorable Mention)

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Kailyn Harris's 2nd-place finish at the LIS Championship was a huge moment for our program. Not only did she have the best finish of her career, but she also beat several girls for the first time that season.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

The final regular season meet of the season at Collegiate was one of the more memorable performances as a whole. Nearly the entire team PR'd, including Whitt Warren ’30, who cut over 7 minutes off his 5K. These PR's validated the time, effort and countless miles they put in through the summer and fall.

COACH’S REMARKS:

We wanted to see both teams improve upon their team performance at the league and state championships. With limited numbers, especially on the girls’ side, we knew it would be difficult but were confident in this group. Once our team started not just running for themselves, but each other, we saw every single athlete fighting just a little bit more to the finish. At the Patrick Henry Invite, the boys' team proved just how much potential there is within this program, with 5-6 underclassmen showing that they are invested and are willing to put in the work to reach that potential down the line. On the girls' side, Maddy Copeland ’29 was a reliable No. 2, proving that she has a bright future in the sport. Both the boys and girls teams have a solid core of returners that will be looking to build off the momentum going into next season. Losing our seniors will be tough, but I'm confident that this group can set a new precedent for the standard of Trinity XC.

FIELD HOCKEY 2025

FIELD HOCKEY

HEAD COACH: Margie Vaughan Snead ’85 (28th season)

CAPTAINS: Lilah-Grace Logan ’26, Sara Grace Boykin ’26, Anna Riesser ’26, Avery Johnson ’26, Ainsley McNeer ’26

W/L RECORD: 19-1-1 overall (VISAA State Champions); 5-1-1 League (LIS Champions)

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-LIS: Margie Snead ’85 (Coach of the Year), Anna Riesser ’26 (Player of the Year), Lilah-Grace Logan ’26, Avery Johnson ’26, Cabel Berkeyheiser ’27

All-State (1st Team): Anna Riesser ’26, Lilah Grace Logan ’26, Avery Johnson ’26, Cabel Berkeyheiser ’27

All-Metro (1st Team): Anna Riesser ’26 (Player of the Year) Avery Johnson ’26, Lilah-Grace Logan ’26; (2nd Team)

Cabel Berkeyheiser ’27; (Honorable Mention) Reece Eckenrode ’27, Julia Riesser ’28, Olivia Francis ’28

NFHCA ALL SOUTH REGION: Anna Riesser ’26 and Lilah-Grace Logan ’26

NFHCA All-American: Anna Riesser ’26 (2nd Team)

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

Lilah Grace Logan's return from her ACL injury; Macky Logan's goal off of Cabel Berkeyheiser's assist in the final seconds of the LIS Championship.

COACH’S REMARKS:

After losing our first game in the state semifinals last year, the girls set their sights on making the championship game this season. We have traditionally been a poised and skillful team, and the girls work very well together by taking advantage of the strength of the team. But we knew that only got us so far last year. We need to dig deep and play with grit, determination and relentlessness. The LIS final was a huge momentum swing as we moved into the state tournament. Winning the game in the final moments with a nevergive-up and never-give-in attitude reflected the style of play that earned them the state championship. The girls trusted each other. No single player tried to take on too much. They truly were greater than just the sum of their parts. They played with poise and a sense of joy. They didn't fear what came next; they simply wanted to keep playing with one another. They were a pleasure to coach and so much fun to watch.

BOYS SOCCER

HEAD COACH: Brian Phillips (29th season)

CAPTAINS: Cole Ferrell ’26, Grayson Buelow ’26, Sam Adelaar ’27

W/L RECORD: 5-10-4

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-VPL: Brycen Furgurson ’27

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Charlie Witthoefft ’28 led the team with 28 points (13 goals and 2 assists)

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

Big shutout win over Covenant on senior day; Tying a ranked Woodberry Forest team on the road 2-2 with only 13 active players due to injury; Nick McDonald ’26 returning from injury to help the team down the stretch to finish out his career.

COACH’S REMARKS:

A large influx of young players made this an exciting year to watch Trinity boys soccer. While the results weren't what the boys wanted at the end of the day, they were able to prove to themselves and their opponents that they could hang tight with the best of the best in the state. Cole Ferrell ’26 at goalkeeper completed a two-year run at starter where he was one of the strongest in the VPL. Senior defender Grayson Buelow slotted in alongside Oscar Leemon ’29 to headline a group that came into its own to only allow an average of 1.5 goals over the last 8 games. Alex Peterson ’29, Merrit Peterson ’29, Reid Woodward ’29 and Che Johnson ’29 all gave strong offensive efforts to back up the firepower of Charlie Witthoefft ’28 (13 goals) and All-VPL forward Brycen Furgurson (6 goals 6 assists). With captain and engine of the team Sam Adelaar ’27 returning in the middle of the pitch next year and experience in the pockets of all the returning underclassmen, it should be interesting to see what this team is capable of doing.

VOLLEYBALL

HEAD COACH: Elizabeth Ragland (2nd season)

CAPTAINS: Mia Jung ’26, Anna Rohrs ’26

W/L RECORD: 3-17

COACH’S REMARKS:

Despite what the final record showed, the girls fought hard all year and had some really close matches. This year’s team was so much fun to coach. The closeness that they developed over the season was something a coach wants to see. We had some young players and players that were not used to the varsity level of play, but they learned quickly and were able to adapt. I am looking forward to next season, where many of our starters will be returning and to hone in on their skills and make it a winning season.

GIRLS TENNIS

HEAD COACH: Joanna Pfluger (2nd season)

W/L RECORD: 9-6

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-LIS: Joanna Pfluger (Co-Coach of the Year); Susanna Whitehead ’26 (Player of the Year), Caroline Avery ’26 All-State (1st Team): Susanna Whitehead ’26

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

One of my personal highlights was seeing the girls give their whole selves on the court, even when we were not winning. That is where true strength shows — through the spirit of never giving up. A great example was our away match at Episcopal, when our number six, Hadley Bald ’27, was down 1–6 and faced multiple match points. She fought back and won in a tiebreaker. We could not have been more proud of her resilience and determination.

COACH’S REMARKS:

If there was a defining theme this season, it was resilience—both on and off the court. The players consistently demonstrated competitive drive and a strong team-first mentality. Several matches required the team to compete through adversity, and those moments revealed both strengths and areas for growth. We used both our wins and losses to build better tactics for the next match. Throughout the season, we saw clear growth in our ability to stay aggressive while maintaining control, and our doubles teams showed significant improvement in strategy and execution. I believe in involving the entire team in the most important aspects of competition, especially supporting one another. The players who do not make the lineup are assigned or volunteer to support specific teammates, staying fully engaged and focused on encouraging them. That unity and energy made a real difference for us this season. With 12 seniors on the varsity team, it was a unique and special experience for them to finish their high school careers together on the varsity team. Next season will bring a brand-new team dynamic, which is both a little scary and very exciting. It will be interesting to watch new leadership and chemistry develop.

FOOTBALL

HEAD COACH: Sam Mickens (13th season)

CAPTAINS: Davion Brown ’26, Sam DeFrancesca ’26, Mason Love ’26, Miles Love ’26, Ben Rosen ’26

W/L RECORD:

2-1 (tied for Prep League Championship)

9-2 (advanced to the VISAA state title game)

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-VPL (Offense): Carson Parks ’26 (RB), Miles Love ’26 (OL), Deuce Beamon ’27 (OL), Davion Brown ’26 (WR, Player of the Year) Sam DeFrancesca ’26 (TE); (Defense) Trey Cherry ’27 (DA), Ben Rosen ’26 (LB) Mason Love ’26 (LB), Khalid Rainer ’27 (CB), Kyan Montgomery ’26 (DL)

All-State (1st Team) (Offense): Davion Brown ’26 (Player of the Year), Carson Parks ’26 (RB), Miles Love ’26 (OL); (Defense) Kyan

Montgomery ’26 (DL), Khalid Rainer ’27 (DB), Mason Love ’26 (LB), Trey Cherry ’27 (DA); (Second Team) (Offense): Sean Hargan ’26, Sam DeFrancesca ’26

All-Metro (1st Team), (Offense): Davion Brown ’26 (Player of the Year); (1st Team, Defense) Khalid Rainer ’27; (2nd Team, Offense) Carson Parks ’26, Miles Love ’26; (Honorable Mention) Ben Rosen ’26, Mason Love ’26, Sean Hargan ’26

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Davion Brown ’26 broke Trinity’s all-time career receiving record (3,090 yds) and, at the time, the Richmond-area career receiving record. Brown’s 35 receiving TDs (T-2nd Metro) and 144 receptions (4th Metro) are also TES records.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

An early home statement win against a very strong Woodberry team; a last-minute comeback victory over cross-town rival Benedictine in one of the most thrilling games in recent memory to close out the regular season and secure a home playoff game.

COACH’S REMARKS:

The 2025 Trinity football season was defined by leadership and resilience. This year’s team was led by an incredibly strong and unified group of seniors from top to bottom, setting the tone for everything we set out to accomplish. While we ultimately fell short of winning our third state championship in five years, our team accomplished a great deal along the way. We earned a share of the Prep League title for the third time and secured the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. I want to thank Titan Nation, our administration and everyone who supported our program this season. Your support matters, and we feel the love from near and far! We promise to continue upholding “The Standard” that Titan Football has become known for.

BOYS BASKETBALL

HEAD COACH: Andrew Blazar (5th season)

CAPTAINS: Keaton Gregory ’27, Maddox Patrick ’27, Kevin Cronheim ’27

W/L RECORD: 6-4 in VPL (3rd Place), advanced to semifinals; 13-11 overall

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-VPL: Keaton Gregory ’27 and Jeremiah Robinson ’29

VPL All-Tournament Team: Jackson Rutley ’27

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

A dominant win at Benedictine and a comeback win at Woodberry, which started a 4-game winning streak that ended in a 2-point road loss in the VPL semifinals.

COACH’S REMARKS:

With only one returning starter from 2025, this year’s team was young, but balanced, with many players having games with 20-point performances. Averaging 2.5 more assists per game than the previous season, the team emphasized turning defense into offense, playing fast and sharing the basketball. Despite falling short of our goals to win the Prep League and advance in the state tournament, this young team earned valuable experiences. This is a really exciting time for Trinity Basketball as the Titans bring back almost the entire roster to build on our experience from this season.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

HEAD COACH: Adam Lonon (9th season)

CAPTAINS: Frances Fischi ’26, Sutton Eldredge ’27, Caroline Ashoff ’27

W/L RECORD: 3-2 in LIS (3rd place), advanced to semifinals; 13-8 overall, No. 6 in VISAA, advanced to quarterfinals

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All-LIS: Frances Fischi ’26 and Sutton Eldredge ’27

All-State (2nd Team): Sutton Eldredge ’27

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Career-high 30 points from Sutton Eldredge ’27 against St. Catherine's; Finished season ranked No.7 in Metro Richmond by the Times-Dispatch.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

After losing by 30 points in a scrimmage to the Miller School at the start of the season, we played them to start January and came out with a 71-66 win. It felt like a defining moment because it showed just how far we'd come in such a short period of time.

COACH’S REMARKS:

Our team goals were to beat the Richmond teams (Collegiate, St. Catherine’s, St. Gertrude), finish in the top 2 in the LIS tournament and make it to states. Record-wise, we had fewer losses than last year, but unfortunately, due to the ice storm, we missed three very winnable games, which would have improved our overall record. The team was filled with amazing leadership behind our three captains; they showed up every day with a growth mindset, and the goal was consistently to be better than the game before. Next year, I’m looking forward to another year of growth with a strong group of returning seniors, and I’m excited for what Trinity basketball holds in the future.

SWIM & DIVE

HEAD COACH: Wells Bridgforth ’12 (1st season)

CAPTAINS: Kelan Davoud ’26, CC Caramucci ’27

W/L RECORD: Boys: 3rd place in the VPL, 7th place in VISAA Girls: 5th place in the LIS

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

Aidin Muminovic ’27: All-State in 50m freestyle (1st), All-Prep in 100m butterfly (1st), All-Prep in 100m backstroke (2nd), All-

Athletics

American in 100m backstroke; Ryan Mariscalco ’27: All-Prep in 200m freestyle (3rd), All-Prep in 500m freestyle (3rd); All-State (2nd) 400m freestyle relay (Ryan Mariscalco ’27, Sam Adelaar ’27, Cole Dameron ’28, Aidin Muminovic ’27) All-Prep (1st)

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Aidin Muminovic ’27 broke the school's 100m backstroke record, tied the school's record in the 50m freestyle and achieved AllAmerican status. The boys' 400m relay team was a big scorer for our Prep League Championship and State Championship.

COACH’S REMARKS:

Our big goals for the season were to make it fun and to feel like a family. We made lots of progress towards this throughout the season with lots of swimmers stepping into leadership positions in and out of the pool. "Swimming Fast is Fun" is the go-to quote from Assistant Coach Tess Andres. This energy of working hard, so the swimming fast and competing part can be fun is a mantra the swim team lives by. We have had a few years of large senior classes, so this was definitely the smallest the team has been in a long time. We were small, but mighty, and the team came together and had an amazing season. I'm so excited for the incoming class, and I can't wait to see where the AquaTitans go next.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

HEAD COACH: Evan Leach (2nd season)

CAPTAINS: Lucy Versen ’26, SG Boykin ’26, Kailyn Harris ’28, Ainsleigh Jones ’27, Vincent Barrafato ’26, KJ Harris ’27, Sam Adelaar ’27

W/L RECORD: Girls: 3rd place in LIS; 6th place in VISAA (states)

Boys: 6th place in VPL; 13th place in VISAA (states)

ACCOLADES/AWARDS:

All LIS/VPL: Maddy Copeland '29 (3rd place, 4x400m); Kailyn Harris ’28 (Co-Runner of the Meet; 1st place, 1600m; 2nd place, 3200m, 3rd place, 4x400m); KJ Harris ’27 (2nd place, Triple Jump); Tabby Johnson '28 (1st place, 4x200m); Ainsleigh Jones ’27 (1st place, 500m; 1st place 4x200m; 3rd place, 300m); Haddie Knight ’29 (2nd place, Pole Vault); Ashlyn Nelson '27 (1st place, 4x200m); Reagan Perkinson '27 (3rd place, 4x400m); Lucy Versen ’26 (Co-Runner of the Meet; 1st place, 55m; 1st place 4x200m; 2nd place, 300m); Layla Wintsch ’26 (3rd place, 55m hurdles; 3rd place, 4x400m);

VISAA State Champions: Ainsleigh Jones ’27 (500m, 7th all-time in VISAA history) Kailyn Harris ’28 (3200m)

All-State (Top-4): Kailyn Harris ’28 (3rd place, 1600m); KJ Harris ’27 (4th place, Triple Jump); Tabby Johnson '28 (2nd place, 4x200m); Ainsleigh Jones ’27 (2nd place, 4x200m, 4th place, 300m); Ashlyn Nelson '27 (2nd place, 4x200m); Lucy Versen ’26 (2nd place, 300m; 2nd place, 4x200m, 4th place, 55m)

RECORDS/MILESTONES:

Lucy Versen ’26 set new school records in the 55m (7.23) and 300m (40.65); the 4 x 200m team of Ainsleigh Jones ’27/Lucy Versen ’26/Ashlyn Nelson '27/Tabby Johnson '28 ran the 2nd fastest time in VISAA history and broke the school record; Ainsleigh Jones ’27 set a new school record in the 500m; Haddie Knight ’29 had a dominant first season in pole vault, ranking as the No. 1 freshman in Virginia (by 2.5 feet), the 11th best freshman in the country, and No 2. in the state.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

The girls’ team scored the most points at the VISAA State Championship in school history, notching their best finish at LIS since 2013. KJ Harris ’27 scored a combined 20.5 points for the boys’ team at the Prep League and VISAA State Championship.

COACH’S REMARKS:

In such an individualized sport, finding ways to maintain a team-first culture can be difficult. This sport is incredibly challenging, both physically and mentally, and the key to success is to buy into that discomfort and grit. Our team increasingly embraced this approach throughout the season, and it helped them perform at their best at the league and state championships, especially on the girl's side. Next year, the girls will be looking to finish within the top-5 at the VISAA State championships. The boy's team has a ton of potential and are just a few pieces away from being a dominant program at the league and state levels. Both sides return the majority of their postseason competitors, so the future looks very bright for the boys and girls!

HEADLINE MAKERS

Banner Year

On a last-second goal from Macky Logan ’28, Trinity defeated the Collegiate Cougars 3-2 to claim their eighth LIS title in field hockey on October 30. Nine days later, the Titans faced the Cougars in a rematch to determine the state champion. This time, it wasn’t as close, and the Titans ended their season on top with a 5-2 victory at St. Catherine’s Julie Dayton Field. “They fell behind twice in the championship game before pulling ahead by 3 goals,” said Margie Snead ’85, head coach. “It was the perfect culmination of all of the hard work and passion they put into this season.” Anna Riesser ’26 was named LIS and Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year and All-American, while Snead was named LIS Coach of the Year. The team finished 2025 ranked No. 9 in the nation.

Prep League Champs

With their 40-6 victory over Woodberry Forest on September 13, Trinity clinched a share of the 2025 Prep League championship. The Titans’ record of 9-2 reflects their most wins in a season since 2022. The Titans advanced to the state championship game for the fourth time in five years before falling to Benedictine in the final.

Unstoppable

Fueling the Titans’ near-championship run in 2025 was electric wide receiver Davion Brown ’26. His relentless offense overpowered opposing defenses and led to him being named VPL, VISAA and All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year. His career 3,090 receiving yards (2nd all-time, RVA Metro), 35 receiving touchdowns (T-2nd, RVA Metro) and 144 receptions (4th, RVA Metro) are all TES records. Next year, Brown will continue his playing career in Blacksburg with the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Double Duty

Sam Adelaar ’27 qualified for states in two different sports this winter, scoring (placing) in both the state meets for both swim and indoor track. As a swimmer, was a part of the 4x400 free relay team that placed 2nd and earned all-state honors, and the breaststroke leg of the 4x200 medley team that scored placing 7th. As a runner, Adelaar ran on the 4x200 relay team that placed 6th in the state.

USA Hockey

After advancing through multiple tryout rounds, it was announced that Olivia Francis ’28 was named to the USA U-16 national field hockey team for the upcoming national competitions. She will be heading with the team to the Netherlands to compete against the best U-16 national teams of Europe.

International Trade Game

Griffin Garnett ’25 made history this winter with a recordbreaking transfer from the Richmond Kickers to Hungarian powerhouse Ferencvárosi TC for a six-figure fee. The Richmond native, who grew up attending Kickers matches, is now on the path to competing among Europe’s elite — and potentially in the Champions League. “This is a team effort,” said Kickers Chairman Rob Ukrop. “His mom, his dad, his family, friends, network, folks at Trinity — all those things have poured into him.”

SIGNS OF GREATNESS

Parents, family, coaches and students gathered in the Estes Athletic Center this fall and winter to celebrate 19 Trinity seniors their national letters of intent to compete in intercollegiate athletics next year. Coaches reflected on their individual experiences with each athlete, shared words of praise and encouragement and also expressed their appreciation for what each senior contributed to their team and school community.

FALL 2025 SIGNEES

Vinnie Fischi (baseball) — George Mason University

Owen Giesen (baseball) — Hampden-Sydney College

Jalen German (baseball) — Coastal Carolina University

Ruby Mills (lacrosse) — Roanoke College

Sydney Bourne (lacrosse) — Barton College

Kensey Foster (lacrosse/basketball) — Susquehanna University

Frances Fischi (basketball) — Randolph-Macon College

Lilah Grace Logan (field hockey) — Penn State University

Anna Riesser (field hockey) — Old Dominion University

Avery Johnson (field hockey) — St Joseph's University

WINTER 2026 SIGNEES

Davion Brown (football) — Virginia Tech

Carson Parks (football) — Christopher Newport University

Mason Love (football) — Howard University

Miles Love (football) — Howard University

Sean Hargan (football) — Morgan State University

Hugh Stone (football) — Carnegie Mellon University

Sam DeFrancesca (football) — University of Richmond

Kyan Montgomery (football) — Hampden-Sydney College

Jack Brotherton (football) — Roanoke College

COMING HOME

From the youngest toddler to the most senior alumni — exciting new events, provided fun for everyone at this year’s Homecoming

With an expanded schedule featuring off-campus events like an Alumni Happy Hour and the revival of the annual golf tournament — in addition to the annual Oyster Roast and Alumni Reunion under the tent in Dunn Courtyard — Homecoming Weekend 2025 was bigger and better than ever.

For alumni, the weekend’s festivities kicked off with a happy hour gathering at The Veil Brewery, where out-of-town travelers connected with local classmates in Richmond’s vibrant, post-industrial Scott’s

On Friday night, nearly 350 alumni, parents and friends enjoyed a perfect fall evening under the tent in Dunn Courtyard at the annual Oyster Roast. Special thanks to oyster sponsor and Tuckahoe Seafood owner Drew Lucas '98, as well as Chris Markunas ’01 and his band "Cheap Comfort," who kept the mood festive all evening long.

Reunion class alumni arrived early in the evening to reconnect and pose for their class photos. The prize for the largest turnout went to the class of 1985, celebrating their 40th reunion. Tied for second were the class of 2000, marking their 25th, and the class of 2005, marking their 20th. Special thanks

to our Reunion Class Captains for planning class gatherings and rallying their classmates to attend.

On Saturday morning, more than 100 alumni, former faculty, family and friends gathered in Dawson Commons, behind the Academic Building, to celebrate the legacy of the late Page Mauck, former Trinity math teacher and environmental enthusiast. Rededicated in his memory, the Page Mauck Sustainability Garden will continue to serve as a vital connection to the natural world for Trinity students (see next page).

Following strong performances all week long by Trinity varsity athletes — including home victories by the boys soccer, field hockey and girls tennis teams — the football team defeated Anacostia High School from Washington, DC, on Saturday afternoon in Aycock Stadium. In addition to the on-field action, Titan fans enjoyed a vibrant family fun zone with pumpkin decorating and an Alumni Tailgate in a special section behind the south end zone.

Special thanks to the volunteers, staff, attendees and student leaders who teamed up to make 2025 Homecoming Week the best ever. Go Titans!

Alumni

A SUSTAINABLE LEGACY

Rededicated in memory of Page Mauck, Sustainability Garden to continue as a vibrant hub of connection to the natural world

Over 100 alumni, family, former faculty, friends and guests attended a special program on the morning of Saturday, October 4 to rededicate the Page Mauck Sustainability Garden in memory of the late Page Mauck, 35-year-veteran Trinity teacher, coach and environmental enthusiast.

Former colleagues and family members spoke of Mauk’s enduring legacy of “connection and authentic living in the outdoors” along with his visionary leadership for Trinity in the areas of sustainability and ecology.

Kathryn Mauck ’05 thanked the guests in attendance for their interest and support in finding a suitable way to honor her father’s legacy through a broader sustainability initiative at Trinity.

“This project started about a year and a half ago as a small idea for a memorial bench honoring my dad,” she said. “But after talking to friends, family, alumni and the team here at Trinity, we realized there was a need for something greater — a need for something that could possibly become a movement that reflected who my dad was, his love for the outdoors, his quiet kindness and authentic compassion, the way he encouraged students to be themselves, to care about the world and to care about each other.”

Envisioned as the centerpiece of a campus-wide reimagining of Trinity’s outdoor spaces and gardens, the area is already a hub for students taking sustainability-themed elective courses and the Students for Environmental Action (SEA) Club.

a common language, not only in math and science, but in “the outdoors and for finding creative solutions to tough problems.” Stratton recalled sketching out a plan for the current iteration of the Trinity Outdoor Program on the back of a napkin 15 years ago. He says the program is still thriving and growing every year thanks to its focus on experiential learning. “When students step outside during the school day, something shifts inside them,” he said. “You can see it in their faces, the energy, the confidence, the creativity. It's a different kind of learning that happens.”

Through the popular elective, Active Trail Building, students have already been transforming the property between Trinity and neighboring St. Michael’s Episcopal School into usable park space. In another of Stratton’s new electives, Sustainable Building and Design, “students explore how to create structures in spaces that are functional, durable, and environmentally responsible, balancing human needs with ecological health, minimizing waste and designing for the future.”

Development Director Sam Mickens encouraged attendees to help the school meet its $75,000 goal for the Page Mauck Sustainability Initiative. “Right now we're at just over $23,000 with 68 donors,” he said. “Eventually, we want this to be something that runs through campus, representing a piece of the river, but also a safe space, an inclusive place for everyone.”

Following the program, attendees visited the Mauck Sustainability Garden space at the western edge of campus, where they planted garlic bulbs in the soil and sampled some passionfruit that had been grown by Trinity students. Colin Healy ’08 and Caroline Mauck Healy ’07, alumni husband-and-wife musical duo, performed songs on acoustic guitar. Children decorated rocks for the garden, and guests explored the hiking trails around campus, spreading native wildflower seeds.

As he gave tours of the garden and trails, Stratton reiterated his gratitude for the ways that the legacy of his favorite teacher continues to impact students at Trinity today. “He believed in hands-on learning, the outdoors as a classroom and in students discovering their potential in creative, meaningful ways,” Stratton said. “That's what this project is all about, not just honoring Page's legacy, but continuing it.”

“He believed in hands-on learning, the outdoors as a classroom and in students discovering their potential in creative, meaningful ways.” — Michael Stratton ’02

T H EPAGEMAUCKSUSTAINABILITYINITIAT

If you are interested in learning more about the Page Mauck Sustainability Initiative at Trinity Episcopal School, or would like to support the project, please visit the campaign page.

Alumni SPOTLIGHTS

To the Beat of their Own Drums

For ’90s indie-rock icons Pavement, the groundwork was laid on Pittaway Drive

Often called “your favorite band’s favorite band,” Pavement is credited with influencing a generation of young musicians, while epitomizing the anticommercial attitude of alternative rock music in the ’90s. Although they’ve achieved waves of international success over three decades, even their most strident fans might be surprised to learn that a formative moment in the history of Pavement occurred on the Trinity JV basketball team in the fall of 1980, when Bob Nastanovich ’85 met Steve West ’85.

“We were terrible,” says West, who remembers playing hoops against future-governor Glenn Youngkin’s Norfolk Academy team. West rode the bench, but “Bobby was a great defense guy.” In those days, the varsity team was on the rise, playing tougher schedules each year. “Unfortunately, the JV team that Bob and I were on was up against some guys that looked like they were fully grown with beards.”

By the time they became seniors, their bond had solidified, as the class elected West president and Nastanovich VP. “He won in a landslide,” remembers Nastanovich. “Steve West was so popular and always had really good leadership qualities. He's just a really, really good guy.” Nastanovich remembers squeaking by in his own runoff election. “I have that problem with being a terribly sarcastic person.”

CONTOOCOOK LINE

Classmates like Hanby Carter ’85 and Rob Williams ’85 remember Trinity’s fertile artistic soil, with the support of creative teachers like Pauline Crowling, Marcia Germaine and Will Towles. By the spring of 1983, West, Carter and Williams had joined Michael Bowling ’85 and John Smith ’85 to form a band called The Cellars. “The first gig they ever played was my sister's 16th birthday party on our back deck,” remembers Nastanovich. “What we thought was going to be about 50 people turned out to be about 400. We had to shut it down early.”

The band’s first sets included covers by The Who and The Rolling Stones, but it was always their desire to play originals, says Williams, and there was one band that united them all in their pursuit of an identity. “When we were just starting out in ’83 or ’84, Steve talked us all into going to see R.E.M. in Virginia Beach,” says Williams, who was inspired by the simple but powerful riffs of guitarist Peter Buck. “To say it was a life-changing event is an understatement.”

When Bowling left The Cellars, the foursome briefly changed their name to Stalingrad. But there was a hitch, remembers Carter: “Everywhere we'd play, people thought we were a hardcore punk band, and we weren't.” In need of a new name in a hurry, West turned to best friend Nastanovich, who suggested “Contoocook Line,” a railway reference in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” “He blurted it out, and that's the name we chose, and we stuck with it,” says Carter. Contoocook Line would play together as classmates at VCU, release an album, “Oliver's Garden,” and take a brief shot at the Big Apple before splitting in the early ’90s. “Years later, I was playing some solo shows up in New England and I saw a sign for Contoocook, New Hampshire,” says Williams. “So I followed it to the Contoocook train station and took a picture there… So it’s a real place!”

A SUPPORTIVE SCENE

As Trinity students, West, Nastanovich and their classmates continued to bond musically over local RVA bands too, including The Good Guys, known for a ska-reggae sound, and power-pop combo The Dads. “The Dads were one of the first bands we really looked up to that got a major-label deal,” recalls Carter. The Eccentrics, considered a younger-sibling band to The Dads, were also part of the Trinity music scene at the time and included Chris Burch ’86, Clancy Fraher ’87, and Will Jones ’87. “The Eccentrics were a good band,” recalls West. "Between the two of us, we had the school covered.”

In addition to a few dances and events at Trinity, both bands recall playing Friday-night gigs at the Southampton Recreation Center, where some Trinity parents had organized a weekly, chaperoned teen party called Willfully Active New Generation (WANG). When Fraher first saw Stalingrad at the WANG, he was blown away. "I thought, wow, these guys are at my school?! If they can do it, I can do it. So, in a huge way, that inspired us." The Eccentrics would play together for seven years, bringing their own R.E.M.-inspired rock to the Mid-Atlantic college circuit after Trinity.

“There was always a flourishing, supportive music scene,” says John Mills ’90, Trinity parent and former board member, who remembers idolizing older Trinity musicians. “What was cool about Trinity was you could be an athlete, and also be in a band or be an artist. There were no limiting stereotypes in the community, and you could just explore whatever you were passionate about. I've always felt lucky to have been there.”

THE DJ AND THE DRUMMER

Another big influence on the band was the late Norty Hord ’85, who Williams remembers as being “always a year or two ahead of us in terms

of his musical taste.” While still at Trinity, Horde was already a DJ on WDCE, the student-run radio station at the University of Richmond. “If my band had a demo tape, Norty would play it,” remembers West.

Inspired by Hord, and their mutual fanaticism for punk rock, Nastanovich started his own show at WTJU, the University of Virginia’s studentrun station, when he got to U.Va. in 1985. There, he would befriend fellow WTJU disc spinners Stephen Malkmus and David Berman, and Nastanovich would play the drums on the first recordings for a band called Silver Jews. Nastanovich confesses that despite a love for music and plenty of friends in the industry, “I’d never even thought about playing any music,” he says. “I was just happy to spend every spare penny I had on records, and I really loved being a college radio DJ.”

Nastanovich would later join Malkmus in another musical project: Pavement. The two vocalists carved a sonic dovetail — with Malkmus’ aloof, sardonic lyrics contrasting the piercing screams and call-andresponse of Nastanovich. The group gained an underground following with their debut LP, “Slanted and Enchanted,” but soon they were in need of another drummer, and West was in the right spot at the right time. “Steve West really hit it off with Malkmus, and those two guys pretty much built our entire second album, which, as far as I know, is our most successful,” says Nastanovich of 1994’s “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain,” which spawned the hit single, “Cut Your Hair,” complete with a video on MTV.

With West on the main drum kit and Nastanovich also providing percussion and vocals, the results were a unique sound that was perfectly timed for the post-Nirvana surge of alternative and college rock into the mainstream music scene of the era. “We were entirely satisfied with the ’90s,” says Nastanovich. “I mean, we made five CDs. We got to quit our jobs in ’92 and travel all around the world playing music for the rest of the decade — which was just a crazy idea!” In late 1999, Pavement decided their creative venture had run its course. The hiatus would last for ten

years before the band reunited to tour in support of a greatest-hits record. “A lot of people around us felt like it was a failure, because they thought it could have been a much bigger thing,” says Nastanovich. “But we never thought about that at all. It's been a fantastic run.”

When not on tour with Pavement, West has maintained a music career in the Lexington/Staunton, VA area, where he plays in two bands: Unmastered Masters and Darlington Pair. He is also a stone mason specializing in historic houses in the Shenandoah Valley. Nastanovich parlayed his love of horse racing into a career as a breeder, racer, handicapper and commentator for racing media in both the U.S. and the U.K. “I bought a lot of very slow, cute race horses,” he says. “You'd rather have a fast, ugly one, but you’ve just got to be honest.”

BRIGHT NEW CORNERS

On a balmy fall evening in September of 2025, a queue of vinyl-clutching music lovers snaked through the doors and up to the second floor of the Byrd, Richmond’s historic movie theater in Carytown. Upstairs, Steve West sat with Sharpie in hand, autographing albums and posters for fans who had come to see the screening of a new film: “Pavements.” Days earlier, the Richmond Times-Dispatch had included both him and Nastanovich in their list of “Famous Richmonders from A to Z,” and West was gracious and self-effacing with the crowd of proud locals.

Released in 2024, “Pavements” tells the story of the band's rise, critical praise, dissolution and reunion, chronicling their often tortured relationship with fame and the dilemma of so many popular artists in the ’90s: how to balance success with remaining true to one’s art and avoid “selling out.” Told in a self-referential spiral, the film plays with the concept of the unreliable narrator — following the band as it rehearses for a reunion show, films its own biopic and produces a Broadway-style tribute musical — with the audience wondering all the while whether any of it is real.

More recently, these icons of ironic indie rock have also picked up a Gen-Z following, thanks in large part to one of their more obscure B-sides, “Harness Your Hopes,” becoming a TikTok sensation in 2024. This summer, Pavement has another American tour in the works, including their first stop back in Richmond since playing the Flood Zone more than 30 years ago. Nastanovich hopes both his mother and West’s mother, who now live in the same retirement community, will be there for the homecoming show at The National theater on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The performance has already sold out.

Alumni SPOTLIGHTS

Stamping Your Trinity Passport

Sam Parker ’16 tells Titans to grow by embracing discomfort, taking risks and seizing opportunities at Trinity

The week before Homecoming is a traditional time to welcome alumni back to Trinity to speak at Chapel, and on September 29, the school welcomed Sam Parker ’16 to the podium. Active in athletics, theatre, visual arts and robotics while at Trinity, Parker encouraged current students to branch out and explore the unfamiliar.

Comparing the Trinity experience to an extended international trip — Parker encouraged students to collect as many stamps on the “Trinity passport” as possible: “experiences, adventures, opportunities to grow, have fun, make friends get uncomfortable.”

As an inexperienced 8th grader, Parker took a risk by signing up for the school’s first-ever spring hike on the Appalachian Trail. “I had never been backpacking before, and I didn't know anybody on the trip,” he said. “Little did I know I'd love it. I did it every single fall and spring break for the next four years and had friends join me each time that I went out.”

Parker praised resources unique to Trinity, like the Academic Resource Center (ARC), which he encouraged students to think of beyond just tutoring or study help, but to “help you figure out how you learn and how your brain works.”

After Trinity, Parker graduated from the School of Media Arts and Design at James Madison University and currently works for Brex, a financial services company. The second of three siblings who all went to Trinity (Sage ’12 and Gabriel ’19), Parker's mother, Jennifer Parker, who has taught visual art at Trinity for several years.

“The arts are a super important part of your life,” he said. “Whether you think you're artsy or not, the movies you watch, the clothes you wear, the music you listen to, the books you read, play an important role in the way that you see the world and express yourself within it.”

“[And while] most of you aren't going to be professional basketball players, Olympic track stars or sponsored mountain bikers,” he continued, “how you engage with fitness and athletics now builds a foundation for a healthy and active life.”

Referencing a quote from author Timothy Ferris, “Life punishes the vague wish and rewards the specific ask,” Parker concluded: “Push yourself, give yourself goals and write them down, and go for it!”

No Commercial Breaks

Grayson Rainey ’18 shares a behind-the-scenes look at the skills required for success producing some of the most popular events in live sports

Grayson Rainey ’18 made a virtual visit to Rick Hamlin’s Sports Media & Broadcasting elective in late September to share some wisdom learned from his recent experience working behind the scenes at the Masters, March Madness and the NFL for CBS Sports.

Even though Rainey’s toolkit includes a host of technical know-how, like videography, sound engineering, and statistical research, he says the most important skills are the ones he honed at Trinity: communication and respect for others.

“You meet a lot of different people in this kind of job and one of the things they try to teach us at CBS is to be professional,” he said. “I'm contacting a lot of people during the week for my job, so I'm always trying to be very curious, but respectful of their time.”

“Preparation is the key,” he said of his work creating tape highlights and stat sheets for producers and directors on each broadcast. “Especially on the NFL, I make it a priority to get a lot of work done during the week.” Rainey showed students a research notebook that he compiles each week for the announcer Charles Davis. “I'm compiling research material and articles on the upcoming team, and then I go to FedEx each week, print it out, and then give it to him at our Saturday night production meeting.”

A four-year player and leader on the varsity golf team while at Trinity, Rainey missed the launch of TESPN, the school’s growing sports broadcasting club, by only a year or two. But he is thrilled by the opportunities now available to current Trinity students as well as those on the horizon with the completion of the Morgan Hall Expansion and the creation of a dedicated studio space for TESPN

After Trinity, Rainey graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism and worked in local TV news before joining CBS Sports Golf in 2022. He says the highlights of his time at CBS have been working at the 2024 Masters as well as the UCLA/Hawaii football game in Honolulu last year.

Rainey’s advice to students interested in a job in live sports broadcasting is to expect to make mistakes but be willing to learn from them. “The best thing about this job is you don't feel satisfied after every game,” he said. “You're looking for ways to improve and get better.”

CLASS NOTES

1986

Agustin Rodriguez ’86 and his brother Andres Rodriguez ’89, along with Andres’ girlfriend, Joy, traveled to Munich in late September 2025 to experience the real Oktoberfest. Agustin writes, “Our previous experience in Trinity foreign country exchanges served us well, as the Germans we met marveled at our taste in traditional Bavarian menswear and ability to blend in, despite having no working knowledge of the German language.”

1992

Clay Jackson ’92 shares: “I am now the Executive Director of Carteret Community Theatre in Morehead City, NC. Our theater had been closed since Hurricane Florence destroyed it back in 2018. After seven long years, we are back open and fully rebuilt.”

2001

Chris Markunas ’01 was in London for Thanksgiving and caught up with Kiera Fisher ’21 Kiera finished her master’s program and is currently living in Reading. She says hi to all!

2005

Kathryn Mauck ’05, her husband, Bryan Conklin, and daughter Gwyn welcomed their newest arrival, Adelyn Magaret Major, into their family on September 11, 2025. Addy is the newest grandchild to former Trinity teachers Maureen Mauck and the late Page Mauck.

All Fired Up!

For Molly Sanyour ’01, former Trinity ceramics teacher, the past few years have been "one big leap of faith," she says, "quitting my job, moving to a new state in 2023, starting over to build something I could only see in my head and trusting it would work.” The Molly Sanyour Ceramics Studio has been open for less than a year, but it has already been featured by multiple media outlets, including the Atlanta Magazine “Best Of” edition. Molly contributed a chapter to “Slaying Atlanta,” a book in a series featuring women in different cities who are paving their way and leaving their mark. She also brought back her online show, "Throwing with Molly," where she hosts guests to chat and throw pottery. “One of my notable guests from season two was Jennifer Raymond, Usher's wife, who really doesn't do interviews,” she wrote. Molly said that there is even more to come, but she just can’t share it yet!

2006

Congratulations to Trinity alum Barry O’Keefe ’06, recently named to the prestigious list of Richmond’s “Top 40 Under 40” by Style Weekly for doing important and inspiring work in the community. “Whether as a visual artist working in printmaking, painting and public art, or his work as a creative facilitator at Studio Two Three, O’Keefe’s creative vision is rooted in the history of Richmond, where he was born,” reads the Style accolade, which also praise his work “paying tribute to Richmond’s unsung heroes, particularly its African American trailblazers” through art projects in Gilpin Court, East End and Evergreen cemeteries and more.

2009

Corinne Young Clasby ’09 writes: “As I reflect on 2025, I wanted to announce the birth of our second child, Darien Marcus Clasbey, on January 28, 2025. He was born at the University of Virginia Medical Center and weighed 8 lb., 5.6 oz., and was 21 inches long. 2025 is the year we became parents to two wonderful boys, and watching the brotherly bond between them (the good and the bad) has been one of the significant experiences of this past year. “

Morgan Bass ’09 married Kathleen McLaughlin on November 6, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. Fellow alumni Lauren Bass ’05 and Heather Gerrish ’09 were in attendance. The Bass-McLaughlins now reside in the UK countryside with their two dogs.

2010

Bailey Enochs ’10 married Nick Holtsmith on June 21, 2025, at the Valentine Museum in Richmond. Bailey and Nick have been living in Atlanta, GA, with their two cats for the last 6 years. Bailey works in stream and wetland restoration (mitigation banking and flood attenuation), and her husband, Nick, works in film and sports broadcasting.

Alexander Soulas ’10 and his wife Whitney announce the birth of their son, Wesley James Soulas, on October 25, 2025.

2011

Titans swapping their soccer cleats for dancing shoes were Tappe Grotos Delaney ’15, Caroline Moreno ’15, Lily Senn ’15 and Kasey Newton ’15

Annie Mauck Lokesh ’11 was recognized by ADWEEK as one of the 2026 Most Powerful Women in Sports. She writes: “This recognition reflects something I deeply believe in: sport has a unique power to bring people together. When we serve athletes with respect and fans with intention, we’re not just building leagues or events — we’re creating shared moments, culture, and community. Thankful for the mentors and leaders I’ve had the opportunity to learn from in my short career so far. I can’t wait to see where we go. X Games League has officially launched, and I am grateful to work alongside teammates, and partners who believe in this mission and push it forward every day."

2013

Ashley Morris Houser ’13 and her husband, JR Houser, announced the birth of their first child, a boy named Merrick Robert. Merrick was born on September 8, 2025. Merrick is also the first grandchild of Charlotte Morris, head of Trinity’s math department.

2015

Amanda Placide ’15 married Tripp Uroskie on November 1, 2025, in Luray, Virginia. Julia Placide ’17 was maid of honor and Sara Placide ’21 and Ally Placide ’22 were bridesmaids. Additional

Kendall Daniels Rovinsky ’15 married Max Rovinsky in Maidens, Virginia, on October 26, 2024. Her brother, Parker Daniels ’15, and her sister, Goldie Daniels ’15, were in the wedding party. Nadia Khoury ’15 was in attendance. In May 2025, Kendall received her master of arts in science writing from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Kendall also shared, “This past Homecoming, I reconnected with Jamie Hiegel ’15, Phoebe Samet ’15, Maeve Losen ’15, Giulia Russell ’15, and my sister, Goldie Daniels ’15, at the annual Oyster Roast. We even met up with Jamie and his wife for lunch the next day.”

Anne Forman Warren ’15 and her husband, David, joyfully announce the birth of their first child, Forrest Gregory Warren, on July 11, 2025. The family of three is living in Florida.

2016

Owen Giordano ’16 stopped by campus to see Marcus Jones ’00 and Rob Short. He is living in Alexandria, VA, after graduating from the University of Richmond School of Law. During his visit he reflected on how thoroughly Trinity prepared him for his college experience and his professional path.

Purple Reign

Trinity took a College Road Trip to James Madison University on November 20, 2025 to visit alumni currently enrolled at JMU. Titan faculty members

Maria Bartz and Chris Williamson, both fellow Dukes, joined Rob Short, Sam Mickens, Olivia McGuckin and Lauren Flood to treat our former Titans to lunch. Many thanks to Chloe Aboujaoude ’23, Stella Brakman ’23, Ellie Daglio ’23, Helena Daglio ’23, Caden Clark ’24, Kaitlyn Watkins ’24, Stephon Woodson ’24, Hagan Andrew ’25, Adam Childs ’25, Gino Galvez ’25, David Jennings ’25, Collum Kelley ’25, Kenan Muminovic ’25, and Sophi Thompson 25’ for stopping by and catching up with Trinity family.

A JUBILANT JANUARY

Early January is our favorite time of year to welcome young alumni back to campus!

On Friday, January 9, more than 50 alumni from the classes of 2015– 2025 gathered in the Speight Alumni Room on campus for the annual Young Alumni Luncheon, joyfully reconnecting with each other and their former teachers.

Before the luncheon, members of the class of 2025 were officially presented with their International Baccalaureate Programme diplomas. These college freshmen expressed gratitude for how their Trinity IB preparation is serving them well already in college

Titans Join in the Hoopla!

Nothing brings Titans together quite like basketball! We loved seeing such a great turnout of alumni at our recent Titan Hoopla event in early January. Titans of all ages enjoyed cheering on our basketball teams while connecting and reconnecting with faculty and staff. It was a reminder that no matter where life’s paths take our alumni, Trinity is always home.

Our Annual Loyal Donor Reception was held on Monday, December 15, in the Speight Alumni Room and, once again, proved to be a wonderful, well-attended gathering

Our Titan families enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other community members, faculty, and school leaders during the festive event. The Speight Alumni Room was filled with lively conversation, gratitude, and holiday spirit, making for a truly special evening.

2017

Christopher Benedetti ’17 was married on September 28, 2025, to Mattie Crane at Upper Shirley Vineyards. Titans celebrating the married couple were Caroline Benedetti ’19 as a bridesmaid and groomsmen Jeb Benedetti ’13, David McMurtrie ’17, Will Michael ’17, Federico Parmeggiani ’17 and Jackson Sheppard ’17. Additional wedding guests were Lisa Benedetti ’86, Emma Benedetti Eliasek ’16, Jackson Eliasek ’16, Bobby Oldfield ’16, Lauren DeRoco ’17, Thomas Deutsch ’17, Julia Lawton Deutsch ’17, Aaron Duhart ’17, Grey Haneberg ’17, Zach Jacobs ’17, Benton Knight ’17, Molly Black Knight ’17, Vinny Vivadelli ’17, Davide Parmeggiani ’18 and Sarah Benedetti ’26

Noah Collier ’17 married Faith Ennis on March 15, 2025, at Pro-Cathedral of St. Peter, followed by a reception at the Mill at Fine Creek. Josh Collier ’22 served as best man and Hannah Collier ’19 was a bridesmaid. Noah and Faith are both attorneys in Richmond. Noah practices criminal and traffic defense.

Mary Kern ’17 writes: “On January 25 at 6:30 a.m. after eight long days of hiking, I summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and a Seven Summit. I spent months in preparation for this summit, spending weekends hiking the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia to get my body in peak cardiovascular health. My passion for the outdoors and hiking first emerged during my time at Trinity and has only grown with time. This has been a goal of mine for a few years now and I am excited to see what's next on the bucket list!”

2018

Liam Methven ’18 and Liza Chester ’18 married on December 31, 2025, in Richmond at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Peter. Their wedding and New Year's celebration continued at the Commonwealth Club, filled with Titans. The bridal party included Mary Kate Chester ’09 and Caroline Chester ’15 as maids of honor, Lucy Methven ’12, Grace Methven ’14, Aubrey Scott King ’18 and Ann-Sidney Ragsdale ’23 as bridesmaids.

The groom’s party included Emmett Methven ’10 and Oliver Methven ’16 as best men and Timothy Chester ’11, Drew Acquaye ’18, Sam Bacon ’18, Connor O’Brien ’18, and Davide Parmeggiani ’18 as groomsmen. Also attending the wedding were John Young ’83, Carlyle Crenshaw ’96, Scott Crenshaw ’97, James Crenshaw ’02, Sam Williams ’08, Ryan Carpenter ’18, Tucker Compton ’18, Carly Wright ’18 and Noah Yates ’18

2019

Andrew Davis ’19 shared that he will be graduating from the United States Army flight school as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot for the Virginia National Guard. He will be based in Sandston, Virginia.

2020

Carter W. Hugate ’20 married Madeline Grace Kleinschuster on March 8, 2025.Titan alumni attending the wedding were Alec Singleton ’82, Foster Singleton ’18, Jeremy Singleton ’20, Andrew Arnold ’20, Jack Kenzakowski ’20, Chris Singleton ’22, Sam Singleton ’22 and Parker Woolwine ’23. Titan faculty attending were Chris Hugate, as father of the groom and a groomsman, and Diane Gillert.

2022

Jeff Bell ’22 spent the summer of 2025 managing lighting for a variety of music festivals and artists around the country. Jeff worked the Voices of America festival in West Chester, Ohio. During this four-day music festival, Jeff assisted with the concert lighting for Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker and Shaboozey, among others. Other notable outdoor music festivals where he managed lighting in 2025 include Sonic Temple, Inkarceration, Bourbon and Beyond, Boots on the Bayou and Louder than Life.

2023

2nd Class Cadets Robbie Dunn ’23, Parker Woolwine ’23 and TJ DiLoreto ’23 all received their 2027 Virginia Military Institute Class rings in November 2025.

Valentina Ambrogi-Torres ’23 continues her successful reign as Randolph Macon’s field hockey goalkeeper. She was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Region VI Second Team. The reigning Old Dominion Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year finished with career-bests in saves (155), save percentage (.876), goals allowed per game (1.14) and shutouts (nine). In anchoring nine shutouts, the junior guided her team to the most wins in a single season in the history of the program, including the postseason.

2024

Nathan Sims ’24 was awarded the Spring Meadow–Proven Winners Scholarship for the 2025-26 season. This program supports students dedicated to advancing the horticulture industry through their studies and future careers, recognizing their achievements and commitment to the field. As part of the scholarship experience, Spring Meadow Nursery welcomes its scholarship winners to tour their facilities during the applicable growing season. Nathan is pursuing a degree in landscape architecture at the University of Rhode Island. His academic interests include greenhouse production, horticultural design and sustainable practices. Nathan is interested in integrating plant production with thoughtful design and environmental responsibility.

SERVING UP GREATNESS

Valerie Farmer Ercelebi ’86 was inducted into the Richmond Tennis Hall of Fame on November 19, 2025 in a special ceremony at the Country Club of Virginia. "Tennis taught me far more than strokes and strategy — it shaped my character,” Ercelebi wrote accepting the honor. “From an early age, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication and commitment. I also came to understand sacrifice — not only my own, but the sacrifices my parents made for me. For years, my parents drove me up and down I-95 for clinics and lessons, with weekends spent traveling to tournaments."

After Trinity, where she played at the No. 1 spot, the award noted that she “made history for winning the 1984 and 1985 state women's singles titles, becoming — at age 16 — its youngest champion.” She was an All-ACC athlete at UNC Chapel Hill, taking the ACC title at the No. 1 spot in 1990. She won the city women's championship in 1991 and again 1992. Presenting the honor, the Richmond Tennis Association also stated: “Beyond her competitive career, Ercelebi was also thrilled to be invited to play mixed doubles alongside Tricia Holder, Wade McGuire and Eddie Phillips before an exhibition at the Richmond Coliseum with Bjorn Borg, one of her all-time favorites, and John McEnroe.”

In Sympathy

The Trinity community offers condolences to the families of the following people who have recently passed away. We apologize for any unintentional omissions.

As of March 3, 2026

Dorothy Amore, grandmother of Alexandra Clark ‘21 and Caden Clark ’24 passed away on November 9, 2025.

Frances Fisher Bose ’97 passed away on January 25, 2026.

Shirley Virginia Kell DeRoco, grandmother to Lauren DeRoco ’17 and Kate DeRoco ’24 passed away on March 3, 2025.

Edgar Farnsworth Dickson, father to Charlotte Dickson ’76 and Hearon Dickson ’80, passed away on December 7, 2025.

Dr. Harold Bobby Duhart, father of Aaron Duhart ’17 and Andrew Duhart ’21 passed away on September 12, 2025.

Lathan M. Ewers, Jr., father to Thomas Ewers ’04 passed away on February 3, 2026.

Joseph G Hamlin, Jr., grandfather to Carter Hamlin ’18 and Cole Hamlin ’21, passed away on September 8. 2025.

James William Kelly, Jr., grandfather to Seth Mileski ’24 and Sisi Mileski ’24, passed away on October 26, 2025.

Dennis Malarkey, grandfather to Sage Parker ’23 and Iris Parker ’27 passed away on January 12, 2025.

Dr. Pat Panzarella, grandfather to Anna Turkaly ’21 and Joe Turkaly ’24 passed away on October 19, 2025.

Dr. Gregory Parker Riddick ’86, brother to Scott Riddick ’84, Jennifer Riddick Gorman ’88 and Christopher Riddick ’90, passed away on August 23, 2025.

Marilyn Fox Roach, mother to Mel Roach, Jr. ’82 and Elizabeth Roach Herring ’83 passed away on August 15, 2025.

Dr. Frank Spencer Royal, grandfather to Joe Love ’20, Mason Love ’26 and Miles Love ’26, passed away on February 02, 2026.

“I would not be who I am today without the people along my path who poured into me. Giving means doing the same for those who are next in line.”