SSSAS Summer 2021 Magazine

St. Stephen’s St. Agnes S cho ol

THE CLASS OF 2021

Stephanie Lynn Adrien

Lillian Elizabeth Altree

Victor Manuel Arrate Garcìa

Sameer Aaron Augustine

Analise Marie Bach

Eva Catherine Balistreri

Frances Elizabeth Mason Bavin

William Joseph Braun Beckhorn

Nathaniel Y. Bezuneh

Braxton Damian Bond

Christian Gabriel Borden

Hadley Elizabeth Boston

Margaret Catherine Bradley

Caitlin Seed Bucceri

John Thomas Bucholz

Kyle Middleton Burbage

John Stratton Burnett

Caroline Grace Butler

Ian Thomas Xavier Carr

Charlotte Josephine Carr

Chumani Marie Chamberlain

Jane Chen

Campbell Hill Cooper

Nicolas Pablo Corica

Benjamin Keene Cornick

Jackson Quinn de Vallance

Colin Charles Donovan

Lindsey Elizabeth Donovan

Brett William Dougherty

Olivia Tate Duvall

Sebastian Aleksandr Erb

Nicholas Syrus Falsafi

Hunter Trystan Fogg

John Hobgood Fontham, Jr.

Nora Catriona Fortune

Annabel Damgard Frist

Amanda Veronica Gaffney

Nicolas Garcia-Ippolito

Amy Virginia Gastright

Anna Maria Giardina

Eric Lemont Gordon II

Alex Lowell Griepentrog

Bradyn Kennedi Griffin

Julie Griffin Griswold

Zachary Jeremiah Gunn

Rachelle Phailin Hawkins

Olivia Jane Heck

Timothy John Heck, Jr.

Caroline Deas Heimbach

Peyton Stewart Ames Hensley

Tison D. Hill

Michael Thompson Hines

Kristofer Erik Huber

Emma Elizabeth Alene Hughes

Cristian Joseph Jean-Laurent

Malcolm M. Johnson, Jr.

Candyce Ariana Elise Jones

Ishan Prabhat Kangotra

Brooke Anne Kurtz

Adrienne Wing Suen Lai

Lane Covington Lambeth

Reade Elizabeth Lambeth

Barrett Allen Lathrop

Ryan Thomas Lent

Caroline Beatty Lipton

Madison Grace Lookadoo

Brendan Thomas Machado

Gideon Irvine Munoshamisa

Madenga

Miranda Colquet Majure

Maxwell Hayden Mallett

Aman Mathur

William Francis Matia

Declan Thomas McCue

Kiera Lanae McLean

Andrew Jackson Montague

Sofia Carmina Montgomery

Nicole Juliana Moran

Julian Marquis Mosley

Tyrone Teraz Moss, Jr.

James Emily Mueller

Grace Marie Murphy

Turner Naef

Alexandra Greer Olsen

Gatsby Anastasia Olsen

Kemal Ozdemirli

Anna Bridget Parks

Katherine Campbell Patrick

Jack Christian Pessaud

Rita Mary Peterson

George Edward Pratt III

Nicholas Field Rapallo

Robert William Robinson

Skye Yuan Zhu Schofield-Saba

Catherine Elizabeth Seale

Boschen Tyler Siegel

Lucille Lambeth Siegel

Aden Flynn Smigel

Emily Marie Smith

Tai'Lyn Nikhel Smith

Leilani Malaya Soriano

Sydney Ann Southworth

Tyler John Southworth

Julianna Jenkins Swygert

Louisa Margaret Van Praagh

Treadway

Carlin Grace Trevisan

Danielle Faye Turnage

Christopher Taliaferro Tyler

Sebastian E. Villarreal

Clay Haywood Waller

Joan Marie Dwyer Walsh

Lena Garrison Weiman

Finlay Brand Weiss

Holden Christopher Welter

Elinor Maly-Marie West

Kaitlyn Rose Whalen

Darius Lorenzo Wilson

Olivia Grace Wood

Christopher Jackson Yu

Graduates, until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you safe.

SUMMER MAGAZINE 2021 sssas.org

Head of School

Kirsten Prettyman Adams

Director of Communications

Jen Desautels

Editor Director of Design & Production

Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76

Design

Jameson Bloom ‘13

Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76

Assistant Director of Communications, Digital Media, and Marketing

Mandi Sapp

Communications & Admissions

Associate

Marcia Mallett

Alumni News Advancement Office

Photographers

Jameson Bloom '13

Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76

Marcia Mallett

Questions/Comments

Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76

mmaas@sssas.org

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Published by SSSAS for alumni, current parents, friends, and other regularly supportive members of the school community. © 2021

St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Dear Saints,

There were so many moments this year that truly demonstrated who we are as a Saints community, the most notable being how this community chose to live as Saints. Each day we spent together on campus was a testament to our community's commitment to the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.

Here are a few of the very special moments from this school year—a school year during which each day reflected who we are as a community. This year was possible because of who we are and what it means to be Saint.

I am so proud to be a Saint, and so proud to know each and every one of you.

Be well,

When the Lower School couldn't go on outings, the field trips were brought to campus! Special events included the visit of two alpacas and a goat, Woody the piglet, and the hatching of baby chicks.

Kirsten Adams Head of School

Middle School students participated in an Arts Day of service activities! Each advisory explored and advocated for one of three interdisciplinary applications of the arts to improve the lives of people and the planet: Arts in Education, Arts in Mental Health, and Arts in Public Space.

The Middle School decided some fun was in order and celebrated the 4th of July in December with an outdoor barbecue.

Knowing Halloween couldn't take place in the traditional way, the Upper School Stage One Players created a drive through Halloween Spooktacular, complete with displays and candy giveaways.

As things improved with the pandemic, the Middle School moved the highly anticipated, three-day Mini-courses from March to May. Students chose from a variety of fun, focused, and in-depth courses.

The Upper School Stage One Players livestreamed two performances of “A Wrinkle in Time” in May. The one-act drama is based on the famous novel by Madeleine L'Engle, which tells the story of a young Meg Murry who goes on the adventure of a lifetime to save her father from the forces of evil. An amazing job was done by cast and crew!

The seniors enjoyed two special sunrise chapels, one in the beginning of the year and one for Easter.

MONTEZ ANDERSON '93

Meet the Commencement Speaker

Montez Anderson waited 18 months to deliver his Commencement speech, and then became the first speaker to present twice in one day! He was prepared to speak at the Class of 2020 Commencement on June 6, 2020, but COVID-19 made it impossible to hold the event. So one year later, on Saturday, June 12, 2021, Montez arrived at the Upper School to speak to the Class of 2021 at 9:30 a.m. and the Class of 2020 at 1:00 p.m.— an historic day for him and for the school.

Montez joined the Class of 1993 in Upper School, and through his many volunteer leadership positions has shown an unwavering dedication to St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School.

Montez fondly recalls the conversations he had with the dean of students, Roger Barbee, during breaks in the school day. They had numerous talks about current events, various perspectives on the news, and most importantly they talked about selfperception and self-awareness. Montez still draws on many of these conversations, which helped prepare him to successfully understand human nature and successfully address the challenges of life.

Montez is also grateful for the time he spent with his track and field coach, Joe Deady, who coached his 4X100 relay team to 3rd place at Penn Relays, and a school record that stood for 24 years. Joe modeled leadership and taught his athletes discipline, how to work together and how to trust one another. Montez still remembers Coach Deady saying “We're only as strong as the weakest link, so let's work collectively to build one another up!”

After graduating from SSSAS, Montez received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University. For over the last eight years, Montez has been the president and CEO of Constella Solution, Inc., a full-service public affairs, business development, and strategic consulting firm. Montez manages large scale corporate and grassroots issue

campaigns, builds coalitions of diverse interests and backgrounds, and develops a high-profile network of contacts in both business and politics on the local, state and national level.

Montez has served as a well-respected political adviser to Congressional members in the Senate and House, governors, mayors, and county executives, giving him a breadth of knowledge and access on the federal, state, and local levels.

For the past 14 years, Montez has also dedicated the time to volunteer leadership positions at SSSAS. From 2008-2016, Montez served on the Alumni Association Board, including four years as the Alumni Board president. Under his leadership, the alumni board carried out its own strategic plan and initiated several affinity groups including the very successful Legal Affinity Group and the Alumni of Color Affinity Group. Montez joined the Board of Governors in 2017 and currently sits on the Advancement Committee and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. He continues to tighten the bonds between the Alumni Board and our Board of Governors.

Montez and his wife, Dr. Kelly Epps Anderson, currently reside in Washington, D.C. They became first-time parents on June 21, welcoming Kinsley Madison Epps Anderson!

“As the decision-makers in your respective lives, this commencement is in many ways a coronation to being the sole authority of your destiny.”

MONTEZ ANDERSON '93 2021 COMMENCEMENT

Photo: Clay Perfall, chair of the Board of Governors, Montez Anderson '93, Kirsten Adams, head of school.

DON'T JUST TAKE

The Commencement Address given

by Montez Anderson '93 on June 12.

Resilience…the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. One year and 3 months ago we all had our world “rocked” and turned upside down when the unimaginable took place….a PANDEMIC?.... Stay at home orders? Wait a minute…wait a minute…here?…in the United States? This must be a dream. Oh, but it didn't end there, did it? Racial justice and equality, marches, an intense election, high emotions and even higher stress? If you were like me, you wondered if you were in a Southwest Airlines commercial. “Wanna get away?” Or for the parents and grandparents out there, you probably laid in your bathtub and screamed at the top of your lungs, “Calgon, take me away!” But, in the end I'm confident that we all prayed, “God, please, please bring all of this uncertainty to an end.

Graduates, this past year you've lived in a reality of IF. If this pandemic had never come, what might have been different? If I would've been able to perform in that drama, what role might I have had? If I had been able to compete in my athletic competitions, what might “I” and “we” have been able to achieve. The events of this past year have given us an opportunity to be more introspective, with many lessons learned. Graduates, with everything you've lived through this past year, at an early age, you've probably learned the most valuable lesson in life, that being, “Nothing in this world is guaranteed.” But you've also learned that you can make it through difficult times and thrive!

To that point, the events of this past year have reaffirmed that life is full of peaks and valleys, of wins and losses, of successes and failures…. and while God controls our destiny, we play a role as well. One of being prepared, one of being committed and invested in our work and our words, and one of holding true to our morals and values. You've learned the importance of being creative, how to grow with the flow, and with helping others. To be sitting here today, you had to learn how to pivot and set a new bar for yourself. You had to modify your outlook, and you had to readjust your approach. Most importantly, you

had to learn to manage your expectations. But your resilience allowed you to persevere.

Just think, if you could live through the events of the past 15 months, imagine what you can and will do in the months and years to come. Graduates, the path of life is not straightforward, but it does exist, and you'll find it with God and your faith as your compass. Rest assured that what you've just come through during this pandemic season has shown and taught you more about yourself than a grade in a classroom or score on the field. Don't let fear and uncertainty keep you from your destiny. Allow yourself to remain nimble and agile, and readjust when faced with a crisis, or when things simply don't go your way. Always ask yourself, “What am I supposed to learn from this success or failure that's been thrust upon me?”

As the old adage goes, practice like you've never won and play like you've never lost.

Graduates as you prepare to take this next step, you will be tugged and pulled, and swayed, and yes, at times pushed by well-intentioned individuals. And while you should keep an open mind, and yes, be willing to evaluate and graciously accept advise, don't allow people to dictate your path, as God did not cast you to play a supporting role in your own life

These points reminded me of the last stanza of William Earnest Henly's “Invictus.” It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishment the scroll, graduates, you are the master of your fate, you are the captain of your soul.

As the decision-makers in your respective lives, this commencement is in many ways a coronation to being the sole authority of your destiny.

“Don't be afraid of the circuitous path ahead of you. Know that these past 15 months, and the foundation you received here at SSSAS, has prepared you to face the unexpected with confidence.”

Henceforth, wake up every day with prayer and your faith as your foundation, and with the mindset that you, yes you, will play the leading role in your life story.

DON'T JUST TAKE!

Through life's ups and downs strive to maintain equanimity under duress and equanimity with success. While at times it is easy allow your emotions to run to the extremes, I and many parents, family, and friends can attest to the fact that one of the keys to life is running the race in the middle, not allowing yourself to get too high or too low. Life will challenge you, but your attitude and outlook will determine your altitude.

Looking forward, you have so much ahead of you as you chase what at times will be an elusive and evolving designation of success. What does success mean? How will I feel when I achieve it? Will I want more? Will I be satisfied? And while I can't answer those questions for you, I can say that success isn't achieved by the possession of material things, by money, by titles, or by status. Oh, believe me, those are all wonderful to have, but the satisfaction in all of those things is fleeting, and quite frankly, they lose their luster after a period of time. None of those possessions can sustain a relationship, give you substantive and supportive friends, or more importantly, sustain your happiness.

As I stand before you today, graduates, I'm going to proclaim that true success is living life without regrets. And as we celebrate the commencement of the beginning of the rest of your lives, I ask that you make a promise to yourself today, that you will not live a life of “what if?” What if I listened to my voice? What if I chased my dream? What if I had taken that risk? What if I had believed in my abilities? What if I had trusted myself? What if I had simply been patient? No, take control of your destiny and as the screenwriters of your story, play that leading role with God and Faith as your guide.

Be humble, be gracious, be thankful, and be faithful. Give of yourself to make your communities a better place.

Class of 2021, as I wind down my remarks today, I'm going to leave you with a poem that has been near and dear to me for nearly 30 years—a poem that I pull upon every day. One that keeps me grounded and allows me to face my daily “ifs.”

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on;”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; CLASS OF 2021, if you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run— Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And—which is more—you'll all live lives as Saints.

WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER

The Valedictorian Address given by Adrienne Wing Suen Lai '21 on June 12.

A rooftop garden, spontaneous musical numbers in the cafeteria, hallway, and gym, and “What team? Wildcats!” That's what I thought high school would be like as a child based on my “High School Musical” obsession. I don't want to crush anyone's dreams, but turns out, high school does not include a baseball game featuring a dance off, floor to ceiling posters of star athletes, pink lockers, or the chant “summer, summer, summer” as the final seconds of the school year tick down. While very different from reality, the movies weren't completely wrong. Saints basketball games are just as hype as the Wildcat games, twins are dynamic duos just as fabulous as Sharpey and Ryan Evans, and while fun, senior year is filled with uncertainty.

In the final movie, “High School Musical: Senior Year,” Troy and Gabriella struggle with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Gabriella continually wishes for time to slow, to preserve the bliss of senior year before everything changes. Troy tries to decide what he wants to do in college, basketball and/or theatre, and the stress of his decision culminates in a song where the walls of the school rotate to be the floor, then the ceiling, and then walls again. The ground literally shifts beneath his feet showing the characters' feelings of unstableness.

While many people remember senior year for its last hoorahs and bittersweet joy, the uncertainty stood out to me. It's that feeling the acapella group, the Barden Bellas,

had when breaking from their traditional medley to a bold mash up or when you are at the bottom of the tribe, without an immunity idol, and heading to tribal council. It's the unsettling feeling of not knowing. Not knowing which state you will be living in next year, what college you will attend, if you will know anyone there, what major you'll be, or who you'll see after you leave high school. All you know is that everything as you know it is ending, making room for another reality that you can't picture yet.

While uncertainty accompanies everyone's 12th grade year, I think that a few things made its presence more prominent this year. First, there was COVID. We didn't know if we would have school in person, be able to play sports, perform in a play, take exams, build a robot, or have senior year traditions. We didn't know how the college process would change, if there would be an effective vaccine, if family members could attend commencement, or due to today's weather forecast, when graduation would be.

Also, it was an election year. No one knew who the president would be, what the balance of power would be in the Senate, and if that would change the strategy against COVID.

Lastly, it is a cicada year. Brood X hasn't been seen in 17 years, so we didn't know what effect they'd have on outdoor events or what these bugs really are. We're wondering “What's the point of them? Why are there so many of them? Why are they so loud?” If you want to know, you can ask anyone who took bio this year. We learned all about the cicadas! Way more than any of us wanted to learn!

Amongst all of the uncertainty, one thing I was certain of is that I wouldn't want to graduate with anyone other than you all. I wouldn't rather have had a normal high school experience, been a part of future or past classes, or gone to high school with Woody Harrelson, if it meant not going to school with you all.

I love this grade, I love it a lot. There isn't a better group of people I could have gone to school with for the past 13 years.

I love how our class makes any situation fun. I don't remember the grade, but one time in lower school, my entire class got in trouble and our punishment was the recess bench. You'd sit in silence for ten minutes before being able to play on the playground. I don't know how, but as we sat in silence, an arm-wrestling competition started. Opponents faced each other on opposite sides of the bench with their arms locked on top. After the long struggle, the champion stayed in place as challengers rotated through. We had so much fun that after our ten minutes were up, we remained there a few more minutes to keep it going.

Inserting fun into all activities didn't stop after lower school. There were recorder serenades during study sessions, bus ride singalongs to games or field trips, baguettes substituting arms, and “National Treasure” during Number Theory. You all always make me laugh—from clear commentary to portraying a historical figure during the Constitutional Convention to analogies connecting calculus, biology, and economics.

Additionally, I admire how everyone in this grade is extremely driven and excels in all they do. In the past four years, members of our class have won lacrosse, basketball, field hockey, soccer, and tennis championships, created portraits of residents at Sunrise Senior Living Home, have had their theatre reviews published in local news outlets, competed on “It's Academic,” served as members of SCORE, and qualified for the FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics World Championship. They've been nominated for Cappie awards, led in person and virtual tours, played instruments in the pit orchestra, broken swim and track records, had artwork on display in the Don Beyer Congressional Exhibit, traveled to other countries, published editions of The Voice and “Traditions,” performed holiday concerts in Pentagon Mall, scored 1,000 career points in basketball, and graphed thousands of equations to create images of Winnie the Pooh, Vector from “Despicable Me,” and an Enginseer from the game Warhammer. They've raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, taught students as members of Panda Friends and Student Tutors, trained service dogs for veterans, and helped nurture baby turtles. Fire and Stones received the highest award given in the nation and around 35 students will play their sport in college.

This determination leads to another characteristic; we are competitive. For 8th grade bonding day, we went on a whitewater rafting trip. The bright blue boats fit around six people, so advisories were split into two groups. What was a picture out of National Geographic, calm, clear water running over smooth rocks framed by trees, became Fun Friday, with yells of delight and surprise echoing off the water, when the boats were launched. At first, my group's goal was to stay dry, but within two minutes we were attacked. However, due to these advances, we discovered that while we were inefficient slasphers, we were very good at rowing away. Thus, our mission to beat the other Baumanite boat and the others that challenged us began! Down the river we went, rowing, splashing, getting stuck on the rocks, and coming up with boat chants. At one point, my group was far ahead of our

competitors, so much so that they were mere specks behind us. It was such a blow out that the race was boring, so we decided to stop paddling so they could catch up. We enjoyed the competition so much that even though we were winning, we wanted the threat of losing to be prominent to make it more fun. You might think that this is not the smartest strategy, but we did win in the end—shout out to my Baumanite boat!

This competitive spirit has been consistent throughout our SSSAS experience. In Lower School, we were banned from playing red rover as it got too intense. In freshman year, we were booed by the seniors at the Homecoming pep rally because we won the hallway decoration competition and everyone always knows when fantasy football is happening. Last year no one opted out of grade wide tag, we won the high school Class Cup, and our grade's representative won an intense game of musical chairs.

Competitive normally has a bad reputation; I haven't seen a college advertise how competitive the environment is. However, I think it is a positive element in the Class of 2021. First, it highlights our ability to challenge ourselves whether that's by taking a class that intimidates you, attempting a personal best in the weight room, or learning the U.S. presidents in order. Second, it highlights our strength. Everyone has faced their own challenges whether it is an illness, injury, loss, or something else, but your inner strength and resilience has pulled through. Third, it shows how we lift each other up. The grade-wide encouragement is prevalent on the sidelines of games, in the audience of the play, in the pep talks before tests, or the applause when seeing another person. The hallway waves, hellos, and smiles (at least with the eyes in the past year) make my day, and your shouts of “We got this!” makes every situation, especially the last class of the day, seem more doable.

Everyone's support has always been the most remarkable thing to me. You've all hyped me up these past 13 years, emphasizing all of my strengths and accepting my flaws. When I thought I was unnoticeable, you'd prove me wrong by saying my name or somehow including me in your conversation. You've had more faith in me than I had in myself sometimes, whether it was the size of the role in a Middle School drama you thought I could handle, whether I could pronounce the vocab word in Spanish, or whether I could ride a bike. You

always made me feel special, so much so that I started to believe it myself. Not everyone gets this kind of love, so thank you so much for always making me feel valued. I wouldn't be who I am today without all of your help.

So, whether we're best friends or have only passed each other in the hallway, you've all taught me that people help each other through life. Like how the Bellas helped Chelsea continue to perform with her nodes and an alliance saves you from being voted off the island, this grade has helped me through the trials of life thus far. Everyone here has. Thank you to the administrators who make school possible even if there is a pandemic; the Board of Governors who support the school community; the medical team who keep us healthy; the teachers who have fostered interests and opened doors to future careers; the coaches who taught us to never give up; the college counselors who helped us start our future; the maintenance, security, kitchen, and transportation staff that support us in ways seen and unseen; and the family members and friends who love and encourage us as we follow our dreams. We wouldn't be graduating today without all of your help, so thank you.

In the future, I am confident that we will all experience periods of uncertainty again, but I know that the people here will be ready to help us through it. We've been through one of the most tumultuous years ever together, so I know we can help each other through anything. As said in “High School Musical,” “We are all in this together.”

THE FINEST FORGE

The Farewell Address at Prize Day by Christopher Yu '21 on June 11.

You know, when I first heard the news that the school had selected Christopher Yu to give the Farewell Address on behalf of the student body, I had the same thought that most of you probably had. Why? I know I'm not as smart as Katie Whalen, as enthusiastic as Kemal Ozdemirli, or deceptively handsome as Max Mallett. I remember when Mr. Yee hit me with our usual hallway dap up followed by a “can't wait to hear your speech.” I thought he was talking about some homework or something that I'd forgotten to do. It took me a couple days to realize and accept that I would give this speech, and I would like to sincerely thank all of you for giving me the honor and opportunity to do so.

I know in my 14 amazing years here I may not always have represented this school's values to a tee, you can just ask the Alexandria fire department or um, Ms. McGuire. But no matter what has happened in the past St. Stephen's and St. Agnes is and always will be my home. Not only has this school seen me grow up and transform for the better, it has allowed me to do the most important thing of my life so far, and that is… meeting all of you.

Class of 2021, we didn't enter this school as the confident, attractive, and charismatic legion of seniors that sit here today. Four years ago, as wideeyed freshmen didn't know the challenges that lay ahead of us. We didn't know that Mr. King and Mr. Weis would preform comedy central style roasts on their students. We didn't know Barrett Lathrop would physically and verbally assault anyone not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day. Most of us didn't even know who to sit and eat lunch with. So how in only 4 years, did our faculty and staff turn that bunch of awkward and gangly freshmen into the distinguished young men and women of honor sitting before you? Well I have no idea.

But pondering the question brought me back to an ancient conversation I had with my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Tilson. In that conversation Mr. Tilson

told me that teaching is a lot like blacksmithing. To forge a good sword what do you gotta do, well you gotta beat it, and you gotta burn the heck out of it so it can be molded into something greater. And I know that sounds like a weird thing for a fourth grade teacher to be saying to one of his kids, but I was the blacksmith at the Town Fair that year, so it kinda made sense at the time. And uh, based on this criteria, I think, Class of 2021, we can agree that SSSAS is one of the finest forges in the world. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to all of the teachers and staff. You helped us become the young men and women that we are today, and you have shown nothing but dedication towards connecting with us both intellectually and emotionally. Let's hear it for the faculty and staff who have—especially this year—bent over backwards to give us a senior year.

As much as we love our teachers, they're not the only ones responsible for our success. To our parents and family, thank you for being there to keep us on

track and doing everything you could to teach us right from wrong. We were careless all these years because we knew that when we fell, you'd pick us up and dust us off. Words cannot express how thankful we all are for your unconditional love and support. We are nothing without you. Let's hear it for the parents and family. We love you!

Today is Prize Day and it's a great chance to look back at all the hard work we've done over the years. But for some of you in the crowd who maybe didn't win an award or maybe are like me and didn't have 6.7 GPA and don't feel like this day is for you… Well, a wise man named Jonathan Legg once told me that “the C in C student stands for CEO.” And while I'm somewhat skeptical about the accuracy of this statement, I think what he was trying to tell me was that it's not just about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. It's about getting back up. In our time here, Class of 2021, we've been knocked down on occasion. We've lost loved ones who live in our hearts, said goodbye to classmates who we wish were in here with us right now, and lived through times of social and political unrest not to mention the pandemic. But what I'm most proud of is how we have been there for one another when the going got tough. We push each other to be better, we support each other, and even on tough days, we have consistently gone the extra mile to get those sweet, sweet laughs.

That being said, that's all gone now. Class of 2021, the safety net that we've enjoyed laying on for the last 18 years is out the window. From now on, no one will be there to hold you accountable but yourself. It's not gonna be an easy transition to the next chapter of our lives. But it's one that we'll make because we'll always remember what everyone out there has taught us and sacrificed for us.

So, continue to make those human connections above all else. Relationships are what allow us to bond, influence, impact, and change each others lives, and there is no shiny medal, scholarship, or speech that can replace that. And I know this seems super vague and cliché, especially for all the introverts out there. In fact, I was telling my friend the other week the same thing and he said, “Chris, how am I supposed to put myself out there? I'm an introvert?” And I said, “well just be yourself.” And he said “Be more outgoing or be yourself—you gotta pick one.” I thought that was pretty funny. But in response I told him the same thing I'll tell you now. When you're looking back at life and high school, are you gonna remember the fundamental theorems of calculus which you studied or are you gonna remember hanging out with your best friends on a three-day weekend. In life it's not necessarily the accomplishments or great achievements that will give us long-lasting happiness and fulfillment—it's the people that we've had the chance to impact and bond with.

You know, despite my excitement and eagerness to get up here and give this speech, I had been postponing the whole process of actually writing the thing for many weeks. And no, Mr. Humphreys, that's not because of my quote-on-quote “chronic procrastination,” for my organization skills have come along way. Shout out to Mrs. Sellon and the Learning Center. It's because every word that I put onto the page forced my mind to accept that my time here is over. And when I started thinking back on my favorite memories, it all came flooding back to me. Every hallway handshake, every “Yo, you do the homework yet?” conversation, has lead me to the point I'm at today.

Class of 2021, I know the title of this speech is Farewell Address, but the truth is, this group isn't going anywhere. Give it a couple years and we'll be back. In fact, don't blink because chances are you're sitting next to some of our future doctors, Elinor West, our next makeup and fashion designers, Lena Weiman, or our next corrupt sports commissioners, Bo Siegel. Try to not view this as goodbye, but as see you at reunion when I'm ideally smarter, more handsome, and most importantly not riding a bicycle anymore. My final thank you of the day, is to my classmates. Thank you for every conversation, every laugh, every memory. I love you guys, and I can't wait to see what comes next for each and every one of you.

We are about to launch into life, and as we move forward, if I could leave you with one thing it would be to remember what makes our class special—our bond and friendship with each other.

COMMENCEMENT

Our seniors graduated June 12, 2021, on Moss Field.

and St. Agnes

CLASS OF 2021 COLLEGE STATS

118

NEW SAINTS ALUMNI

8

SENIORS ARE GOING WEST

Stanford University (2)

University of California–Berkeley (3)

University of California–Davis

University of California–Los Angeles

University of Southern California

8

SENIORS ARE GOING SOUTHWEST

Texas Christian University (2)

Texas Southern University

Tulane University (5)

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACCEPTED OUR SENIORS

200+ 58.4% ARE STICKING TOGETHER WITH 69 SENIORS ATTENDING COLLEGE WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER SAINT.

4

SENIORS ARE GOING ABROAD

Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid

University of St. Andrew's in Scotland (3)

10

SENIORS ARE GOING MIDWEST

Case Western Reserve University (2)

Kenyon College

Northwestern University

University of Chicago

University of Colorado–Boulder (2)

University of Notre Dame (3)

34

SENIORS ARE GOING NORTHEAST

Babson College

Bates College

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University (2)

Colgate University

Columbia University

Connecticut College

Delaware State University

Drexel University (2)

Farmingdale State College

Fordham University

Franklin & Marshall College

Gettysburg College

Harvard University

Lafayette College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

New York University

53

SENIORS ARE GOING SOUTHEAST

Auburn University (2)

Barton College

Christopher Newport University

College of Charleston

College of William & Mary (4)

Davidson College

Furman University

George Mason University

Georgetown University

Howard University

James Madison University

Johns Hopkins University (2)

Morehouse College

North Carolina Central University

Rhodes College (4)

Sewanee: University of The South

St. John's College (Annapolis)

Towson University

University of Alabama (4)

University of Maryland

University of Richmond

University of Virginia (7)

Vanderbilt University (4)

Virginia Commonwealth University (2)

Virginia Tech (3)

Wake Forest University (3)

Washington & Lee University (2)

Northeastern University (3)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Seton Hall University

Syracuse University (3)

Trinity College (CT)

University of Pittsburgh

University of Rochester

Villanova University

Wesleyan University (2)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

1 & 7: Lindsey & Colin Donovan; 2 & 11 Bo & Lucy Siegel; 3 & 10 Lexi and Gatsby Olsen; 4 & 6 Tyler and Sydney Southworth; 5 & 12 Reade and Lane Lambeth; 8 & 9 Olivia and TJ Heck

A TIME TO TREASURE

A special tribute to the Class of 2021

By Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76

Photography by Jameson Bloom '13 and Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76

The Class of 2021 will forever hold a unique position in the history of St. Stephen's and St. Agnes, as the seniors who completed their journey at the school with 13 months of living under pandemic conditions—and they did it with creativity, perseverance, positivity, and determination. Through it all, they remained bonded to each other, and bonded to the school.

As we completed the 2019-2020 school year in distance learning and with a drive-through graduation for the Class of 2020, the administration, health team, counselors, faculty, and staff faced a summer filled with the daunting challenges of how to possibly open the campuses in the fall of 2021. Working diligently for long hours, a hopeful plan was created with multiple scenarios, schedules, and phases for bringing more students onto campus in stages.

Walking through the Upper School in the fall was oddly quiet and empty. It was a disconcerting feeling. How we missed the happy buzz of hallways filled with students chatting, laughing, and studying. How we worried about the seniors and everything they were missing. But everyone stepped up to the plate, determined to make the year a home run under adverse conditions.

The school, the APT, the parents, and above all, the seniors, made it a year to remember—for reasons other than living through a pandemic. It was a year of creativity, innovation, and celebrating all things large and small. It was a year of outdoor classes and sunrise chapels, an Old Town scavenger hunt, cornhole tournaments, special lunches, DEIB work and forums, a drive through spooky Halloween event, One-Act films instead of plays, Zoom concerts, Valentine cupcakes, and finding a safe way for the seniors to give the traditional angel pins to their kindergarten buddies at Thanksgiving. When guidelines loosened up and

made it possible, they had a senior Fun Friday in April, springtime athletic games and tournaments, and thankfully, a beautiful Commencement in June.

It was a year that reminded us to appreciate everything we have and everything we do. It made us think about the impact our actions can make in the present and on the future. In fact, in many ways, it was a time of testing and learning to treasure.

As with all of our Saints, the members of the Class of 2021 leave us with memories of teaching them, watching them perform on the stage, play on our fields, and explore the world on global trips. We will remember them as speakers, leaders, actors, athletes, artists, linguists, entrepreneurs, fundraisers, scholars, comedians, and friends.

As a special tribute to the Class of 2021, in honor of the extraordinary year none of us will ever forget, we asked them to describe themselves in three words and invited them to have their portraits taken. We requested that they bring an object that represented who they were as a Saint, their passions, favorite subjects, treasured mementos, or special achievements from their time at the school. They came with all kinds of things, from lucky broken swim goggles, artwork, a giant whisk, and a wrestling dummy to a rocket made in Middle School, robots, tools for set building, literary magazines, and performing arts programs. And one came with a handwritten sign, that at first glance made me laugh, but the true meaning behind it was something much deeper than it appeared. It was about appreciation for his education and growing up at SSSAS. With a smile and emotion in his voice he explained, “It represents my process of learning to be disciplined and focused, and ultimately really being prepared for college and life. Thanks to SSSAS, I'm ready for what comes next.”

CHRISTOPHER YU Friend, Grinder, Laughter

TYLER SOUTHWORTH Engineer, Comedian, Runner

LEXI OLSEN Actor, Linguist, Friend

TJ MOSS Comedian, Bright, Activist

MIRA MAJURE Athlete, Mathematician, Environmentalist

NATHAN BEZUNEH Athlete, Compassionate, Hardworking

JOHN BULCHOLZ Student, Tardy, Athlete

NICOLE MORAN Athlete, Innovative, Confident

CHUMANI CHAMBERLAIN Athlete, Writer, Artist

CLAY WALLER Comedian, Friend, Supporter

LILY ALTREE Aspirant, Teammate, Optimist

CRISTIAN JEAN-LAURENT Athlete, Comedian, Historian

CAROLINE LIPTON Athlete, Ambassador, Friend

BROOKE KURTZ Optimist, Athlete, Friend

TJ HECK Outgoing, Reliable, Charming

ELINOR WEST Scientist, Athlete, Environmentalist

CALLIE HEIMBACH Advocate, Conversationalist, Enthusiast

BRENDAN MACHADO Athlete, Musician, Historian

ELIZABETH BAVIN Historian, Athlete, Ambassador

VICTOR ARRATE Athlete, Friend, Comedian

JACKSON MONTAGUE Historian, Artist, Thoughtful

JANE CHEN Athlete, Activist, Leader

ERIC GORDON Athlete,Leader, Confident

KATIE WHALEN Musician, Athlete, Student

JOAN MARIE WALSH Activist, Athlete, Feminist

CARLIN TREVISAN Student, Artist, Activist

TISON HILL Leader, Friend, Athlete

CAITLIN BUCCERI Artist, Athlete, Scientist

MAX MALLETT Athlete, Historian, Environmentalist

WILL MATIA Athlete, Student, Player READE LAMBETH Mathematician, Adventurist, Scientist

OLIVIA HECK Athlete, Mathematician, Linguist

ISHAN KANGOTRA Academic, Renaissance Man, Jack of All Trades

WILLIAM ROBINSON Linguist, Accountable, Adventurous

EMILY SMITH Mathematician, Athlete, Captain

NICO RAPALLO Mathematician, Linguist, Friend

CATHERINE SEALE Friend, Reader, Runner

DECLAN MCCUE Mathematician, Comedian, Scientist

CHRIS TYLER Scientist, Musician, Comedian

EVA BALISTRERI Writer, Creator, Athlete

WILLIAM BECKHORN Learner, Friend, Athlete

ZACHARY GUNN Activist, Giver, Friend

TRYSTAN FOGG Athlete, Reader, Friend

KIERA MCLEAN Activist, Athlete, Friend

RYAN LENT Enthusiastic, Learner, Leader

HADLEY BOSTON Linguist, Historian, Athlete

JACKSON DE VALLANCE Actor, Athlete, Scholar

PEYTON HENSLEY Artist, Friend, Athlete

FINLAY WEISS Athlete, Ambassador, Comedian

ANNA PARKS Scientist, Dancer, Actor

OLIVIA WOOD Athlete, Optimist, Scientist, Friend

JULIE GRISWOLD Athlete, Friend, Mathematician

COLIN DONOVAN Student, Friend, Writer

AMANDA GAFFNEY Historian, Dancer, News-Nerd

STEPHANIE ADRIEN Artist, Activist, Athlete

TRIPP PRATT Do It All

ANNA GIARDINA Artist, Athlete, Academician

JULIANNA SWYGERT Friend, Advocate, and Comedian

HOLDEN WELTER Athlete, Outgoing, Friend

ANNABEL FRIST Artist, Athlete, Friend

BARRETT LATHROP Energizer, Goofball, Leader

JULIAN MOSLEY Athlete, Musician, Comedian

MADDIE LOOKADOO Performer, Dancer, Artist

SEBASTIAN VILLAREAL Analytical, Loyal, Percussionist

IRVINE MADENGA Athlete, Musician, Mathematician

LENA WEIMAN Artist, Performer, Writer

EMILY MUELLER Athlete, Friend, Optimist

CAMPBELL COOPER Runner, Engineer, Writer

MALCOLM JOHNSON, JR. Intellectual, Encourager, Wise

CATE BRADLEY Athlete, Supporter, Leader

CAROLINE GRACE BUTLER Athlete, Leader, Student

NICO GARCIA-IPPOLITO Athlete, Leader, Learner

AMAN MATHUR Engineer, Musician, Athlete

KEENE CORNICK Athlete, Musician, Leader

ADEN SMIGEL Scientist, Athlete, Musician

JACK PESSAUD Mathematician, Debater, Historian

KATIE PATRICK Energetic, Exited, Comedian

CANDYCE JONES Writer, Activist, Observer

LEILANI SORIANO Roboticist, Violinist, Adventurer

OLIVIA DUVALL Leader, Athlete, Hardworking

KEMAL OZDEMIRLI Mathematician, Activist, Leader

ADRIENNE LAI Student, Classmate, Friend

AMY GASTRIGHT Writer, Contrarian, Editor

CHRISTIAN BORDEN Innovator, Activist, Visionary

JOHN FONTHAM Athlete, Friend, Leader

SEBASTIAN ERB Activist, Actor, Scientist

SKYE SCHOFIELD-SABA Leader, Artist, Dreamer

BRETT DOUGHERTY Scientist, Athlete, Fan

DANIELLE TURNAGE Friend, Athlete, Motivator

CHARLOTTE CARR Environmentalist, Teammate, Energizer

JACK BURNETT Recycler, Surfer, Eater

LANE LAMBETH Mathematician, Athlete, Friend

KYLE BURBAGE Athlete, Friend, Leader

RITA PETERSON Athlete, Friend, Happy

RACHELLE HAWKINS Comedian, Artist, Opportunist

ALEX GRIEPENTROG Traceur, Artist, Mathematician

GATSBY OLSEN Writer, Activist, Artist

MONTY MONTGOMERY Artist, Baker, Creator

SAMEER

BACH

TURNER NAEF

GRACE MURPHY Resourceful, Historian, Teammate

BRAXTON BOND Scientist, Athlete, Friend

LINDSEY DONOVAN Scientist, Athlete, Historian

NICO C Ó RICA Innovative, Athlete, Environmentalist

NORA FORTUNE Actress, Singer, Dedicated

MICHAEL HINES Scientist, Musician, Optimist

SYDNEY SOUTHWORTH Athlete, Scientist, Artist

EMMA HUGHES Techie, Scientist, Historian

DARIUS WILSON Athlete , Performer, Scientist

LOUISA TREADWAY Historian, Writer, Athlete, Musician

LUCY SIEGEL Leader, Dancer, Writer

IAN CARR Friend, Reliable, Honest

NICHOLAS FALSAFI Honest, Intelligent, Fun

UPPER SCHOOL PRIZE DAY

On June 11, these awards were presented to 51 students in recognition of their achievements in academics, the arts, athletics, citizenship, and service.

FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Dr. Melanie Stanton Director of Health Services

YEARBOOK DEDICATION

Dr. Melanie Stanton

Director of Health Services

Senior Editors:

Emma Elizabeth Alene Hughes and Nicole Juliana Moran

The following awards and recognitions were presented to seniors:

LESLIE JONES LATIN PRIZE

John Hobgood Fontham, Jr.

MICHALOT CUP

Caroline Grace Butler

MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE IN SPANISH

George Edward Pratt III

MATHEMATICS AWARD

Adrienne Wing Suen Lai

TECHNOLOGY AWARD

Sameer Aaron Augustine

COURTENAY MARSHALL COCHRAN AWARD FOR SCIENCE

Adrienne Wing Suen Lai

ROY EDWARD BYRD AWARD

Sebastian E. Villareal

WORLD LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES

Chumani Marie Chamberlain, Latin and Spanish

Nicolas Garcia Ippolito, Spanish and Chinese

Caroline Deas Heimbach, Spanish and French

Alexandra Greer Olsen,

Spanish, Chinese and French

Daniel Alfred Runde, Spanish and French

Elinor Maly-Marie West, Chinese and Latin

STEM CERTIFICATES

Adrienne Wing Suen Lai (for her research into diversity and inclusion in the workforce at national tech companies)

George Edward Pratt III (for his work on the installation of a wire harness in the engine of a 1974 Ford Bronco)

O'CONNOR HISTORY PRIZE

Caroline Deas Heimbach

MARJORIE M. NORRIS AWARD

Catherine Elizabeth Seale

KARIG WRITING PRIZE

Christian Gabriel Borden

CHARLES JAMES SHELL MEMORIAL PRIZE IN ENGLISH

Amy Virginia Gastright

ANN G. LINDSEY POETRY PRIZE

Amy Virginia Gastright

MONTGOMERY AWARD FOR THE HUMANITIES

Emma Elizabeth Alene Hughes

FRANK NIEPOLD ARTS PRIZE

Lena Garrison Weiman

VISUAL ARTS AWARD

Stephanie Lynn Adrien

MICHAEL HOLT AWARD

Rachelle Phailin Hawkins

PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS

Dramatic Arts:

Lena Garrison Weiman

Vocal Arts:

Skye Yuan Zhu Schofield-Saba

Instrumental Arts:

Julian Marquis Mosley

EDWARD E. TATE SENIOR RELIGION PRIZE

Chumani Marie Chamberlain

PERKINS CUP

Tyrone Teraz Moss, Jr.

SALUTATORIAN

Michael Thompson Hines

VALEDICTORIAN

Adrienne Wing Suen Lai

FAREWELL ADDRESS

Christopher Jackson Yu

RECOGNITION OF MILITARY APPOINTMENTS/SCHOLARSHIPS

John Stratton Burnett, Navy ROTC at Vanderbilt University Turner Naef, Army ROTC at the University of Colorado-Boulder

DEIB AWARD

Jane Chen

Zachary Jeremiah Gunn

HELENE HASKIN KRAUSE AWARD

Caroline Grace Butler

SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD

John Hobgood Fontham, Jr.

MODEL ATHLETE FOR BOYS

Irvine Gideon Madenga

DAINGERFIELD ASHTON MODEL ATHLETE

Margaret Catherine Bradley

OUTSTANDING ATHLETE AWARDS

Kyle Middleton Burgage

Emily Marie Smith

MARSHA A. WAY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD FOR GIRLS

Chumani Marie Chamberlain

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD FOR BOYS

Benjamin Keene Cornick

JANE LYWOOD CUP

Stephanie Lynn Adrien

The Humanities Awards:

Front: Seniors Rachelle Hawkins, Steph Adrien, Callie Heimbach, Skye Schofield-Saba, Amy Gastright, Emma Hughes, Catherine Seale

Back: Seniors Julian Mosley, TJ Moss, Christian Borden, Lena Weiman, Chumani Chamberlain

STEM Awards: Sebastian Villareal, Tripp Pratt, Adrienne Lai, Sameer Augustine

MACONDRAY TROPHY

Tyrone Teraz Moss, Jr.

HOWARD CUP

Olivia Tate Duvall

Barrett Allen Lathrop

SAINTS ATHLETICS CLUB AWARD

Jackson Quinn de Vallance

Caroline Deas Heimbach

ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS AWARD

Caitlin Seed Bucceri

CARROLL LASTELIC AWARD

Chumani Marie Chamberlain

SAINT AGNES CUP

Adrienne Wing Suen Lai

EMMETT H. HOY, JR. CITIZENSHIP AWARD

Tyrone Teraz Moss, Jr.

THE ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES MEDALS

Caroline Grace Butler

John Hobgood Fontham, Jr.

Timothy John Heck, Jr.

Julian Marquis Mosely

Jack Christian Pessaud

Skye Yuan Zhu Schofield-Saba

Lucille Lambeth Siegel

The following awards were presented to underclassmen:

GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL RECIPIENTS

Instrumental Music:

Adriana Margaret Criswell '22

Math, Science and Technology:

Jacob Janssen Felsenthal '22

Japanese: Nicolas Peter Trainer '23

Latin: Charles Alexander Bradburn '22

Spanish: Anelia Hartell '22

THE HELEN ARNY MACAN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Finley Cole Jensen '22

THE DAVID DONALD GAYLE SCHOLARSHIP MATHEMATICS PRIZES

Elizabeth Campbell Hanley '22

Finley Cole Jensen '22

Gavin Lee Prestholdt '22

THE JOHN MORROW STANTON MEMORIAL ATHLETIC AWARD

Noah Mahari Cummings '22

THE ESTHER CARROLL MURPHY AWARD FOR CREATIVITY

Lily Ruth-Gordon Hunsicker '23

THE SENIOR CLASS AWARD

Amelia Morris Duncan '22

Athletic Awards:

St. Stephen's and St. Agnes Medals, Saint Agnes Cup, and Emmett H. Hoy, Jr. Citizenship Award:

Scholarships:

and

St. Agnes

Front: Seniors Skye Schofield-Saba, Lizzie Siegel, Caroline Grace Butler, Adrienne Lai; Back: Seniors Julian Mosley, Jack Pessaud, John Fontham, TJ Moss, TJ Heck

Salutatorian: Michael Hines '21

Military

Jack Burnett '21 and Turner Naef '21

Front: Seniors Steph Adrien, Chumani Chamberlain, Cate Bradley, Caroline Graxe Butler, Emily Smith; Back: Seniors Kyle Burbage, John Fontham, Keene Cornick, Irvine Madenga

The Class of 2021 “Lifers”

Forty-eight members of the Class of 2021 entered St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in junior kindergarten, kindergarten, or first grade.

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN:

William Beckhorn

Campbell Cooper

Keene Cornick

Nicholas Falsafi

Peyton Hensley

Brooke Kurtz

Katie Patrick

Jack Pessaud

Elinor West

Christopher Yu

KINDERGARTEN:

Victor Arrate

Sameer Augustine

Braxton Bond

Christian Borden

Hadley Boston

Cate Bradley

Jack Burnett

Caroline Grace Butler

Sebastian Erb

John Fontham

Julie Griswold

Rachelle Hawkins

Michael Hines

Ishan Kangotra

Adrienne Lai

Lane Lambeth

Reade Lambeth

Ryan Lent

Maddie Lookadoo

Brendan Machado

Will Matia

Grace Murphy

Rita Peterson

Tripp Pratt

William Robinson

Bo Siegel

Lucy Siegel

Julianna Swygert

Louisa Treadway

Chris Tyler

Clay Waller

Lena Weiman

FIRST GRADE:

Nathaniel Bezuneh

Chumani Chamberlain

Nicolas Garcia-Ippolito

Emma Hughes

Mira Majure

Aman Mathur

THE STORY OF THREE WORDS

Middle School Director Quincey Grieve addressed the Class of 2025 at their Recognition Ceremony on June 10.

I share with you this morning the story of three words: Thank you, bye. Eighth grade, I know you know this story. But your parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends don't.

On their own, in isolation, read on a piece of paper, their meaning is simple: An expression of gratitude and farewell.

For us, they mean much more.

I'm not sure exactly how and when it started, I think in the surreal days of last spring.. As we closed Zoom gatherings—often with 3-400 people attending—students spontaneously started signing off with a chorus of this phrase:

“Thank you, bye, Thank you, bye, thank you, bye…” with waves and smiles, as each box on the screen clicked closed.

We were all in our homes, far away from Braddock Road, far away from each other, together only through this weird virtual world. And our students started what is now a sacred tradition.

Thank you. Two simple words of appreciation. Appreciation for being together, appreciation for each other. Appreciation for your teachers, who were working so hard to create school for you, appreciation for your peers. Appreciation for school.

You may not know this eighth grade, but there's a super important comma that would set the words apart in writing. Thank you comma, bye. The comma has a heavy lift here. It marks a separation, a shift—to bye.

Bye. Zoom allowed us to be together, albeit so oddly. And then we had to say goodbye. Because these most unusual times did keep us apart.

The story of these words continues. As we gradually moved back to campus, 25%, 50%, 66.6 repeating percent, close to 100%, our allschool community gatherings were in some ways more surreal—we were on campus, but we were still separated all in our different advisories. The number of Zoom boxes got fewer and fewer, the chorus got quieter and quieter, but the thank you byes continued to the very last day.

You infused in these words authenticity and hopefulness. You made them happy words, words that conveyed a genuine sense of community and connection. They could have easily become cynical or negative, mocking or insincere. But they never did. That word bye can be so sad—but you kept it joyful and optimistic. Bye! We'll see you soon. We may not be together as we normally are—but we're still together, powerfully, in our hearts.

Turning back to thank you, I'd like to take a moment to say thank you, back, to this eighth grade class—and to share some words of thanks from your teachers:

Thank you for being flexible. New schedules, those special Wednesdays that seem like a distant memory, one-way hallways and staircases, reimagined activities and events, the occasional frozen teacher or peer on Zoom, ... you managed it all with impressive malleability, savviness (particularly when it comes to tech), and a good dose of humor.

Thank you for thinking hard about the issues discussed during our Saints Advisory Program —for showing empathy, thinking outside the box, thinking for yourself, questioning, and learning to truly listen to each other.

Thank you for your Eighth Grade Original Films, your Prattle Tales contributions, your “This I Believe Essays,” your quote books.

Thank you for the new plants in our front circle.

Thank you for your squeals of delight as you launched Mr. Davis's homing pigeons.

Thank you for our faculty win in student-faculty basketball and for launching our first annual 3-on-3 basketball tournaments.

Thank you for your interest in your teachers' lives: How are you? Did you enjoy the weekend? Did your daughter have a fun birthday? How did you come up with your cat's name? Thank you for recognizing that your teachers, too, were going through the most unusual of years and for taking the time to show care by asking about their families, pets, and, perhaps most importantly, their well-being. They needed you as much as you needed them.

In the program, this speech is called a “charge” —that means I'm supposed to give you some direction as you go forth.

We will miss you. And we will forever be indebted to you for our time together—for your sacred words—and for the love that is infused in them:

Thank you. And I model myself after you and say joyful and hopeful and loving bye.

My charge to you is to know that you can change the world with your words. More specifically, you can change the world with the tone of your voice. Do for the world what you have done for our Middle School.

Cate Nickson '25

Tate Commission '25

Owen Siegel '25

Elliot Desautels '25

Dimitri Criswell '25

Mariel Irish '25

William Troy '25

Grace Hendy '25

Macadger Byrne '25

Maddie Moore '25

Anna Strauss '25

Carmyn Lee '25

Anne Louden Kostel '25

Garrett Lian '25

Sandhya Augustine '25

James London '25

Paul Eisenberg '25

MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS DAY

On June 9, these awards were virtually presented to 64 students in recognition of their achievements in academics, the arts, athletics, citizenship, and service.

DEPARTMENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Awarded to eighth grade students for demonstrating strong scholarship and interest in a particular subject.

The Band Award

Macadger Byrne

The Chinese Award

William Troy

The Chorus Award

Elliot Desautels, Garrett Lian

The Drama Award

James London, Erika Sjetnan-Day

The English Award

Anne Louden Kostel, Jake Welter

The French Award

Claire Hanley, William Mount

The History Award

Tate Commission, Cate Nickson

The Latin Award

Paul Eisenberg, Anna Strauss

The Math Award

Carmyn Lee, William Thissell

The Orchestra Award

Dimitri Criswell

The Religion Award

Aiden Potholm, Ali White

The Saints Athletic Award

Samson Grinspun, Maddie Moore

The Science Award

Mariel Irish, Owen Siegel

The Spanish Award

Sandhya Augustine, Nicholas Fisher

The Visual Arts Award

Will Headley, Grace Hendy

BROOKS MATH AWARD

Meg Adams '26, Daniel Lee '26

RICHARD P. BABYAK AWARDS

For making our school community a better place through their actions throughout the year.

Maddie Moore '25, Gracie Hunsicker '25, Nicholas Fisher '25, William Troy '25

Conall Amunson '26, Ben Booma '26, Cecilia Howton '26, Olivia Pla '26

Zack Helmreich '27, Mark Driver '27, Whitley White '27, Annabelle Bremner '27

DIRECTOR'S AWARD

For demonstrating character, tenacity, and intellect.

Claire Hanley '25, Niels Merino '25

MacKenzie Allie '26, Sam Brock '26

Mason Khosla '27, Ella Schneider '27

SINCLAIR CUP

For exemplifying loyalty, integrity, leadership, cooperation, and scholastic endeavor in seventh grade.

Michael Corso, Ramtulai Jalloh

STEBBINS CUP

For exemplifying community spirit, compassion, and consideration of other in sixth grade.

Noor El Allagui, Luca Leonardo

SUZANNE GRIFFIN NUCKOLLS FELLOWSHIP PRIZE

For possessing the best qualities of a true friend in eighth grade.

Carmyn Lee, Niels Merino

ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES CUP

Awarded to an eighth grade student for exemplifying scholarship, character, leadership, and citizenship.

Cate Nickson

RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE

Excerpts from the Fifth Grade Recognition address given by Lower School Director Jalene Spain Thomas on June 8.

school year, I think of the blessing of beautiful weather in outdoor spaces and your learning, leading, and laughing in those spaces.

I think of your in-person classes in September held outdoors on the Upper School fields and your magical Fifth Grade Fun Day back on those same fields last Friday.

...My hope and prayer for you today is that you bring your most resilient and compassionate selves to the next chapter of your lives.

Fifth graders,I speak to you today with great pride and joy on behalf of Mrs. Adams, Mr. Weiman, Mr. Hark, Ms. DeLaurentis, your teachers, and all the Lower School faculty and staff...We take delight in all of the special ways we may describe you.

You are masters of Zoom, Google Classroom, breakout rooms, and mute/unmute etiquette.

You are leaders, scientists, safety patrols, alcolytes, writers, athletes, stewards of the Earth, singers, mathematicians, researchers, actors and actresses, dancers, and authors.

...You are buddies to kindergartners who adore you and whom you adore.

You use your worries and uncertainties as a springboard to try new things. You help others and you let us know when you need help.

...Your resilience and perseverance in spite of the challenges of learning during a global pandemic continue to inspire us.

...Other words we used to describe you: curious, compassionate, funny, creative, leaders, determined, smart, and kind.

...When I think of the beginning and end of your

The pandemic has taught us that learning is not only about the classrooms or outdoors spaces where the learning takes place, it's about the communities formed there. You've brought a resilient spirit to the last year and a half, and the pocket of the Saints community that is your fifth grade class is full of your light, your good deeds, and your perseverance.

...I think you will use your goodness as well as your knowledge to serve your school and your community and to advocate for yourself and others through the spoken work and the written word and though your actions. I am confident that your goodness and your knowledge will help you dive deeper into topics that interest you, excite you, challenge you, and bring you joy.

...Saints, I want you to know that we know that you are ready! Ready to take the leadership skills you've developed and try them out at the Middle School to make it even stronger with your fresh ideas. Ready to continue to inspire your classmates, family members, teachers, and each other with the words you write and say. I am confident that you will continue to inspire those who lead you and teach you.

COMMENCEMENT FOR THE CLASS OF 2020

On the afternoon of June 12, 2021, we also celebrated the Class of 2020 on Moss Field with the traditional Commencement ceremony they were unable to have last year due to the pandemic.

Bidding a Fond Farewell

Lower School Art Teacher Anne Kling Ross '73 Retires

By Mandi Sapp

Lower School Art Teacher Anne Ross retired in June after 38 years of service to our school and 42 years in the profession. Anne has been an integral member of the Lower School team and of the SSSAS Art Department for decades. Her dedication to instilling and inspiring creativity in generations of our youngest Saints will be missed.

Anne has quite a history with SSSAS. She first joined the community in 1968 as a child of a faculty member-her mother Lois Kling was a St. Agnes teacher for 20 years. Anne's siblings, Libby Kling Franke '82 and Dr. John Kling II '75, were Saints, as well as her daughter Meaghan Ross Vento '01, and her nephew Patrick Kling '10. Growing up, Anne fondly remembers attending many of her brother's and nephew's varsity basketball, football, and baseball games cheering on the Saints! In 1978, Anne was hired to be the Lower School art teacher at St. Agnes, but two years later moved to Colorado Springs with her husband. They moved back to Virginia in 1980 and she subbed at St. Agnes

and worked as a graphic artist while taking graduate courses. She was hired full-time as a first grade teacher at St. Agnes in 1982. Nine years later, she moved to third grade, and in 2005, the 3-5 art teacher position opened up. Encouraged by one of her dearest colleagues, former Kindergarten Teacher Nancy Eaton, she applied for the position and declares it “the best decision I ever made!”

When asked what she has particularly appreciated during her years of teaching at SSSAS, Anne responded, “I LOVE my students and watching them grow as artists, gain confidence in their art making skills, and find joy in the creative process. I enjoy researching new materials, projects, and approaches. I have been at this school so long that I am now teaching children of former students! I took a great deal of satisfaction in staging my students' artwork for Grandparents' Day and other special occasions. I had a great time organizing our Cake Boss gallery event a few years back, when we invited families to view our 'gallery' showing. I have vastly enjoyed all our

field trips and I count myself fortunate to be a faculty member at a school that actively supports this—visiting Washington, D.C. museums, the White House, the Kennedy Center, Ford's theater. Of course, I have to mention ARTStravaganza! It was a privilege to organize this fabulous event with my fellow performing and fine arts department members.”

Anne has been involved in many areas of the school outside of the classroom. For many years, she taught an after-school Pet Portraits class. She has been on nearly every kind of committee—accreditation, curriculum, Faculty Salary and Benefits, search committees, etc. For ten years, after receiving two grants, she established and directed the Lower School Chemical Dependency Prevention Program for which she received the Governor's Award from Virginia Governor, Doug Wilder. Additionally, she received The Faculty Excellence Award in 2016. This award is given by the SSSAS Alumni Association and recognizes a passion for one's discipline, positive and supportive connections with students, cooperation with colleagues, a desire to grow professionally, and loyalty and respect for the values of the school community.

“The first time I met Anne, she invited me into her homeroom with a huge smile and jolly laugh—25 years later, she still welcomes me with the same joy and kind spirit. The students love to go to class because they love Anne. She gets to know each of them and connects with them on a personal level. Anne designs creative projects that not only challenge her students artistically, but also ensures they see themselves reflected in their artwork. Anne is both a gifted artist and educator, which is a rarity.”

~Rebecca Gehlhoff, Lower School Music Teacher

“Teaching at SSSAS is a soul-nourishing experience, which has never been more true than in this present time!” Anne said.

“I love teaching here because it's family—it's where my daughter was baptized during a Lower School Chapel, it's where deep friendships have been made— friendships that supported me through trying personal experiences and rejoiced with me during happy times, and it's where I spent over half my life!”

In retirement, Anne plans on pursuing her own art at full speed and having the time to take more art courses. She looks forward to traveling again after the pandemic—with a trip to California to visit her daughter and son-in-law at the top of the list. She also plans to tackle some home cleaning projects (Marie Kondo style!), and a dog may even join her household.

Anne Ross '73 (middle) with her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Sullivan, and husband Ken Ross at the 2021 SSSAS Retirement Reception.

Academic Achievement Celebrated at Cum Laude Ceremony

Twenty-four seniors were inducted as new members of the St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School chapter of the Cum Laude Society in June. The Cum Laude Society recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence (Areté), justice (Diké), and honor (Timé). Patterned after the college honorary society Phi Beta Kappa, the Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 and has since grown to 382 chapters, primarily in independent schools, with approximately 24 chapters in public schools.

To be considered for membership in the SSSAS Cum Laude Society, seniors must be in the upper 20

percent of their class and have attained the qualifying gradepoint average for three years of secondary school. Juniors who are in the top 10 percent of their class were inducted last June and recognized at the ceremony this month.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 inductees: Christian Borden, Caitlin Bucceri, Caroline Grace Butler, Jane Chen, Olivia Duvall, John Fontham, Nora Fortune, Callie Heimbach, Michael Hines, Adrienne Lai, Mira Majure, Lexi Olsen, Jack Pessaud, Rita Peterson,Tripp Pratt, Catherine Seale, Lucy Siegel, Emily Smith, Louisa Treadway, Carlin Trevisan, Sebastian Villarreal, Lena Weiman, and Katie Whalen.

SSSAS also congratulated two members of the Class of 2021 who have been recognized as National Merit Scholarship Competition finalists, Lexi Olsen and Katie Whalen. Over 1.6 million students from more than 22,000 high schools entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The highest-scoring entrants nationally qualify as semi-finalists and represent less than 1 percent of America's high school seniors. The National Merit Scholarship Program has selected less than half of the semi-finalists who met all requirements to advance to finalist standing in the competition.

The 2021 Senior Chapel

On May 18 the Class of 2021 gathered for the last weekly chapel service of the school year. This “Senior Chapel” is long-anticipated and much loved by students. Every senior is called by name to approach the altar and receive a parting gift from the school—a leatherbound Book of Common Prayer with a hand-written prayer for them and signatures from the Chaplain and Mrs. Adams. Each prayer book is also imprinted with a unique, descriptive verb chosen for each student.

Since this tradition began in 2003, the Upper School faculty along with the school chaplains enjoy brainstorming individual verbs for each twelfth grade Saint during the

last few weeks of classes to be read at the final chapel of the year.

“Hebrew scriptures remind us that God knows how many hairs are on the heads of all of us, establishing that to love our students means finding ways to show them that we are trying to know them as well as we can,” said The Rev. Sean Cavanaugh, JK-12 Chaplain. “Giving the senior verbs each year is our way of showing every student that we are gratefully watching their lives unfold and rejoicing in the unique beauty of each child of God in our caring community.”

Additionally, members of our Alumni Association Board, including President Christian

Ferry '93, spoke to seniors about what it means to be a Saints Alumni, how to stay connected after graduation, and the importance of the challenge coin they received after chapel.

Fun Friday

Fun Friday is a special Upper School tradition that usually happens at the end of the first week of school. This year it was held in May just for the seniors, to celebrate the happy end to a long pandemic year and their upcoming inperson Commencement. The seniors proved that Saints always know how to have FUN!

Junior Wins Music Competition

Ruby Ahdoot '22 is the 2021 Cogen Concerto Competition Grand Prize winner. The Ruth P. Cogen Competition was established by the Board of Trustees of Levine Music in 1983 to honor Ruth Cogen, one of the school's founders and its first chair of the Board of Trustees. For the first time ever, the grand prize winner performed virtually with the Levine International Orchestra, comprised of musicians worldwide. Ruby joined them for Mozart's “Flute Concerto No. 2 K314.”

Extraordinary Teen

Skye Schofield-Saba '21 was selected as one of the Arlington Magazine Extraordinary Teens for their annual issue featuring outstanding students from the area. The article shares how each summer, she teaches D.C.-area kids how to sail at a Washington Sailing Marina camp.

Learning Respect for Nature

Tom Boswell '65 Retires

Saints alumnus Thomas Boswell '65, a longtime Washington Post Sports Columnist, is retiring after a 52-year career covering some of the biggest moments in Washington and national sports.

SSSAS was fortunate to have Tom preside over the induction ceremony of every member of the SSSAS Hall of Fame from 1997 through 2015. In appreciation, Tom was a 2015 honorary inductee in the SSSAS Hall of Fame.

This June the kindergartners focused on nature. They took a field trip to Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington for a fieldwork experience in collaboration with their art class. Students brought their iPads to take photographs, which they later edited and contributed to a class nature photography blog. They also had a virtual visit from writer and nature photographer Mark Seth Lender, who read his book, “Smeagull the Seagull: A True Story,” which teaches children that animals are precious and have needs and feelings and family, just like humans.

Photo: Michael Ventura

CELEBRATING KATHY JENKINS

BY MELISSA ULSAKER MAAS ‘76

This spring Kathy Jenkins reached an impressive milestone. At the last lacrosse game of the season, she was recognized for her 50 years of dedicated service to St. Stephen's and St. Agnes.

Kathy joined the faculty at St. Agnes School in 1971 (the year before Title IX was passed) and co-founded the girl's lacrosse program with Alix Fellows in 1976. During the past 46 years, she has developed one of the most successful girl's lacrosse programs in the country. Her teams have won 31 conference tournament championships, 27 league titles, nine state titles, and have had eight undefeated seasons. She has sent hundreds of athletes on to play at the college level and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Potomac and Virginia chapters of US Lacrosse.

When she started the team at St. Agnes, Kathy was an experienced basketball coach and player but had never played lacrosse. During her first few years of teaching P.E., she was finishing her college degree at American University and one of her class requirements was to start a new sports program. She suggested lacrosse and gained immediate support from then-Athletic Director Gudrun Callahan. Gudrun asked the Fathers' Club to supply the sticks and Kathy's husband built them some goals out of wood and chicken wire that first season. Kathy brought many basketball moves and strategies to

girls lacrosse, which was considered very innovative and effective in the sport. At the time, only a handful of schools in the area had girls lacrosse teams, and they played only four to six games per season.

With her athletic experience and passion, Kathy quickly developed a successful, nationally recognized program that has encouraged young women for more than four decades. She has worked with more than a thousand Saints, hundreds who have gone on to play lacrosse in college. She is the winningest high school girls lacrosse coach ever with 812 career wins, and all of them have been at SSSAS.

Kathy is recognized for her work with other schools and organizations to increase interest, participation, and support for girls lacrosse in the Metro area and nationally. She has served on numerous boards while coaching and mentoring athletes through clinics, camps, and awards programs. She constantly seeks to develop her game by attending workshops, talking to college coaches, and watching as many matches as she can.

Even after 50 years, Kathy's energy knows no bounds and she can't yet picture life off the playing field. Despite countless opportunities to coach at a higher level or pursue another passion, Kathy is a Saint through and through. She has never wanted to leave the school she calls home.

36 CLASS OF 2021 ATHLETES TO

JANE CHEN Lacrosse University of Chicago

VICTOR ARRATE Soccer Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

JOHN FONTHAM Lacrosse Harvard University

KEENE CORNICK Lacrosse Washington & Lee University

NATHAN BEZUNEH Cross Country/Track Fordham University

ANNABEL FRIST Lacrosse Stanford University

COLIN DONOVAN Lacrosse Rhodes College

HADLEY BOSTON Lacrosse Johns Hopkins University

AMY GASTRIGHT Softball Gettysburg College

LINDSEY DONOVAN Lacrosse Connecticut College

CATE BRADLEY Lacrosse Vanderbilt University

ERIC GORDON II Basketball Post Grad at Massanutten Military Academy

OLIVIA DUVALL Soccer Wake Forest University

KYLE BURBAGE Soccer Wesleyan University

JULIE GRISWOLD Lacrosse Columbia University

TRYSTAN FOGG Lacrosse Vanderbilt University

CHUMANI CHAMBERLAIN Basketball Barton College

OLIVIA HECK Swimming Rhodes College

PLAY 11 SPORTS AT THE NEXT LEVEL

TISON HILL Football Southern Texas University

MAX MALLETT Lacrosse Babson College

TAI'LYN SMITH Soccer Farmingdale State College

KRIS HUBER Lacrosse Lafayette College

WILL MATIA Lacrosse Washington & Lee University

LEILANI SORIANO Lacrosse Bryn Mawr College

BROOKE KURTZ Lacrosse Trinity College (Connecticut)

NICOLE MORAN Field Hockey Post Grad at The Hill School

SYDNEY SOUTHWORTH Lacrosse University of California - Berkeley

LANE LAMBETH Lacrosse Franklin & Marshall College

EMILY MUELLER Lacrosse Bates College

FINLAY WEISS Soccer University of Rochester

CAROLINE LIPTON Soccer Seton Hall University

RITA PETERSON Lacrosse Stanford University

ELINOR WEST Field Hockey Rhodes College

MIRA MAJURE Lacrosse University of California - Berkeley

EMILY SMITH Soccer Davidson College

OLIVIA WOOD Lacrosse Rhodes College

2020-2021 SAINTS ATHLETIC AWARDS

On June 9, St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School presented these awards in recognition of our students' achievements in athletics.

THE COACH'S AWARD

The Coach's Award recognizes non-varsity athletes who have demonstrated a positive attitude, high level of sportsmanship and who are always cooperative and supportive of their teammates as well as opponents. Through their conscientious practice habits, they not only develop their own skills, but help others improve their ability as well.

THE OUTSTANDING ATHLETE AWARD

The Outstanding Athlete Award recognizes the best overall athlete(s) on the team. The recipients are chosen by the coaches based on playing ability and overall contributions to the team.

THE SAINT AWARD

The Saint Award recognizes the athletes who have exhibited a positive attitude, a desire to achieve and determination throughout the season. These athletes are selected by their peers and demonstrate an unselfish contribution to the welfare of the team and are dedicated to excellence in athletics.

FALL SEASON AWARDS

COACH'S AWARD:

Giorgio Córica '23: JV Soccer

Ava Franklin '23: JV Field Hockey

Claire Helmreich '24: JV Volleyball

SAINT AWARD:

Caitlin Bucceri '21: Varsity Soccer

Kyle Burbage '21: Varsity Soccer

Caroline Grace Butler '21: Varsity Field Hockey

Charlotte Carr '21: Varsity Cross Country

Chumani Chamberlain '21: Varsity Volleyball

Olivia Duvall '21: Varsity Soccer

Peyton Hensley '21: Varsity Tennis

Irvine Madenga '21: Varsity Football

Turner More '23: Varsity Cross Country

Finlay Weiss '21: Varsity Soccer

Elinor West '21: Varsity Field Hockey

WINTER SEASON AWARDS

SAINT AWARD:

Will Bremner '22: Varsity Swimming

Chumani Chamberlain '21: Varsity Basketball

Jackson de Vallance '21: Varsity Wrestling

Colin Donovan '21: Varsity Ice Hockey

AMY GASTRIGHT '21

ERIC GORDON '21

MAX MALLETT '21

Nicholas Gacad '24: Varsity Winter Track & Field

Eric Gordon '21: Varsity Basketball

Olivia Heck '21: Varsity Swimming

Max Mallett '21: Varsity Ice Hockey

Grace Sherner '24: Varsity Winter Track & Field

SPRING SEASON AWARDS

COACH'S AWARD:

Abby Lowe '23: JV Tennis

Kihm Calico '24: JV Softball

Hayden de Vallance '24: JV Baseball

Declan McCulloch '23: JV Lacrosse

Abby Musser '24: JV Lacrosse

James Rath '24: JV Tennis

SAINT AWARD:

Elizabeth Bavin '21: Varsity Golf

Jack Burnett '21: Varsity Tennis

Keene Cornick '21: Varsity Lacrosse

Nicholas Falsafi '21: Varsity Golf

Annabel Frist '21: Varsity Lacrosse

Jonathan Kho '23: Varsity Track & Field

Bo Siegel '21: Varsity Baseball

Elinor West '21: Varsity Softball

Safira Yisrael '24: Varsity Track & Field

OUTSTANDING ATHLETE AWARD:

Cate Bradley '21: Varsity Lacrosse

Noah Cummings '22: Varsity Track & Field

Brett Dougherty '21: Varsity Golf

Magnus Ellehuus '22: Varsity Track & Field

Isabella Garcia-Ippolito '23: Varsity Track & Field

Amy Gastright '21: Varsity Softball

Zachary Gunn '21: Varsity Tennis

Nicole Moran '21: Varsity Golf

Ryan Osinski '22: Varsity Baseball

Grayson Schmidt '22: Varsity Lacrosse

Emily Smith '21: Varsity Track & Field

Sydney Southworth '21: Varsity Lacrosse

ALL-IAC RECOGNITION

Charlie Bounds '23: Baseball

Jack Burnett '21: Tennis

Witt Crawford '22: Lacrosse

Noah Cummings '22: Track & Field

Brett Dougherty '21: Golf

Magnus Ellehuus '22: Track & Field

Will McCulloch '22: Lacrosse

Ryan Osinski '22: Baseball

Will Ristau '22: Tennis

Myles Sandy '23: Track & Field

Grayson Schmidt '22: Lacrosse

Bo Siegel '21: Baseball

Jasper Simon '22: Lacrosse

VISAA ALL-STATE RECOGNITION

Winter All-State:

Kylie Payne '23: Diving - 2nd place

Honorable Mention:

Noah Cummings '22: Track & Field - 3rd place (1600M and 800M)

2nd Team:

Bo Siegel '21: Baseball

Keene Cornick '21: Lacrosse

Will McColloch '22: Lacrosse

1st Team:

Hadley Boston '21: Lacrosse

Cate Bradley '21: Lacrosse

Annabel Frist '21: Lacrosse

John Fontham '21: Lacrosse

Amy Gastright '21: Softball

Brooke Kurtz '21: Lacrosse

Lane Lambeth '21: Lacrosse

Mira Majure '21: Lacrosse

Sydney Southworth '21: Lacrosse

IRVINE MADENGA '21

CAROLINE GRACE BUTLER '21

Player of the Year:

Annabel Frist '21: Lacrosse

Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year: Kathy Jenkins

NATIONAL PREPS WRESTLING ALL-AMERICAN

Andrew Lavayen '22

NFHCA SENIOR IMPACT

Nicole Moran '21, Elinor West '21

THE ATHLETIC COUNCIL SILVER BOWL PARTICIPATION AWARDS FOR SENIORS

10 seasons:

Hadley Boston

Jack Burnett

Charlotte Carr

Campbell Cooper

Lindsey Donovan

Callie Heimbach

Lane Lambeth

Nicole Moran

Julian Mosley

11 seasons:

Irvine Madenga

Catherine Seale

Louisa Treadway

12 seasons:

Nathaniel Bezuneh

Caitlin Bucceri

Emily Smith

Kaitlyn Whalen

THREE SPORT ATHLETES:

Freshman:

Augusta Adams

Jonah Adams

Carlos Alexander

Jackie Beauregard

James Brabham

Andrew Bremner

Alex Deas

AJ Degler

Grace Elling

Luke Evangelista

Nick Foster

Nicholas Gacad

Stephen’s and St. Agnes

ANNABEL FRIST '21

ZACHARY GUNN '21

CHUMANI CHAMBERLAIN '21

Bryce Gunn

Armer Harrison

Preston Heilig

Christian Kappel

Thomas Matney

Lizzy Moorman

Jack Murphy

Jonathan O'Bryant-Graves

Luke Pascal

Grace Sherner

Mark Turner

Theo Weiman

Alex Williams

Sydney Worsham

Jeremy Young

Sophomores:

Ali Barrow

Matthew Bezuneh

Graham Borgia

Max Dague

Marina Gallozzi

Jonathan Kho

Katherine Lavayen

Andrew Lazarski

Claire McConnel

Turner More

Myles Sandy

Izzie Watson

Juniors:

William Adams

Will Bremner

Ewan Clarke

Noah Cummings

Amelia Duncan

Amanda Edge

Magnus Ellehuus

Chris Lewis

Catherine Onorato

Emmy Pascal

Gavin Prestholdt

Taner Prestholdt

Will Ristau

Lizzie Sherman

Bryce Sullivan

Calum Wayer

Silas Witmore

Seniors:

Nathan Bezuneh

Caitlin Bucceri

Charlotte Carr

Colin Donovan

Callie Heimbach

Tripp Pratt

Emily Smith

Louisa Treadway

Katie Whalen

Christopher Yu

FINLAY WEISS '21

NATHAN BEZUNEH '21

EMILY SMITH '21

Gudrun Sigrid Callahan: Beloved Teacher, Colleague, and Coach

March 22, 1941-June 12, 2021

methodology in 1971, Gudrun was always on the cutting edge of curricula and technology. She embraced technology early and was always exploring new websites for new ideas, like using pedometers and heart rate monitors as part of her class to help her students learn more about the body and how to stay healthy. What she would introduce first to her students often became the standard for P.E. programs across the country. Her exceptional teaching was recognized with the Distinguished Teacher Award by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools in 1989 and the SSSAS Faculty Excellence Award in 2005.

When Gudrun Callahan retired from St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in 2010 after 41 years of service, it was hard to imagine school life without her. When she came to St. Agnes school in 1969, she was the athletic department. She was instrumental in structuring the physical education and athletic programs at SSSAS as a physical education teacher, chair of the Physical Education Department, the athletics director, and as a coach.

Gudrun was famous for preparing new lesson plans each and every year, and her energy and excitement never waned. She kept up with all the latest exercise trends and techniques, and looked for new ways of engaging her students and inspiring a lifelong love of exercise, good health, and wellness. Her creative lessons, use of technology, and expertise in physical education was undeniably impressive. She focused on basic movements such as balance, rhythm, throwing, catching, running, and jumping, but taught them through games, with music, and as obstacle courses. One of the first to implement this movement

Gudrun's four decades of service to SSSAS were filled with many firsts. In 1971 she created the summer camps program, which is still flourishing today. In the early years, the campers were given swimming lessons every morning and then returned back to the campus for sports, art, drama, and a daily sing-a-long that alumni still remember fondly. Not only did her camps create many fond memories, but also the program was quite a bargain in those days. The children participated in all of the summer-fun activity, plus lunch, for $25 a week.

As the athletics director in the 1970s, a growth period for women's sports with the passage of Title IX in 1972, Gudrun worked diligently to expand women's involvement in sports. She supported new sports, including Coach Kathy Jenkins desire to start a girls lacrosse program in 1976. She helped chart a path for girls' sports at St. Agnes and laid the foundation for the strong program that exists today. Other “firsts” for Mrs. Callahan include: creating an after-school gymnastics club; encouraging the addition of P.E. to the curriculum for JK-2 grade students; starting the first girls track and swim teams; and establishing the first athletic awards banquet in 1975—just to name a few.

Through the years Gudrun touched the lives of thousands of members of the Saints community— students, faculty, staff, and parents—and she kept in contact with many of them. She was fond of her

students and they were fond of her. She excelled at making each of them feel confident and helped them discover what they were good at, bringing out the best in each of them. She was a strong influence on many of the children she taught, passing on her enthusiasm and passion for life. Gudrun was a teacher, colleague, mentor, and above all, a cherished friend to many who will miss her deeply.

Gudrun is survived by her husband, Bob Callahan, son Robert Callahan, daughter Christiana Callahan Jacxsens, son-in-law Pete Jacxsens, and grandchildren Drew and Dorettea Jacxsens.

When she retired, Gudrun received the book, “A Life Well Spent,” as a gift from a St. Stephen's and St. Agnes

IN MEMORIAM

Alumni

Nancy “Polkey” Polk Wooldford '51

January 30, 2019

Peter “Pete” Burr '52 brother of Chris Burr '57 (deceased)

February 6, 2021

Elisabeth “Liz” Thatcher Rafloski '55 sister of Peter Thatcher '60, mother of Alison Rafloski Furcinito '84

May 7, 2020

Margaret Clarke Trueblood '57 wife of John Trueblood '58, mother of Sharron Trueblood Hoffman '82

March 5, 2021

Claudia Cooper Madigan '58 mother of Jenny Madigan Bright '90, sister of Sally Cooper Drinkard '60

March 14, 2021

Maj. Kenneth “Ken” T. Brunsvold, II '60

June 12, 2021

Dr. Frederick “Fred” Gouldin '61 husband of Fair MacRae Gouldin '61, brother of James Gouldin '58 and Ann Gouldin Killalea '71, brother-in-law of Marion MacRae '63 May 29, 2021

Jo-Ann Smith Worley '66

April 7, 2021

School family. When she opened the book, she landed on a page containing the following quote by Cicero—a quote that had a tremendous amount of meaning to her then, and to all those who remember her now.

“The best Armour of Old Age is a well spent Life preceeding it: a Life employed in the Pursuit of useful Knowledge, in honourable Actions and the Practice of Virtue; in which he who labours to improve himself from his Youth, will in Age reap the happiest Fruits of them; not only be-cause these never leave a Man, not even in the extremest Old Age; but because a Conscience bearing Witness that our Life was well spent, together with the Remembrance of past good Actions, yields an unspeakable Comfort to the Soul.”

Harry Bondareff '82

May 12, 2021

Brian Ellis '86

April 12, 2021

Anthony Jones '13

March 14, 2021

Family and Friends

William “Billy” Farella father of Adele Farella '06 and Emily Farella '08

February 27, 2021

Charles Connaway father of Richard Connaway '71 and Robert Connaway '74

March 23, 2021

Elizabeth “Beth” Albright

mother of Abby Albright '06, Will Albright '01, Toby Albright, III '98, and John Albright '95

March 29, 2021

Rev. John M. Smith husband of Eleanor Booth Smith '57 (deceased), brother-in-law of Julie Booth Perry '54

April 4, 2021

Lt. Col. Roy Tripp “Sandy” Evans, III father of Tripp Evans IV '86

April 8, 2021

Tom Howard father of Mia Howard '17 and Lindsay

Howard '22

April 22, 2021

Dolores “Doe” McCulloch mother of Bruce McCulloch '86, grandmother of Declan McCulloch '23, Will McCulloch '22, and Connor McCulloch '18

April 30, 2021

Richard “Dick” Hobson father of Richard Hobson, Jr. '80, Lee Hobson '83, Hartley Hobson Wensing '84, and Kathleen Hobson Davis '88

May 23, 2021

Milton “Milt” Peterson father of Rick Peterson '80, Jon Peterson '82, and Steven Peterson '84, grandfather of Luke Peterson '15 and Rita Peterson '21

May 26, 2021

David Good grandfather of Sylvie Weiman '20, Lena Weiman '21, and Theo Weiman '24, stepfather of Bob Weiman (Associate Head of School)

May 28, 2021

Carol Everly mother of Joe Everly '80

May 28, 2021

MIDDLE AISLE

Alumni

Alison Lindsay '14 and Adam Cline

June 19, 2021

Hariel-Deneen King '18 and Sydnei Robinson

April 20, 2021

Faculty/Staff

Keri Gritt (Technology Education Department Chair and Lower School Technology Coordinator) and Tyler Barhydt

April 23, 2021

NEW ADDITIONS

Alumni

Montez Anderson '93 and Kelly Epps Anderson, a daughter, Kinsley Madison Epps Anderson

June 21, 2021

Katie Musser '99 and Aubrey Mosely, twin daughters, Bryce Wilder and Austin Lee

May 23, 2021

Michael Dziuban '04 and Allison Hutchings, a daughter, Anne “Annie” Frances Rey Dziuban

January 15, 2021

Eric Gresham '07 and Car, a son, Cooper Quinn

May 5, 2021

Matt Dyson '10 and Cat Kelley, a daughter, Jane Taylor Dyson

April 10, 2021

Faculty and Staff

Phil Tang (Upper School Technology Coordinator) and Kari, a daughter, Helena “Nell” Tang-lin Dalane

April 23, 2021

Katie Stadler (Lower School Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher) and Cody, a daughter, Violet Lou

May 20, 2021

Allison Lindsay '14 and Adam Cline Hariel-Deneen King '18

Kinsley Madison Epps Anderson Bryce Wilder and Austin Lee

Anne “Annie” Frances Rey Dziuban Cooper Quinn Gresham

Jane Taylor Dyson

Violet Lou Stadler

400 Fontaine Street

Alexandria, Virginia 22302

If the addressee no longer lives at this address, please contact the school: 703-212-2720 or atoman@sssas.org