Shared Experiences

Spartans for Life

One of Steward’s most charming traditions is the Buddy Program, which began in 2003. At the beginning of the school year, junior kindergarten and kindergarten students are each paired with a senior student, and throughout the year, they team up at School events. There’s nothing quite as sweet as watching our youngest and oldest Spartans share a giggle when they first meet each other … or hold hands as they process down the Colonnade during Convocation. Buddies also pair up at the Thanksgiving program, College Declaration Day, and pep rallies. Seniors serve as informal mentors, giving our littlest students someone to look up (figuratively and literally!), and all buddies benefit from the friendship, responsibility, and empathy that the program fosters.

Thanks to the School’s strong sense of community, alumni and current students often keep in touch well after their year of buddy-dom. For example, Landon Smith ’17 and his buddy, Kara Freed ’29 (top right), stay connected by meeting occasionally for lunch and catching up on all things Steward!