The Colonnade 2022

Colonnade THE

A STEWARD SCHOOL PUBLICATION

ISSUE 35

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2022

INSIDE CREATIVIT Y IN MOTION AT T H E B R YA N I N N O VAT I O N L A B BUILDING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW DEEPENING CONNECTIONS

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STEWARDSCHOOL.ORG

CONTENTS

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An Engaged Community A letter from Head of School Dan Frank

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Creativity in Motion The Bryan Innovation Lab is flourishing.

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Mini Community Week Exploration and discovery in three action-packed days

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Building the Leaders of Tomorrow Students gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship.

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Compass 2022 and Steward50 Near Completion See our priorities advancing.

SECTIONS

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Steward News

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Spartan Spotlight

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Steward Athletics

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Steward Arts

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Cover Story

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Alumni Snapshots

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

S T E W A R D NEWS

AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY Welcome to the latest edition of The Colonnade, in which we commemorate the highlights of our school year together thus far. We are thankful for the return of many favorite programs, such as Whirled Peace Day and in-person performing arts, as well as the launch of important new initiatives, like the Center for Engagement. On these pages, I’ve shared some of my favorite shots from these programs and more, which showcase the

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energy, joy, and learning of campus life.

In many of these photos, you’ll see smiling eyes above masks. You’ll see singers spaced apart on outdoor risers and parents and alums enjoying new ways to socialize. You’ll see a Lower School pep rally in the carpool loop, Upper Schoolers thrilled to return to the state tournament cheering section, and Middle Schoolers exploring life on- and offcampus during Community Week. You’ll see that we’ve found creative new ways to learn, connect, and grow.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, our

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calendar and plans have been marked by uncertainty. In a community that cherishes traditions and lives by the rhythms of the school calendar, this has been a challenge. We have been anxious for a return to “normal.” However, this fall we found that we are thankful for the opportunity to reinvent our traditions. It’s the people who bind us together, not the familiarity of past years’ habits.

With gratitude for this community and connections within it,

DAN FRANK, HEAD OF SCHOOL

4 A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

P U B L I C AT I O N S TA F F

Dan Frank, Head of School

Kathryn DiPasqua, Editor

Lisa Dwelle, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

Kate Carpenter, Designer

Adam Seldis, Director of Upper School Susan Atkinson, Director of Middle School Ingrid Moore, Director of Lower School

Lisa Dwelle, Sydney Smith, Rachel Williard, Contributing Editors Carley Hamilton, Contributing Designer

Jenni Booker Baker, Kathryn DiPasqua, Jenn Downey, Dan Frank, Sydney Smith, Rachel Williard, Contributing Writers Kelly Frankenburg, Aaron Jay Earley-Ledesma, Wendell Powell Photography, Meghan Rotter '23, Trip Wells, Chase Wingfield '23, Lily Wood '22, Contributing Photographers Worth Higgins & Associates, Inc., Printing The editors have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported in this publication. We apologize for any inadvertent errors.

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

S T E W A R D NEWS

Celebrating Connections and New Traditions

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1 Students and parents built and laughed together during the Bryan Innovation Lab Play Fair with Visiting Innovator Carolyn Schuyler. Read more on page 6.

4 Spartan spirit exploded on and off the field during the boys varsity soccer state tournament semi-finals at City Stadium. Learn about all the fall athletic results on page 13.

2 Entrepreneurship students engaged with local business leaders during their Saxon Shoes project. See more on page 8.

5 Live music at the Whirled Peace Day celebration. All students, faculty, and staff gathered together in community on the Wilton Hall lawn. More photos on page 27.

3 During Mini Community Week, Middle Schoolers used a Rigamajig (a large-scale wooden building kit) to construct a “rolling siege tower” to see if it could topple a cardboard fort. See more on page 28.

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6 Lower Schoolers celebrated their fall pep rally outdoors with blue, gold, pom-poms, and cheers. Middle and Upper Schoolers gathered for separate

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spirited events in the gym. More photos on page 29.

Steward parents Julie and Jason Herzog.

More photos on page 29.

7 Alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends connected at the sold-out Trucks & Shucks event, featuring live music and food trucks with oysters, pizza, and adult beverages. More photos on page 30.

10 School Counselor Jentae ScottMayo greeted students during Lower School carpool. Learn about her work with the Center for Engagement on page 16.

8 The Spartan Golf Classic returned this fall with a record number of golfers (107!) raising nearly $40,000. Read more on page 12.

11 Middle School Teacher Craig Redmond Cilley taught his social studies class outdoors.

9 Founders Society donors toasted to Steward and friendship at the home of

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S T E W A R D NEWS

Creativity in Motion The Bryan Innovation Lab is flourishing as its 10th anniversary nears.

Stroll over to the Bryan Innovation Lab (BIL) and you’ll find it brimming with activity. Lower Schoolers learn about the interaction of art and science as they cook up something delicious in the professional-grade kitchen. Middle School students test their engineering skills with the help of a Rigamajig — an oversized set of wood planks, pulleys, nuts, bolts, and wheels. And Upper Schoolers, with the help of a 3D printer, collaborate as they design a prosthetic limb.

Outside, the Bryan Lab’s Community Garden is teeming with activity, with native plants, giant sunflowers, and colorful zinnias sunning themselves in the summer, and hardy vegetables sprouting in the cooler months. Behind the building, you might spot some brilliant bluebirds zipping along the Bluebird Trail. During nesting season, a live webcam captures the birds’ activity, and the data collected is submitted to the Bluebird Society of Virginia.

BIL-DING EXTRAORDINAIRE The Bryan Lab’s environmentally friendly construction is as unique as the students and

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faculty who utilize the space. Photovoltaic power generation converts the sun's energy to electricity, and a solar hot-water system heats water for the building. Two 2,500-gallon cisterns collect run-off water for landscape irrigation, and rain gardens around the Bryan Lab collect additional water from the building and parking areas.

THE POWER OF PLAY Each year, the Bryan Lab welcomes a Visiting Innovator to campus to partner with faculty and students. Our 2021-22 Visiting Innovator, Carolyn Schuyler, is the executive director of Wild Rock, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting nature play for health and happiness. Last fall, Ms. Schuyler shared her expertise with the Spartan community, helping us all learn about the value of play — our schoolwide theme for 2021-22 — and the joy it can bring to just about every aspect of our lives.

She also met with faculty and staff to discuss how play can be incorporated into the curriculum, emphasizing that play is learning. “Foster a strong network of social support, clarify an essential question that serves as a call to play, and provide choices for pathways using play to explore the essential question,” she said.

On a crisp fall day, Ms. Schuyler gave a presentation inside the Bryan Lab on the importance of play as a foundation of learning and healing. Her talk was the third installment of the Fall Parent Speaker Series.

Ms. Schuyler then spent the school day meeting

with JK-12 students. In the afternoon, the Steward community gathered for the Bryan Lab’s Family Play Fair, which featured hands-on activities for students (and parents!) of all ages. Build-It Desks, Stomp Rockets, Bubbles, and Misfit Toys were just some of the fun activities that families enjoyed. Plus, participants enjoyed a sweet treat on the BIL patio: delicious s’mores.

PLAYING BY THE BOOK The BIL team (Program Coordinator Megan Young, Upper School Science Teacher and Bryan Lab Liaison Laura Akesson, Innovation Specialist Suzanne Casey, and Middle School Science Teacher Claire Bailey) worked together to create The Playbook, our all-school read for 2021-22. Available in print and digital versions, The Playbook is packed with ideas that encourage students in JK-12 to engage in activities that inspire choice, wonder, and delight.

LOOKING AHEAD There is always something new in the works at the Bryan Lab. Ms. Young is especially excited to plan for a “round robin” of visiting innovators who will teach students about game design.

“The Bryan Lab offers students unlimited opportunities for discovery and problem-solving,” said Ms. Young. “It’s exciting to watch our next generation of innovators working — and playing — as they explore new ideas.”

S T E W A R D NEWS

MINI COMMUNITY WEEK Exploration and discovery in three action-packed days.

Middle School students had maximum fun during Mini Community Week, which took place September 29 - October 1.

Thinking Outside the Classroom

Girls on the Run Steward girls find life lessons in the joy of running.

Twice a week last fall, a group of Steward girls

“GOTR is an opportunity for girls to participate

in Grades 3 - 5 laced up their running shoes,

in fun, engaging activities that allow them

high-fived each other, and headed out for a

to build healthy habits and confidence in

brisk run across campus. But they were building

themselves,” said Ms. Akinfolajimi. “Together,

more than muscle and stamina. As members

they nurture their physical, emotional,

of Girls on the Run (GOTR), they were learning

and mental health. Given the effects and

essential life skills.

implications of COVID, the return of Girls

The GOTR program, a non-profit with 200 local councils and more than 200,000 members nationwide, helps girls develop confidence through lessons that incorporate running. The Steward program (part of the Richmond GOTR Council) was founded in 2019. After being sidelined in 2020 due to the pandemic, it was reinstated in 2021.

BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS The 18 members of Steward’s eight-week program were mentored by Grade 4 Teacher Janell Kauffman (head coach), School Nurse Rebecca Heck (assistant coach), and Director of the Center for Advancement of Learning Yaa Akinfolajimi (assistant coach).

on the Run was met with a great deal of excitement.”

SMILES TO CELEBRATE Girls on the Run hosts more than 350 5K (3.1 miles) events across the United States, and on November 17, 2021, Steward hosted its own GOTR 5K on campus. The girls — each of whom had chosen a non-GOTR buddy to run with — looped the campus several times as fans (including our very own Spartan

Students went on field trips (Shalom Farms, Putt Putt Golf, and Bogey Sports Park), tie-dyed shirts, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out for yoga on Wilton Lawn, and spruced up the Bryan Innovation Lab (BIL) community garden beds.

Friendly Competition Inside the BIL, students exercised their teamwork muscles with a STEM challenge: Half of the students used a Rigamajig (a large-scale wooden building kit) to construct a “rolling siege tower” and half of the students used Make-aFort (giant interlocking cardboard pieces) to create a fort. The object? To see if the Rigamajig could topple the fort (see picture on page 5).

The Write Stuff + Good Sports In the Library, students had a mini lesson on how to write a friendly letter. Then, using fancy pens, they wrote letters that were distributed to senior centers in the Richmond area. Spartans also played flag football, ran relay races, and practiced their team-building skills on the field.

The week ended on a sweet note when the Kona Ice truck visited the campus. Thank you to everyone who made Mini Community Week a HUGE success.

cheerleaders) encouraged them along the route, waving and holding signs. Under a festive purple-and-white balloon arch, the girls,

Flip to page 28 or scan this

beaming with pride, crossed the finish line.

QR code to see photos from Mini Community Week!

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S T E W A R D NEWS

Building the Leaders of Tomorrow Entrepreneurship and Leadership Programs engage Upper School students in hands-on, on- and off-campus learning.

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The opportunities for real-world learning in Steward’s Upper School stand out among area independent schools. Service learning and the Minimester program, a week-long opportunity for internships, travel, and special projects, have been long traditions. More recently, the Entrepreneurship Program, which launched in 2017, and the Leadership Program, which is in its inaugural year, have enhanced students’ options.

leadership roles in their senior year at Steward and adulthood.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHES

ENTREPRENEURSHIP BACK IN FULL SWING

In the inaugural semester of the new Upper School Leadership Program, 18 freshmen are focusing on exploring their personal leadership style through both individual and group work.

“Last school year, we learned the art of the pitch through on-campus academic study,” said Melissa Freed, Entrepreneurship Program advisor. “This year, we’re taking that knowledge on the road.”

“Additionally, we are planning a second-semester case study workshop with the Jepson Student Government Association from the University of Richmond’s Leadership School,” Eliza McGehee, Leadership Program coordinator, said. “We are so excited about this opportunity for our students to learn from young leaders.”

Entrepreneurship students are working with Saxon Shoes, a long-time Richmond institution, on multigenerational marketing ideas. The students have firsthand access to Saxon’s business leaders to ask questions, generate market-savvy ideas, and “pitch” to the company’s leadership.

The program’s curriculum also includes lessons on group dynamics and conflict resolution, as well as service learning. The students, who participate from freshman through junior year, will more confidently step into

These lessons will expand throughout the spring, including a planned partnership with Pello, a local manufacturer of high-end bicycles, and participating in the pitch fair at Charlottesville-area TomTom Summit & Festival, which brings people together to focus on ideas for the future.

“One of the main reasons I joined the Leadership Program was to learn how to work better in groups, through cooperation and taking into consideration other people’s differences and opinions,” Xavier Nelson ’25 said. “Being able to empathize with someone else is a good skill to have not just now but in the future as well.”

S T E W A R D NEWS STEWARD FOR LEARNING STEWARD FOR LIFE

Compass 2022 and Steward50 Near Completion

Marking the final year of our strategic plan and capital campaign STEWARD FOR COMMUNITY

STEWARD FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

STEWARD FOR ALL

“When we wrote our current strategic plan, Compass 2022, and began the capital campaign, Steward50, that is helping fund it, we never would have guessed what the future would bring,” said Head of School Dan Frank. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us a few curveballs, I couldn’t be more proud of how this community has come together to support the success of these important initiatives.”

All across campus, from the enrichment of our academic program to the strength of our extracurricular activities, community members can see the priorities outlined in the strategic plan come to life.

We learned from Visiting Innovator Carolyn Schuyler that play belongs in every indoor and outdoor space on campus. Read more on page 6.

Our athletes and performers are back on the field and stage, bringing individual fulfillment to each member of the teams, casts, bands, and choirs. Read more on pages 12–15.

We invite you to read about more through the magazine. We hope you will consider investing in these ongoing initiatives at stewardschool.org/give.

Steward faculty started training in Restorative Practices to promote more empathetic interactions among our community members. Read more on pages 16–19.

Couples who met at Steward turned Spartan love into true love. Read more on pages 22–23.

Spartans are off campus and partnering with local businesses for hands-on learning again in our Entrepreneurship Program. Read more on page 8.

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SPAR TA N S P OTL I G H T

EMBRACE DEVELOPMENT Dear Spartan Community, As I write this letter, my daughter Sarah, my husband Stephen, and I have been Spartans for just over three months. Wow! It has flown by! In those short weeks, I have seen firsthand what a generous community this is. Thank you for embracing my family, and all the new Spartans this year, with open arms. (It’s no coincidence that “embrace” is the theme of our Annual Fund this year!) I’m excited to see our new assistant director of development, Meredith Harris, who joined us in November, experience a similarly warm welcome.

While I still have much to learn in the months and years to come, what I already know about Steward is this: It is an intentional community, one whose members choose to invest their time, talents, and treasure in an organization that is shaping the lives of the students who are so important to us. I’ve seen that come to life in the volunteers who are so excited to get back to planning community events and the generosity by which you’ve given to the Annual Fund and our capital campaign, Steward50. As Steward parents, we know that by investing in the school, we’re investing in our children’s future and the future of our world.

Development Department (L to R): Meredith Harris, Sydney Smith, Jenni Booker Baker, Jenn Downey, Nan Semmelman

Save the date for our annual Parents Association Gala

We are in a community that is philanthropic in nature — we don’t shy away from asking for support, and we generously and proudly give support. Our school community is reliant upon parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends as donors and volunteers. This is how the Steward experience rises above and beyond. As you flip through these pages, I hope you’ll spend a few minutes reflecting on how the incredible experiences shared here came to be because we all came together to support our community.

With gratitude for each and every one of you,

Saturday, March 26, 2022 Jenni Booker Baker | Director of Development

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER 10

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SPA RTAN S POTLI G H T

WHY I GIVE Dedicated Spartans share what it means to them to support Steward with their time, talents, and treasure.

Katherine Goodpasture, Grade 4 teacher “Steward helps children grow into who they are meant to be, and it also gives them a safety net when they fall. The school leaders and this community do that for the teachers too.

At Steward, I found a home. I’ve been here for 26 years, which is half the school’s lifetime. While the campus has changed, the spirit is still the same. We are part of a village with children at its heart.”

Kimberlee Magrill, President of the Parents Association and mother of Max ’24 and Jack ’26 “When we decided to move our boys to Steward, we were looking for an educational community that would help them find and build their love of learning and grow to be the best versions of themselves. Not having attended an independent school, I was worried about our family finding our spot, our people.

We have found not only an academic home for our boys but also a community for our family.

When I am on campus, I am embraced by joy and enthusiasm. I am proud to work with a tight network of volunteers as part of the Parents

Association, who support and encourage each other, build community, show appreciation for our faculty and staff, and raise funds to support the development of our biggest asset, our children.”

Jen Vermaaten, Parents Association Treasurer-Elect and mother of Sarah ’25 “Prior to having my daughter, I was a type-A career person.

It was where I focused my energy, but it wasn’t my passion. As a Parents Association volunteer, I have found purpose. Community service is fulfilling and I typically get back more than I give. The time I spend showing faculty and staff that they are appreciated is so well worth it. I’m setting an example for my daughter about the importance of gratitude, as well as making a difference to so many others at Steward.”

and we know that tuition alone doesn’t create the Steward experience. Professionally, we are both in businesses where we reinvest capital to maintain relevance to our clients and colleagues and to create a platform for sustainable growth.

It’s the same for Steward. We believe in the school and its vision, so we invest in it. Giving is not only about today but also about building a legacy. We want Steward to be there for our children’s children, their friends and their children, and the whole community long-term.

Lucie and Gray wouldn’t have the experience they’re having if people hadn’t given generously in the past. We feel called to uphold that tradition.”

Thank You to Our Premier Partners!

Chuck Wingfield, President of the Spartan Club and father of Chase ’23, Spencer ’25, and Mason ’31 “It takes a village. It’s important for parents to be a part of their children’s educational journey, and I’m grateful to have the time and ability to help. We have a wonderful faculty and staff that do so much for the school, but we also need parents to participate. The school welcomes volunteers with open arms. It’s such a rewarding experience to be a part of your children’s lives in this way.”

Jane duFrane and Doug Pera, Mom and Bonus Dad to Lucie ’25 and Gray ’25; Jane is a member of the Board of Trustees “These are important years for our children,

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S T E W A R D ATH L E TI C S

SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT

A new way to enjoy athletics Thanks to the generosity of the Spartan Club, the Steward community can cheer on the Spartans both in-person and virtually. Spartan Club donors helped fund a state-of-the-art livestreaming platform, which is hosted by the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations).

Steward can now livestream indoor and outdoor home games with cameras that use artificial intelligence to stream home varsity and junior varsity games, plus mobile filming units to stream field sports.

In our conference (the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, or TCIS), the following schools use the NFHS Network: Catholic High School, Peninsula Catholic, Norfolk Christian School, Walsingham, and Norfolk Collegiate. We currently have the ability to livestream volleyball, basketball, baseball, field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse.

live.stewardspartans.org

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An Exciting Day “Fore” Everyone The annual Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic fosters community Ray Tate, the founding president of the Spartan Club, was a generous man who donated much of his time and energy to athletics at The Steward School. Mr. Tate, who established Steward’s Golf Classic in 2003, was a tremendous supporter of the school’s students, coaches, and athletic program, and in 2012 the event was renamed to honor the memory of this big-hearted man.

TEEING UP FOR SPARTAN SPIRIT This year’s event took place on October 25 at Independence Golf Course. Bobbie Fass and Kelli Fox, event co-chairs (and proud Steward parents), worked hard to ensure that participants had a great day, and through the combined efforts of volunteers and participants, more than $39,000 was raised to benefit the Spartan Club. And there’s even more to celebrate: The event brought together a record-setting 105 golfers.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the Golf Classic is used for scholarships awarded to Steward seniors who are exceptional student-athletes.

Kudos to the 2021 Ray Tate Student-Athlete scholarship winners, Erin Langenburg ’22 and Wit Moore ’22.

At a special ceremony during Upper School Assembly, Erin and Wit were lauded for their excellent character, strong work ethic, and extracurricular involvement. As the audience cheered them on (including their proud parents, whose attendance was kept secret until the last minute), Erin and Wit were presented the $1,000 scholarships by Chuck Wingfield, president of the Spartan Club.

S T E W A R D ATH LETI CS

ATHLETICS

Superlative Spartans

AT A GLANCE:

Athletic Hall of Fame honors five alumni

SPARTAN ATHLETES ACCOMPLISHED GREAT THINGS

The Steward School will induct five alumni into Steward’s Athletic Hall of Fame on April 28, 2022.

The HOF recognizes members of the Steward

IN THE FALL OF 2021

community who have proven exceptionally influential in athletics. They also serve as role models for current and future Steward student-athletes.

At the celebration, the five will be lauded by former and current faculty and staff members for their

After a not-so-normal year, it was refreshing to resume interscholastic competition. It was especially exciting to cheer on our athletes in person … there’s nothing like watching the action from the stands or the sidelines! All of our Spartans worked hard and improved over the course of the fall. Several teams and athletes saw great success in the conference and at the state level.

Boys Cross Country: Nathan Gu ’25, AllConference

athletic accomplishments and their leadership.

Boys Soccer: Wit Moore ’22, 1st Team AllConference

Congratulations to (1) Jamie Brock ’93 (field

Boys Soccer: Sam Roberson ’23, 1st Team All-Conference

hockey), (3) Adam Lonon ’06 (basketball), (4)

Boys Soccer: Henry Bearden ’23, 2nd Team All-Conference

’09 (baseball). Your families, colleagues, coaches,

ALL-STATE AWARDS

VISAA STATE TOURNAMENTS

Boys Cross Country: Nathan Gu ’25, All-State

Boys Varsity Soccer

Girls Tennis: Nayla Turpin ’22, 1st Team Boys Soccer: Sam Roberson '23, 1st Team, Co-Player of the Year Boys Soccer: Henry Bearden '23, 1st Team Boys Soccer: Wit Moore '22, 2nd Team

hockey), (2) Mary Harvard Nolde ’93 (field Cameron Scales ’08 (baseball), and (5) JT Wauford teammates, and the school look forward to celebrating with you!

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Seeded #2 in the state tournament Defeated #10 Highland in the quarterfinals Defeated #3 Seton in the semi-finals Lost 0-3 to #1 North Cross in the state championship VISAA Division II State Runner-up

TCIS ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS Boys and Girls Cross Country Girls Tennis: Nayla Turpin ’22, 1st Team Singles

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Girls Tennis: Nayla Turpin ’22 and Lilly Caldwell ’24, 1st Team Doubles

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Girls Volleyball: Kyla Johnson ’23, 2nd Team All-Conference

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CONGRATS SPARTANS!

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Boys finished 12th out of 40 Division II teams Nathan Gu ’25 finished in 16th place, earning All-State Honors Girls finished 17th out of 39 Division II teams

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S T E W A R D ARTS

Scene Stealers: Performing Arts Return to the Stage “Being next to someone on stage is like electricity; it shoots from one person to the next,” Zamiyah Burton ’23 said, describing the choir’s return to the stage this fall.

Zamiyah, who participated in the Synchronous Athome Learning Program throughout 2020-21, said she’s thrilled to be singing next to her classmates again. She’s grateful for the live performances, such as Convocation and Whirled Peace Day, but says it’s the everyday moments she loves best.

“Every time I walk into the choir classroom, it’s the best part of the day,” she shared.

Theatre Teacher Craig Smith echoed her sentiments, recognizing that the rehearsals were a favorite for “The Giver” cast and crew.

“Rehearsals were the thing they really missed — hanging out backstage, getting to laugh with their friends,” he said. “It was so incredible to see them flock together in those groups whenever they had a moment.”

Theatre Teacher Susan Sanford shared that, throughout the pandemic, the performing arts teachers have been thoughtful about how to create the best student experience within the requirements of pandemic precautions. While they’re looking forward to a time when things return to “normal,” she recognizes that “the most core part of the performing arts is storytelling, and that transcends a mask.”

The Theatre Department put on two live performances

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last fall: “The Giver” in October, with 11 in the cast and seven crew members, and “All Together Now” in November, which featured approximately 20 Middle and Upper Schoolers. The Music Department performed live for in-person audiences at three school events (Convocation, Whirled Peace Day, and the Thanksgiving Program), as well as in a combined choir/ band concert in December. At press time, the Theatre Department was busy planning for a musical review in February, called “Side by Side by Sondheim,” which features both classics and hidden gems by the late acclaimed composer Stephen Sondheim.

This is a marked departure from the spring of 2020 and the 2020-21 school year, in which live performances and in-person interactions were curtailed.

Choir Teacher Heidi Taylor said that nothing can replace performing live, together, even with masks and distancing requirements.

“There are a lot of skills you can learn on your own, and we did that last year, but there’s nothing as satisfying as performing in front of an audience,” Mrs. Taylor said. “A performance isn’t only about the performer, it’s also about the people in the room who become a part of it. It’s collective energy.”

This fall, livestreaming equipment was installed in the Lora M. Robins Theatre. Alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends can now enjoy Steward’s performing arts from home! stewardschool.org/live

S T E W A R D ARTS

A New Landscape Visiting artist teaches students soft pastels.

This fall, Visiting Artist Melissa Walton shared her expertise with art students in Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Ms. Walton, a Richmond-based artist, specializes in soft pastels.

“Our Visiting Artist program allows our students to experience as many different types of art as possible,” said Lynn Zinder, Lower School art teacher. “Additionally, the students had the opportunity to connect with a working, real-world artist. It takes our lessons out of the classroom without the children actually leaving campus.”

Cindy Grissom, Middle School art teacher, complimented Ms. Walton on her approach to working with the students, a comfort level gained by working with her own four children and her niece, Campbell Reynolds ’33, and nephew, Davis Reynolds ’31. “Melissa was so good with the kids,” Ms. Grissom said. “She stepped comfortably into classrooms of all ages, and the students gained so much from the lessons.”

Sarah Grace echoed what Ms. Walton herself explained about working with soft pastels: the colors draw you in.

“Soft pastels are a unique medium that can be challenging to use,” Ms. Walton said. “You don’t meet a lot of pastel artists today, but some of our most beloved artists throughout history, like Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt, have worked with them. Pastels take extra time and care, but I love the color. It’s worth it.”

She focuses on dynamic compositions that convey the atmospheric perspective and have a strong pattern of light.

In the studio, she enjoys converting her plein air studies into original interpretations of familiar subjects. She worked with Steward students on how to use soft pastels to draw and shade. Lower Schoolers worked on sunsets, Middle Schoolers on sunsets with clouds, and Upper Schoolers on landscapes.

"The students had the opportunity to connect with a working, real-world artist. It takes our lessons out of the classroom without the children actually leaving campus.” – Lower School Art Teacher Lynn Zinder Middle Schooler Sarah Grace Groves ’27 loved her time working with Ms. Walton. “Art is my favorite subject,” Sarah Grace explained. “I loved watching her technique and then trying it myself. It was satisfying to learn from her real-life experience.”

During Ms. Walton’s residency this fall, her art hung alongside the students’ pastels in the Carolyn Brandt Art Gallery.

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COV E R S TORY

Deepening Connect The Center for Engagement is making the Steward community stronger than ever.

Perhaps it’s fitting that Steward’s new Center for Engagement is not a physical space. Rather, it is an allencompassing philosophy, one that enriches every aspect of the Steward experience. Launched in fall 2021, the Center brings together the school’s health and wellness program, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) program, school counseling program, and community life program. The services and programs the Center offers are designed to nurture both individuals and the wider community.

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COVER S TOR Y

ions COLLABORATION + INTEGRATIVE EDUCATION This centralized resource, unique to Steward, includes the work of Tiffany Goodman, diversity, equity, and inclusion coordinator; Rashad Lowery, campus life and community stewardship coordinator; Kris Marchant, health and wellness coordinator; and Jentae Scott-Mayo, school counselor. The four collaborate with each other, and with colleagues across all divisions, to ensure that the school community is provided experiences and practices that increase empathy, responsibility, and purpose.

An outcome of the school’s strategic plan, and in conjunction with Steward’s integrative education, the Center for Engagement’s efforts weave together three of the plan’s focus areas: Steward for Community (meaningful partnerships), Steward for the Individual (attending to the whole person), and Steward for All (strength in diversity).

MEANING AND PURPOSE The Center’s focus dovetails into a wider trend on school campuses across the United States: the importance of building meaning and purpose into the educational framework. Author and education consultant Grant Lichtmann says that our rapidly changing world has compelled schools to embrace “collaborative, inquiry-based, and student-centric ideals, helping students build skills to find and solve real-world problems.”

This integrative approach to education is a hallmark of the Steward experience.

“If something has no meaning, then there is no ‘why’ to doing it … I think it behooves us to consider our ‘why’ no matter what it is we’re doing,” said Head of School Dan Frank. “Being clear on ‘why’ helps us to be more motivated intrinsically to make things flower in the world and in ourselves. In my mind, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing: You can work for a nonprofit, provide food for homeless people, or work on Wall Street. There is purpose in the world for all the things that we do. It’s important to reflect on that purpose so you can understand it better, and to understand that we’re all creating opportunity and betterment for those around us. We’re only better if those around us are better.”

STUDENT-FOCUSED Mr. Frank said that the need for the Center existed for several years but was intensified by the pandemic.

“We were already following the national trend of seeing increased mental health issues,” he noted as an example. “From the time I began at Steward [in 2013] until recently, it ticked up 15 points. Nationally, twenty-five to forty percent of kids are experiencing depression or anxiety; anywhere on that scale is too much. The pandemic hit and we all got thrown into quarantine … anybody who was already depressed or anxious became more so.”

One way the Center is taking care of Steward students’ mental health is by making counseling available.

While all students do not receive individual or group counseling, they all have access to school counseling services and curriculum. Ms. Scott-Mayo, who describes her work as school counselor as “extremely

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COV E R S TORY

student-focused and student-centered,” offers individual counseling for students in JK-12. She also facilitates group counseling when she sees patterns of behavior trending among students. Group counseling, she says, can be a great way for young people to connect with one another as they work through problems.

“Kids can learn a lot from each other,” she said. “In any phase of their journey – whether it’s Lower, Middle, or Upper School – they often feel isolated: ‘I’m the only one who feels this way. Something must be wrong with me.’ But when they interact in a group setting with peers facing similar challenges, they realize, ‘Wow! I’m not the only person who feels this way.’ That’s why group counseling is sometimes really beneficial.”

SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Ms. Scott-Mayo also teaches character education to fifth graders, covering topics such as social-emotional learning and mental health. In these classes, Ms. Scott-Mayo teaches lessons about the brain and how different processes associated with the brain can affect behavior and mental health.

In addition, she teaches Middle School health and wellness, and she will soon offer Upper School advisory workshops.

“I’m excited to bring school-based mental health services to the community because the role of the school counselor is unique,” she said. “We are not clinical therapists who work in a clinical setting. We work in a collaborative role in a school community – so a lot of the dynamics of what kids need while at school are unique to my role.”

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Ms. Scott-Mayo looks forward to hosting a Worry Warriors Mindfulness Club for Middle Schoolers, where students can learn skills to cope with anxiety and stress. Students will design informational posters that highlight various coping strategies.

“Middle School students learn so much better from one another,” she said. “It’s one thing for me to share information, but it’s another thing for students to say to their peers, ‘Here, this worked for me, why don’t you try it?’”

GOOD STEWARDS Helping others is another way that students experience social-emotional growth.

On most Wednesday mornings, Mr. Lowery and six or seven Middle School students arrive at school early and zip over to the Reinhart House, a “home away from home” that provides comfort to the families of patients at St. Mary’s Hospital. The students prepare breakfast for the families lodging at the House. Instilling purpose in programming is a key element of Mr. Lowery’s work as campus life and community stewardship coordinator.

“The goal of the Center is to have a scope that starts here on campus but expands beyond,” he said. “We ask ourselves: How can we be stewards of ourselves, the campus, the community, and ultimately, the globe?”

MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS Community connections are central to Mr. Lowery’s work. He has spearheaded a variety of projects, including one in which students researched the lives of people interred at Richmond’s historic Evergreen Cemetery. He also coordinated a Rise Against

Hunger meal-packing event on campus, which has been generously sponsored by the Magnano family (Bobby Magnano and Kim Magnano, parents of Joe Magnano '25, Tommy Magnano '23, Michael Magnano '20, and Matea Magnano '17) for many years. Volunteers packed more than 20,000 meals for those in need.

‘WE’RE ALL IDLING AT A HIGHER LEVEL’ In addition to fostering connections beyond campus, the Steward family is focused on making its strong community even stronger. Living through a pandemic has affected everyone — especially students — in profound ways.

“We’re all idling at a higher level, so things that might not have caused us to react strongly in the past feel different now,” explained Ms. Goodman, who has a background as a therapist. She saw this firsthand throughout 2020, when students peppered her with questions: about COVID, about politics, about current events – whatever was top of mind.

“Their teachers and I taught them how to find unbiased sources and how to have an empathetic approach to others,” she said. “For us to have a mature conversation at this level, to spark that curiosity, to feed their desire to learn and grow: That’s what 2020 brought.”

Now, she is eager to dive into Restorative Practices, which studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals and social connections within communities.

“It’s about relationship building, relationship sustaining, relationship repairing,” she said.

COVER S TOR Y BUILDING AND RE-BUILDING

BUILDING CONNECTIONS

Last fall, trainers from the International Institute for Restorative Practices worked with a group of Steward faculty and staff on this emerging social science. Ms.Goodman led bringing the program to Steward, with support from Mr. Frank and the school’s division directors.

On any given school day, Ms. Marchant clocks several on-campus miles on her fitness tracker. It’s not surprising, as she teaches character education to Lower Schoolers, coordinates the fall and spring Parent Speaker Series, plans faculty and staff wellness initiatives, teaches Middle School and Upper School health and wellness seminars, and ensures that the entire health and wellness curriculum is cohesive and coordinated across all grade levels. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

The program teaches both individual skills (active listening and conflict resolution) as well as specific actions such as faculty-facilitated listening circles and conferences. At Steward, it will also highlight the principles of the honor code. By implementing Restorative Practices, the school will be able to address the everyday feel of the culture and environment as well as impact how we understand and implement our honor code. The goal of engaging in Restorative Practices is that the Steward community will be strengthened through a shared experience and build trust.

As faculty become trained in Restorative Practices, they are implementing these new tools, and a schoolwide launch of the program is projected for fall 2022.

CULTURE AND SPIRIT As DEI coordinator, Ms. Goodman is passionate about her work, which focuses on communitybuilding and equipping all students with the skills they need to work together, especially when differences arise.

She teams up with her Center for Engagement colleagues to program, co-teach, and promote health and community across campus. For example, in 2020, she and Mr. Lowery collaborated to bring speakers from various faith traditions together for a virtual interfaith panel to speak to students in a honors-level World Religions class. And in 2021, the two invited religious experts to the Upper School to discuss common themes of wellness, service, and play through the lens of faith.

The panel discussion “is one way we let students grapple with the differences and with the sameness of beliefs,” Ms. Goodman said. “We invite all types of representation of religious backgrounds and let students sit with it from an educational standpoint as well as what they personally believe.”

When it comes to teaching, though, “I’m trying to slow things down a little and give the kids some space, so that they can come to class and focus on finding skills that are meaningful to them,” she said. Ms. Marchant says it’s vital that students are partners in their wellness – that they promote their own health, including their mental and emotional wellbeing.

“Slowing down means more time for conversation,” she noted. “I start every class with News & Notes – kids share one important thing that’s going on with them, good, bad, or indifferent.” This type of exchange helps students get to know each other by building important connections “so that they can talk about the really important stuff, the hard stuff.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY Ms. Marchant was thrilled when the campus resumed some of its in-person events, including the fall 2021 Parent Speaker Series, which included a talk by Carolyn Schuyler, this year’s Visiting Innovator.

Ms. Marchant said, “Many parents have followed up to say how great it was to be back on campus.

Parents really want to talk and to be in each other’s presence. They want to reconnect.”

THE STEWARDSHIP OF WELLBEING Mr. Frank looks forward to watching the Center for Engagement grow and flourish.

“What happens in traditional classrooms is immensely important, but we are trying to build on that foundation to create something bigger; the Center, the Leadership Program, the Entrepreneurship Program, and the Bryan Innovation Lab programming are all contributing to this goal,” said Mr. Frank. “Much in the way that the Bryan Innovation Lab is not the only home for modern knowledge, I hope that the Center for Engagement is not the only home for activities that promote better wellbeing.”

FINDING COMMONALITY Mr. Frank is especially excited that the Center for Engagement will encourage new ways of thinking.

“I see it as the ‘heart’ of the community,” he said. “It is a way for students, faculty, staff, and parents to learn more about themselves and each other so that we can build a stronger and more cohesive community.”

FUNDING FOR THE CENTER FOR ENGAGEMENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING: •

a matching $50,000 grant from the prestigious E.E. Ford Foundation, the gold standard in educational philanthropy, which was awarded thanks to the generosity of The Nanchard Morganson Charitable Fund

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The Wheless Family Stewardship Fund

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donations to the Steward50 capital campaign

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Steward’s annual, tuition-supported budget

Ms. Schuyler spoke to parents in the Bryan Innovation Lab about the importance of play as a foundation of learning and healing. She said the drive to play is innate, and it prepares us for the complexity of a world that is always changing.

“Play is what evolution has given us not only to learn, but to heal from hard times,” said Ms. Schuyler. “The language of healing for children is play.”

The Bryan Lab also hosted a Family Play Fair, which focused on Steward’s 2021-22 schoolwide theme of “play” as it relates to health and wellness.

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T HE 2 02 1 – 2 022 ALU M N I B OA RD KEITH MURPHY ’09 - PRESIDENT University of Kentucky, Bachelor of Architecture Architectural Designer at 3North

BETH FARMER-SMITH ’09 James Madison University, B.S. in writing, rhetoric, and technical communication Associate Director of Admissions at The Steward School *Married to Steward’s asst. varsity soccer coach, Casey Smith

LIZ DELANEY ’08 - VICE PRESIDENT University of Alabama, B.A. in communication, advertising Client Services Coordinator at Colliers International

BRAEDEN GLANCY ’15 Longwood University, B.A. in history; beginning master’s program in secondary education in 2022 Receptionist at The Steward School

MEG WHITE MONTGOMERY ’05 - SECRETARY Attended Roanoke College and VCU Realtor with Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville

KIERA HINTZ ’13

*Married to Steward’s director of plant operations, Chad Montgomery, and Steward parent of Olivia ’34

University of Kentucky, B.S. in marketing Marketing Assistant at StyleCraft Homes

HARRY BARON ’01 - TREASURER

HARRISON MIRE ’12

University of Alabama, B.S. in marketing Account Executive at cxLoyalty, a division of JP Morgan Chase *Married to Steward alumna Caitlin Rossmoore Baron ‘01

ZACH BARNARD ’12 Columbia College Chicago, Bachelor of Fine Arts Freelance artist, specializing in painting, ink and paper, murals, and commissions

Hampden-Sydney College, B.A. in visual arts Telecom Analyst at Estes Express Lines

KEMIS NOBLE ’08 Clemson University, B.S. in marketing; VCU, M.B.A. in global business Manager, CapTech Consulting

MARY HARVARD NOLDE ’93 DANI FRAIZER BLAKE ’09 James Madison University, B.A. in interior design Owner of Dani Blake Interior Design

ALLISON CARPENTER ’11

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*Member of Steward’s Board of Trustees

KAM SMITH ’16

James Madison University, B.S. in interdisciplinary liberal studies, M.A.T. Kindergarten Teacher, Henrico County Public Schools

Northern Illinois University, B.A. in middle level teaching and learning; currently completing coursework for a master’s degree in sports management at George Mason University (and captain of GMU’s baseball team)

JENNIFER CRONK ’88

MADELYN STONEBURNER ROWLAND ’10

University of Richmond, B.A. in liberal arts, master’s degree in curriculum & instruction Middle School Teacher, Westmoreland County Public Schools

College of Charleston, B.A .in arts management and Spanish Manager, People Operations and Experience at ALICE (a hospitality platform)

MARY MARTHA DELANEY ’08

LAURA WEISIGER ’02

University of Alabama, B.S. in interior design Client Services Coordinator, Colliers International

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College of Charleston, B.A. in communications Direct Sales Leader, Green Compass Global, Ltd.

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Elon University, B.A. in journalism Content Developer in Card Learning & Development at Capital One

ALUMNI ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

At Convocation 2021, Dr. Jill Narron ’85 was presented the Alumni Achievement Award.

She earned her M.D. from the University of Virginia, completed her pediatric residency at the WrightPatterson Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, and spent four years in the United States Air Force as a general pediatrician before returning to UVA for a fellowship in pediatric cardiology.

As a pediatric cardiologist at Dayton Children’s Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dr. Narron embodies the description

of Steward’s Alumni Achievement Award. She has lived out the Steward mission through inspiration, engagement, and care of others in the community.

‘IN A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING, BE KIND’ Dr. Narron shared memories of life on campus in the early ’70s and talked about being a shy child who benefited from small class sizes.

“I can’t thank my parents enough for making the choice to enroll me at Steward,” she said. “I also give thanks to the educators and fellow students who challenged me ... and who made

THE ALUMNI BOARD: COMMUNITY STEWARDS It’s all about connections. Our Alumni Board ensures that Spartans stay connected to Steward (and each other) by attending meetings, helping with events, and encouraging their peers to share their time and talent both on- and off-campus.

REUNION WEEKEND CELEBRATES BLUE AND GOLD PRIDE What do you get when you combine good food, rousing music, and friends old and new? At Steward, it’s a recipe for Reunion Weekend.

me believe that anything is possible.”

Her love for medicine blossomed at Steward. In addition to excelling in class, she worked at a local family practice, volunteered at a hospital, and participated in an externship at a developmental pediatrician’s practice.

Of her career, Dr. Narron said, “I can think of no higher honor than being entrusted with the care of my patients. To me, this is what it means to be a Steward, and these core values were instilled in me at this school: to care for oneself, others, the school community, and for a cause greater than oneself.”

gathered on November 5 under the tent on Waddell Terrace for Trucks and Shucks. With music by Erin and the Wildfire (plus oysters and other great food!), it was a perfect fall evening to celebrate the Steward community, including all the classes whose graduation years end in a 0, 1, 5, or 6 (double the reunion years because we weren’t able to celebrate in 2020).

The following morning, alumni enjoyed brunch in the Brandt Gallery, where they had an opportunity to catch up further, hear from Head of School Dan Frank and Reunion Weekend Chair Dani Fraizer Blake '09, and then tour the campus.

The campus was brimming with Spartan spirit as alumni and friends

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A LUM NI

LOVE IS IN THE AIR At Steward, we talk a lot about love, but it’s usually the platonic kind. For quite a few Steward couples, however, their love has turned into engagement and marriage, and we want to celebrate those Spartan duos! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, here are some extra reasons to celebrate love Steward-style.

Robert Dietz ’81 and Denise Featherston Dietz ’81 Denise: Robert and I both started [in the third grade] at Steward the year it opened in 1972 at Derbyshire Baptist Church. Our first date was in December 1978. We had been friends of course through the years but didn’t really think about it beyond that. By April 1979 we were “going together!” I loved cheering for him and the Spartans on the soccer sidelines when we won the soccer championship in 1979 (I think)!

We flirted a lot during second period study hall and spent a lot of time together working on the plays – he was usually working behind the scenes, and I was on the stage. Our mutual love for the school brought us closer together throughout high school. We hated leaving Steward behind to go to college, but our relationship endured and we got married in 1986. We often laughed and said our first child, Danny, was the first Steward alumni baby!

Graham Hickerson ’89 and Barbara Hickerson (former development associate) Barbara: I began working at The Steward School in 2006 in the Development Office and had the opportunity to develop the alumni program a few years later. I spoke with [former headmaster] Paul Cramer, and he suggested a few names from each class to invite to an Alumni Board meeting; one of those names was Graham Hickerson.

Graham: I remember being at work and my phone ringing. I answered, and there was a sweet voice on the other end saying something about Steward – I was thinking, here we go, she is going

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to ask for money. Well, she didn't, and for some reason I agreed to check out the Alumni Board meeting.

Barbara: Graham began attending Steward events as part of the Alumni Board. Somehow, we ended up dancing at an event on Waddell Terrace and had a blast; the week after SummerFest, he asked me out on a date. Seven months later we were engaged in Italy and married six months later. We now have two handsome boys and live less than two minutes from Steward.

Frazer Orgain ’95 and Corbin Adamson Orgain ’96 Frazer: This is a story where the girl is smart and has the vision, and the boy is dumb and blind. We first met in fourth and fifth grade (1985), when Corbin’s main objective of the year was to be placed on my kickball team … to no avail, and thus began the pursuit and consequent blindness for eight years until our first official date at Jr./Sr. (now know as prom) in 1994. The rest is history, and we have been married for 20 years. We have a “varsity team” at Steward (two students in Upper School) and a “JV team” (two Lower Schoolers). Corbin is the most amazing sixthgrade math teacher at Steward, and Frazer is still dumb!

Adam Graves ’98 and Catherine Woody Graves ’98 Catherine: We met in the seventh grade in Mrs. Shaw’s English class. His first impression was that I was extremely quiet, and he actually wondered if I could even talk. My first impression was that he was the cutest guy in the grade, and I loved his socks that day. They had loons on them. We were

friends first and became a couple in tenth grade (1996). We dated for 12 years before getting married in 2008. Now here we are 25 years later with a daughter who is in kindergarten at Steward and a six-month-old son!

Shelly Giglio Felvey ‘99 and Stewart Felvey ‘00 Shelly: We met in advisory, I think it was called, when Stewart was in ninth grade and I was in tenth grade.

We started dating at the end of his tenth-grade year and my eleventhgrade year. Our first date was me driving him to get a cast taken off his arm – he had broken his wrist playing basketball – and then we went to the movies. We have been together ever since.

Harry Baron ’01 and Caitlin Rossmoore Baron ’01 Harry: Caitlin and I met in fifth grade. We were great friends for many years, and as fate would have it, we ended up together after college. Both Caitlin and I are so incredibly grateful for The Steward School, the teachers, and our fellow alumni, some of whom are still our close friends today.

Obviously, without Steward, we wouldn't be together and certainly wouldn't have the most important things in our life, our children and each other.

Clay Carter ‘05 and Annie Wise Carter ‘05 Annie: We actually met in preschool. Our parents happened to be good friends, so we carpooled and had a couple joint

ALUMNI birthday parties since our birthdays were only six days apart. I went to Steward starting in kindergarten, while Clay attended Collegiate until ninth grade, then he came to Steward in the tenth grade. We became close friends in high school but never dated. We ended up at different colleges and dated other people; but we still remained close friends, especially since we were less than three hours from each other (Athens, GA and Columbia, SC). We both moved back to Richmond between 2008 and 2009, but it wasn’t until 2013 that we were both newly single and realized we’d been right in front of each other all this time! We dated for six years before getting married in October 2019!

Meg White Montgomery ‘05 (former Steward staff) and Chad Montgomery (director of plant operations) Meg: It all started when my door broke one day a few months after Chad had started working at Steward [in the Maintenance Department], and he came to fix it. After that, I had Mrs. Healey do some investigative work, mainly to find out if he had a girlfriend. Fast forward a long time (months and months), and we finally met up at the Continental with some friends. I messaged him to see if he wanted to meet us there, which he did, and then we went out to dinner a week or so later. I left Steward for another opportunity … and because I didn’t want to work with my beau. After about a year of dating, he proposed in the Cramer Center with all of our family and friends hiding in the balcony. We got married in July 2014 and are now the parents of a Steward kindergartner and a three-year old.

Doug Smith ’06 and Nicole Hill Smith ’06 Nicole: Over Christmas break [during] senior year in 2005, Doug romantically asked me to dinner and a movie over AIM (instant messaging). Being the charmer he is, Doug recommended the Burger King in front of the Short Pump Regal theaters – Dutch style – and used movie vouchers he had received from being Employee of the Month at PetSmart.

Needless to say, the first date was memorable,

and we haven’t stopped laughing since; we’ll be celebrating 10 years of marriage in October 2022.

Adam Dawes ’07 and Ayers Gilman Dawes ’06 Ayers: Adam and I stayed friends after high school and started dating in 2016, and we got married in 2018. Adam is currently working as a network engineer at Markel Corporation, and I am pursuing my master of education in a teaching licensure program leading into a graduate program at Regent University.

Beth Farmer-Smith ’09 and Casey Smith (assistant soccer coach) Beth: Casey and I met in fall 2013 on the athletic fields. He was coaching boys varsity soccer, and I was coaching Middle School field hockey. We got married in September 2018 and even had our rehearsal dinner in the Bryan Lab! We both still coach at Steward and love seeing each other out on the fields!

Michael Sims ’13 and Claire Kirchmier Sims ’14 Claire: Michael and I met when we were in high school, me a freshman and Michael a sophomore. It’s not every day that your older sister (Mackenzie Kirchmier ’12) is able to see that you two are meant for each other and works her hardest to make it happen. Through Michael’s summer baseball tournaments, VMI, and living long distance during flight school for the Navy, we stuck together through it all and finally got married on August 13, 2021!

Matthew Gelber ’15 and Mary Madison Andrews ’16 (engaged) Mary Madison: There's no definitive start to our story since we have known

each other since Middle School. We became friends through band and robotics over the years.

During my junior year and Matthew's senior year, we started to hang out during free periods, and Matthew would help me with my math homework. After Matthew started at VCU, he continued providing math tutoring, as (Mr. Serr can corroborate) I was horrible at precalculus!

We bonded over my hatred – and Matthew's love of – math and eventually started dating in autumn 2015. I passed precalculus with an A, and I got a husband out of it...I'd call that a win-win!

Sean Highfill ’15 and Liza Thompson ’17 (engaged) Liza: In a risky opening gambit on Valentine’s Day 2015, Sean presented me with heart-shaped candies and an oversized teddy bear. The rest is history. Together ever since, we will tie the knot on August 27, 2022 in front of family and friends, including many Steward alumni.

John Keefe ’15 and Ally Dods ’16 (engaged) Ally: John and I met in 2012 in math class at Steward when I was a freshman and he was a sophomore. We started dating the next year and have been together ever since, a little over eight years now. We stayed together through college while I went to JMU and he went to VMI, got engaged in December 2020, and are getting married in October 2022. Thanks to Steward for bringing us together!

Davis Mohar ’17 and Morgan Van Davelaar ’17 (engaged) Davis: Morgan and I met when I came to Steward in seventh grade, and [we] had at least one class together every year. We started dating near the end of senior year and both went to Virginia Tech for college. Our relationship has grown over the years, and we often reminisce about our shared Steward experiences. We are now engaged, back in Richmond, and spending our days chasing after our dog, Poppy!

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1 Bill Kane ‘89 hosted a minireunion in summer 2021 at his home, Jolly’s Mill Pond, a historic, family-owned tree farm and pond in Williamsburg. (In addition to Bill, the alumni pictured here include Skip Banks ‘89, Graham Hickerson ‘89, Hugh Edmunds [attended Lower School], Corey Turnage ‘88, and Bo Steele ‘87.)

2 Cabin Creek Interiors, a company owned by Michael Maszaros ‘99, was named Best Interior Design Firm by LNN Tri-Cities News at their “Best of the Best” awards presentation.

Alison Norton Whitman ‘05 illustrated the children’s book The 3

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Tail of Turkey Two Shoes, which was published in July 2021. She lives in Maryland.

4 Carter Shamburger ‘05 and his wife, Jessica, had a little girl on August 19, 2021 — Austin Page Shamburger, 6 lbs., 7 oz., 19”.

Katie-Beth Kurilecz '06 and her husband, Steven Doherty, welcomed baby girl Katherine on January 11, 2021.

They live in Westcliff on Sea, England.

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Cameron Scales ‘08 was recognized as one of the “Ones to Watch” in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers directory.

He lives in Dallas, Texas and works for Haynes and Boone, LLP.

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6 Dani Fraizer Blake ‘09 and her husband, Turner, welcomed their daughter, Jane Elizabeth "Janie" Blake, on July 9, 2021.

Ryan Burgess ‘09 married Lauren Paugh in July 2021.

7 Heather Mitchell Cropper ‘09 welcomed her second child, Willie, in August 2021.

8 Christine Kasper ‘09 married Michael Flanagan on March 20, 2021 in Charlottesville. Kathryn Kasper ‘07 was her sister’s maid of honor. The couple lives in Arlington, VA.

JT Wauford ‘09 and his wife, Liz, welcomed a baby boy, William 9

13 Thomas, on August 20, 2021.

10 Zach Corey ’11 and his wife welcomed a baby girl, Harlow Corey, in September 2021.

11 Lucy Anderson ‘12 welcomed baby Gabrielle Graham AndersonKamnang (“Ellie”) on July 3, 2021, weighing and measuring exactly what Lucy did at birth (8 lbs., 13 oz., and 21”).

12 In October 2021, Liza Jones ‘13 became engaged to Erik Baarda in Paris.

13 Drew Noble ‘13 married Blair Bartholf on October 2, 2021 in Charleston, SC.

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14 Adam Shor ‘13 married Michelle Frank in September 2021.

15 Claire Kirchmier ‘14 and Michael Sims ‘13 were married on August 13, 2021.

16 Frank Wang ‘14 started a new job as an architect in New York City in fall 2021.

Nic Enright ‘15’s baseball team, the Akron RubberDucks, won the Double A Northeast League 2021 championships.

17 Dan Kovach ‘16 is a secondyear medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He’s also a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He graduated from UVA

(where he was an Echols Scholar, an RA, and a peer health advisor) in 2020 with a degree in computer science.

Davis Mohar ‘17 and Morgan Van Davelaar ‘17 became engaged on November 1, 2021.

18 In May 2021, Summer Owens ‘17 graduated summa cum laude from UNCW with a B.S. in marine biology; she received the biology/marine biology departmental service award at graduation. She is currently attending graduate school at UNCW to obtain her master’s degree in coastal and ocean policy, and she will run cross country and track for one more year.

19 Cole Richardson ‘17 and his

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girlfriend, Mary, became engaged in November 2021.

Hailey Wharram ’21 is now a staff writer for the Georgetown Voice.

20 Sharita Shamim ‘18 is president of the Business School’s Leadership Development Team at Virginia Tech.

Her organization hosted a student leadership conference in September 2021.

23 Jake Smithson ’21, Eleanor Kuhn ’21, Sydnee Pearson ’21, and John Wesley Hall ’21, all of whom are freshmen at the University of Alabama, got together in fall 2021.

21 Bentley Mescall ‘19 walked in Paris Fashion Week for Ellie Saab.

22 Mark Carnes ’20 was accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy for fall 2021.

He selected fellow Spartan Allison Langenburg ’20 to pin on his shoulder boards at “A-Day” (acceptance into the cadet week) after completing Basic Cadet Training in August.

Do you have an important life announcement?

Scan here and submit a class note!

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SNAP S HOT S

First Day of School

Convocation

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

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S NAPSH OTS

Whirled Peace Day

Ice Cream Social

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MS Community Week

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S NAPSH OTS

Founders Society Celebration

Spirit Week

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Reunion Weekend

Trucks & Shucks

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S NAPSH OTS

Thanksgiving Program

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Give Some, Get S'more

LS Winter Program

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Steward is turning 50!

CELEBRATE WITH US NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

~ 1972-2022 ~

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Richmond, VA Permit No. 320

11600 Gayton Road Richmond, Virginia 23238 www.stewardschool.org

WE

This year, we invited you to embrace all that Steward offers. In the pages of this magazine, you will see that our community was up to the challenge!

Giving to Steward’s Annual Fund is also a way we embrace each other. Please consider

YOU

making a gift to the Annual Fund today.

STEWARDSCHOOL.ORG/GIVE