The Colonnade 2024 by The Steward School

Colonnade THE

A STEWARD SCHOOL PUBLICATION

ISSUE 37

CO M PA S S 2 02 8

T H E S T E WA R D S CH O O L

S T R AT EG I C PL A N

P. 1 6

2024

SOCIAL MEDIA

facebook.com/thestewardschool instagram.com/thestewardschool youtube.com/thestewardschool

View past issues of The Colonnade, Crossroads, and Year in Review at issuu.com/thestewardschool View photos throughout the school year at stewardsnaps.org

STEWARDSCHOOL.ORG

CONTENTS

Showcasing Spartan Talent The Cramer Center turns 20

Enhancing Campus Safety Heartfelt support makes Steward even stronger

Leadership and Entrepreneurship Programs Hands-on training aligns with Steward’s mission

Happy Campers Summer Experience marks 40th anniversary

Compass 2028: Inspire the Future Steward’s new strategic plan

SECTIONS 4 10

Steward News

Steward Athletics

Steward Arts

Cover Story

26 34

Alumni

Spartan Spotlight

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

CELEBRATE STEWARD Dear Spartans, This fall at Steward, it was hard to walk through campus without noticing two things: the positive energy of our deeply engaged community and the words “Inspire the Future” on the doors and flags. The two things are strongly connected. Our people are our future, and the program and community we’ve

built together will carry us forward with inspiration, engagement, and care. Our new strategic plan, Compass 2028: Inspire the Future, is filled with initiatives that align with our goal to prepare students for the world ahead. Read Compass 2028 on pages 16-25, and flip through this magazine to see projects, events, and initiatives that support that goal as well. You will see examples of inspired learning and growth that are achieved through foundational skills and the fearless exploration of the topics that define our time. We’re especially excited about our schoolwide theme of service this year, which highlights our value that Steward students make a positive impact on the world. Read more on

pages 10-11 and 28-31. And, it wouldn’t be a Colonnade without commemorating the fun we’ve had together. From Whirled Peace Day and Trucks and Shucks to SpartaFest, the Spartan Golf Classic, and pep rallies, games, and performances, the first half of the school year was a joyful one. Enjoy the photos!

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, Sydney Smith, Rachel Williard, Editors

Lisa Dwelle, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

Lisa Dwelle, Contributing Editor

Adam Seldis, Director of Upper School Susan Atkinson, Director of Middle School Becky Groves, Director of Lower School

The Colonnade

Sarah Barton, Designer Carley Hamilton, Contributing Designer Kelly Frankenburg, Jason Harris, Photo Editors

Kathryn DiPasqua, Jenni Booker Baker, Dan Frank, Meredith Harris, Sydney Smith, Rachel Williard, Contributing Writers Jason Harris, Kelly Frankenburg, Wendell Powell Photography, Gavin Bearden ’24, Anna Carpinelli ’25, Khanh Dang ’24, Paul Gresock ’26, Dylan Griffin ’26, Ada Long ’25, Kamran Mohanty ’26, Caleb Morrison ’26, Zak Qureshi ’24, Morgan Smartt ’25, Wesley Walsh ’24, Contributing Photographers Total Printing

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

S T E W A R D NEWS

8 1 JK/K and Senior Buddy Procession at Convocation 2 Cross Country Race at Deep Run Park 3 Cramer Center 20th Anniversary 4 Fall Social

5 Inspire the Future Flag 6 Spartan Golf Classic 7 Pinwheels for Peace at Whirled Peace Day 8 Girls Tennis Takes on Peninsula Catholic

9 Trucks and Shucks Homecoming Party 10 Fall Pep Rally

11 Middle and Upper School Grandparents Day 12 SpartaFest 13 Lifer Terrace Dedication at Convocation

The Colonnade |

A Beloved Creative Space Cramer Center celebrates 20 years On a sunny October afternoon, the Steward community gathered along the Colonnade to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Paul R. Cramer Center for the Arts. Opened in 2002, the Cramer Center is home to Steward’s visual and performing arts … and lots of Spartan talent! The building houses the 500-seat Lora M. Robins Theatre, 110-seat BlackBox Theatre, Carolyn R. Brandt Art Gallery, and visual and performing arts classrooms.

Jack Groves ’31 thrilled the crowd with “The Arkansas Traveler,” a mid-19th-century folk song; Mary Kate Hrabak ’31 and Campbell Hrabak ’35 harmonized on “Any Dream Will Do,” a charming tune from “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”; and Lower School Music Teachers Erin Roukous (harp) and Sandy Dacus (flute) performed “O Mio Babbino Caro” from Puccini’s “Gianni Schicci.”

An anonymous $15 million gift to Steward in 1997 stipulated that two-thirds of the gift be used for a fine arts center named in honor of Paul R. Cramer, who served as head of school from 1975-94. Thanks to the donors’ generosity, plus a capital campaign, Wilton Hall, the Athletic Center, and the Cramer Center were built between 1997 and 2002.

Connor Murray ’24 sang “Close Every Door to Me,” from “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and Charlotte Olexy ’24 and Elise Gresham ’24 sang selections from “The Addams Family,” which was performed at Steward in November. Jordan Solomon ’26 played guitar and sang “Lemon Boy,” and the pep band, under the direction of Middle/ Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher John McAlister, played three selections: “The Hey Song,” (with the crowd enthusiastically waving their hands and chiming in for each “hey!”), “School’s Out,” and “Subway Surfer.”

The birthday party, complete with refreshments and hands-on art projects, was made even more special with the attendance of three members of Mr. Cramer’s family: Susan Cramer Twining ’84, Marge Hassan, and Lynne Cramer Marshall.

A SPOTLIGHT ON TALENT SPARTAN TALENT Students from all divisions shared their gifts at the festive event. Cambridge Charles ’32 performed a lilting rendition of “Für Elise” on the piano; violinist

The Colonnade

The Cramer Center serves as a beautiful venue for artistic expression, and its performance spaces are used by Spartans of all ages. Thanks to the Cramer Center, students can learn about tech design and lighting; stagehands build impressive sets; actors shine onstage; visual artists express themselves

through a variety of mediums; choral and band students share their talent; and audiences are captivated by inspiring performances. The Cramer Center is also a central gathering place for the Steward community. Here, prospective families meet with our hardworking admissions team; faculty and staff attend meetings; and Spartans of all ages gather for special events such as Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

S T E W A R D NEWS

Enhancing Campus Safety Last year, Steward undertook a comprehensive audit of our campus safety and security with COSECURE, a firm specializing in these topics for higher education and K-12 schools. COSECURE (formerly known as Margolis Healy) shared its analysis with us in early 2023. Since then, Steward has made a significant investment in security infrastructure. All of COSECURE’s indoor infrastructure recommendations are now complete, and the next major phase will be evaluating outdoor camera needs. Completed: •

•

Security officers: We have two assigned officers from a local security firm (one here full-time, one as backup). An officer is on campus every school day.

•

Security cameras: Twenty-three additional indoor cameras have been installed, and more will be added outdoors in the coming one to two years.

All doors locked: Across campus, additional doors now feature a high-tech access system that can be used via mobile devices or swipe cards. Middle and Upper School students, as well as all Steward employees, have access during certain times.

•

Digital signage and speakers: Visual and auditory communication across campus will increase awareness of important messages.

•

Laptop alerts: All faculty and staff laptops can now receive emergency alerts that flash on the screen.

Steward administrators still have an active relationship with COSECURE, which led tabletop planning exercises this past fall to help ensure Steward’s preparedness in case of a crisis. Additionally, the school will continue to regularly evaluate safety and security practices to determine any improvements needed.

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT: THE ANNUAL FUND

Heartfelt Support Makes Steward Even Stronger Did you know? Our Annual Fund supports the school’s highest needs, and you have the opportunity to support what you are most passionate about. Sometimes, families like to designate their gifts to the Annual Fund in one or more of the following areas: fine and performing arts, athletics, digital learning and technology, professional development for faculty and staff, tuition assistance and scholarships, and areas of greatest need. Last year, as Steward focused on schoolwide security upgrades, we were fortunate to receive specific support from families who wanted to ensure that Steward’s campus continues to be secure and safe. Lawson and Andy Bagwell, parents of Natalie ’25 and Henry ’30, wanted to support our campus security plan upgrades. Mrs. Bagwell shared, “I appreciate that the Annual Fund at Steward allows my family to invest in what is most important to us. Last year, our gift was put toward safety updates for the Middle School because it was a priority for the school, and it was something that we wanted to support.” To learn more about the Annual Fund and giving to the school, contact Jenni Booker Baker, director of development, at Jenni.bookerbaker@stewardschool.org.

The Colonnade |

S T E W A R D NEWS

Leadership Program Marks First Year with Three Cohorts

The Upper School Leadership Program began in the 2021-22 school year with one group of students focused on learning about their individual leadership styles. As was intended by the program’s design, it expanded in 2022-23 to include a second-year cohort researching, designing, and implementing service learning projects. This year, the program has completed its planned growth to include a third-year cohort. “Our seventeen students in the third-year cohort will complete capstone projects,” program coordinator Eliza McGehee shared. “They will each choose an area of need either here at school or in the broader community and create an initiative to bring about positive change. They will share their progress and findings with the Steward community at the end of the school year.”

In total, 62 students are participating in the applicationonly program, representing more than 20% of the Upper School. Debbie Robson Merit Scholars and Impact Scholars are automatically offered spots; all other students must apply directly to the program. This unique credentialing and diploma endorsement opportunity is the first of its kind among Richmond-area independent schools. It includes workshops and projects with leadership professors and students at local universities, including the University of Richmond and Virginia Tech, combining hands-on learning with academic studies. The students focus on group dynamics and conflict resolution, global engagement, and social justice. Ms. McGehee leads the program with Scottie O’Neill, assistant coordinator.

Entrepreneurship Program Expands As the Entrepreneurship Program enters its eighth year, the program is evolving in exciting ways.

to join the Upper School credential program in a few years.”

First, it has expanded to include a Middle School Entrepreneurship Club. Though the club operates independently, advisor Alyssa Kovach explains that she is working with the new Upper School program advisor, Brad Kovach, both in terms of content and connecting people and projects.

In the Upper School, 65 students are participating in Entrepreneurship, and 10 seniors are on track to graduate with a credential. Mr. Kovach shared that the program has two focus areas: knowledge and creation.

“Some of our Middle School students have already dipped their toes into the entrepreneurial pool,” Mrs. Kovach explained. “The club supports them with business planning guidance and prepares them

The Colonnade

To gain knowledge, students can participate in lunch-and-learn events with local entrepreneurs. Additionally, program participants can now access Startup Virginia’s Entrepreneur Certificate Program, a comprehensive nine-class series designed to

equip individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully start or grow a business. Simultaneously, creation units are earned through hands-on partnerships with local businesses. The Entrepreneurship teachers encourage adults who are interested in supporting the program to reach out to them with connections and ideas. “Entrepreneurship directly aligns with our mission at Steward,” Mr. Kovach said. “A student must be inspired, engaged, and cared for in order to succeed as a young entrepreneur. Taking an idea and turning it into something no one has ever done before is very Steward.”

Bryan Innovation Lab Happenings

STEWARD SUMMER EXPERIENCE MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY The Steward Summer Experience will celebrate its 40th year this coming summer. We caught up with Chuck Robinson, director of auxiliary programs, to learn about the program’s growth and his plans for the future.

4 3

1 During Bryan Innovation Lab Week, faculty brainstormed on ways to inspire their students to think like proactive, adaptive learners 2 Bryan Lab Dean Brad Kovach gave an illuminating lesson about the James Webb Telescope to students in Middle School Science Teacher Sarah Bain’s Earth and Science class. 3 First graders explored a series of apple-related lessons that included books, art, and the life cycle of trees. 4 Second graders got an up-close look at insects when a bug expert stopped by. Afterward, our young explorers went on a bug hunt in the Bryan Lab gardens.

5 Nature Play School is a free, weekly social group for young children. In the fall, participants put together seed bombs made of compost, native grass, and seeds. Upper School engineering students launched the seed bombs on a trebuchet they built, with the goal of reseeding the area around the Bryan Lab’s retention ponds. 6 Upper Schoolers in Bryan Lab Specialist Megan Young’s Design and Innovation course built cardboard chairs for Lower Schoolers after chatting with them about the types of chairs they’d most like to have in the classroom.

Save the Date

Our next Visiting Innovator will visit Steward on March 25, 2024!

How has the Steward Summer Experience grown and changed since 1984? In the early days, the program had only 20 or 30 campers, most of whom were Steward students. Last summer, we had 1,380 registered campers from more than 1,000 households in 75 ZIP codes participating in more than 80 programs. The community feel of Steward’s summer camps remains, though; our counselors still know every camper’s name. People all over Richmond love Steward’s Summer Experience. What do you think makes our program special? We take care of our campers, with individual attention and a diverse array of camps from robotics to archery, photography to cooking, economics to lacrosse. We also take care of their parents by providing options for lunch, as well as early morning and late afternoon care. Parents can feel comfortable that their children are in good hands. What do the next 40 years look like for the Steward Summer Experience? The connection between the school year and summer will deepen. The summer program will continue to reflect our mission, both in terms of experiential education and providing a caring environment. We will continue to refine and expand the options for campers, and deepen Steward faculty engagement with the program.

The Colonnade |

S PA R TA N S P OT L I G H T

Service to Others Spartans make meaningful connections At Steward, students learn in an environment that encourages empathy and respect for others, and service is an essential part of the school experience. While Spartans of all ages engage in community service, our academic program includes a requirement for Upper Schoolers. Freshmen participate in Minimester service hours, and sophomore through junior students are required to tally 20 hours of community service per year. National Honor Society members must participate in an additional 20 hours per year.

this year’s schoolwide theme of service is packed with opportunities. She is excited to continue this long-standing Steward tradition. In fact, the school’s name was partly chosen as an homage to the principles of stewardship, including responsibility, dedication, and trust. “This is a school that loves, loves, loves to give back and provide communities with extra resources that may not be available to them,” said Ms. Bell. “Our students are exploring where their help is needed and doing the work to make that happen. They will walk into adulthood feeling strong and knowing what’s truly important.”

GOOD STEWARDS

“Spartans make powerful connections when they serve the wider community,” said Head of School Dan Frank. “It’s more than collecting food or donations. It’s a truly lived experience, one in which students’ eyes and hearts open to the world beyond Steward. They change, and they change the lives of others.”

Service provides a foundation for creating empathy, understanding, and inclusion, noted Ms. Bell, whose work within The Center of Engagement includes providing character education for students in all divisions. “Giving time to and forming real relationships with those in need is tremendously enriching for everyone involved,” she said. “Service creates real-world and emotional connections and can help us see the truth about what’s going on in our world.”

Coordinator of Service Learning & Engagement Taquisha Bell, who joined Steward this fall, said

The following are examples of the many ways the Steward community serves others:

The Colonnade

1 Faculty and staff kicked off the year with service projects organized by Lower School Visual Arts Teacher Lynn Zinder. They crafted blankets for newborns at VCU Medical Center, created colorful flower arrangements for community center residents, and packed cleaning supplies for those in need. 2 Each week, Middle Schoolers visit the Reinhart House, which provides temporary housing for families of patients at St. Mary’s Hospital. Spartans team up to prepare breakfast for the families lodging at the House. 3 This year, second-year Leadership Program students (see page 8) are pairing up to research, design, and implement year-long service learning projects tied to a United Nations sustainable development goal. 4 Steward students in grades 7-11 can apply to the Summer Experience Spartan Counselor Apprentice (SCA) program. After in-depth training, SCAs assist camp instructors with lessons and join campers on Afternoon Adventures (daily excursions to museums, arcades, and other fun destinations). 5 The Middle School Speaker Series aims to help students understand how school values can connect them to the wider community. Joe Torrence,

S PA R TA N S P OT L I G H T

5 3

6 4 community outreach manager at the Children’s Museum of Richmond, spoke to students in October about the importance of treating others with dignity and respect. 6 In November, Rise Against Hunger,

a meal-packing event organized by Ms. Bell and Events Coordinator Nan Semmelman and sponsored once again by Bobby Magnano and Kim Magnano (parents of Joe ‘25, Tommy

‘23, Michael ‘20, and Matea ‘17), brought 125 students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends together to pack meals for developing nations. 7 A meal-prep event organized in the fall by Health and Wellness Coordinator Kris Marchant benefited Richmond’s Liberation Veterans Services (LVS). Faculty and staff volunteers purchased, prepared, and delivered the food to LVS.

7 The Colonnade |

S T E W A R D AT H L E TI C S

SUPPORT STEWARD ATHLETICS

Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic

Join the Spartan Club All Steward families are invited to show their blue and gold pride by joining the Spartan Club. “You don’t have to have a child in the athletic program to participate,” shares Spartan Club President Chuck Wingfield (father of Chase ’23, Spencer ’25, and Mason ’31). “You only need a love of sports and our school.” The Spartan Club is Steward’s athletic boosters organization. The club provides resources that enable our athletic program to excel. Funds are raised through concessions, the Spartan Golf Classic (which celebrated its 20th year this fall), and member dues. The Spartan Club works with the Athletics Department to identify beneficial areas to provide support and spread funds among the teams throughout the years. In the 2023-24 school year, the club plans to provide:

Enthusiasm is par for the course

Ray Tate Student-Athlete Scholarship winners, Ian O’Hallaron ’24 and Grace Virginia Deal ’24.

At the 20th annual Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic, held at Independence Golf Club in October, 125 participants enjoyed friendship, blue-and-gold swag, and lots of great golf. Named in memory of Ray Tate, the founding member of the Spartan Club, this fundraiser brings hundreds of golf enthusiasts together and benefits the school’s athletics program. This year’s Classic raised over $65,000! Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the event supports many extras for Steward’s athletics program, including two Ray Tate Student-Athlete Scholarships, which are awarded to seniors who exemplify athleticism and community involvement. Congratulations to this year’s recipients, Ian O’Hallaron ’24 and Grace Virginia Deal ’24. Thank you to Golf Committee co-chairs Bobbie Fass (mother of Grace ’21 and Isaac ’23), Kelli Fox (mother of Victor ’22 and Gates ’23), Melissa Johnson (mother of Brooks ’27), and Lariza Rife (mother of Ainsley ’23 and Sydney ’24), who teamed up to ensure a fun day for golfers. And a special Spartan shoutout to our generous companies and individuals for teeing up to sponsor the Classic!

The Colonnade

• Embroidered backpacks for all coaches • Volleyball referee stands and padding in the varsity gym, customized with the Steward logo • Volleyball net in the varsity gym, customized with the Steward logo • Additional volleyball net system (poles and stand) for the multipurpose gym to allow multiple games at one time • Tennis windscreens

To join the Spartan Club, visit stewardschool.org/athletics or scan the QR code.

S T E W A R D ATH LETI CS

ATHLETICS

AT A GLANCE: FALL 2023 Our athletes are something to cheer about. During the fall, our Spartan athletes teamed up, worked hard, and showed super Spartan spirit. We’re proud of their accomplishments and their dedication!

VISAA STATE TOURNAMENTS Boys Varsity Soccer • Seeded #11. Lost to #6 Blue Ridge 1-2 in the VISAA DII State First Round. Finished the season 5-10-2 overall. Boys and Girls Cross Country • Nathan Gu ’25 finished 4th overall earning All-State honors • Boys team finished 8th out of 16 teams • Girls team finished 8th out of 12 teams

TCIS TOURNAMENT Boys Varsity Soccer • Seeded #7 in the TCIS • Played #2 Norfolk Collegiate and lost 0-4 Boys and Girls Cross Country • Girls finished 4th out of 7 teams • Boys finished 6th out of 10 teams • Nathan Gu ’25 finished 4th overall; Cece Lentz ’28 finished 15th overall, earning All-Conference Honors. Girls Field Hockey • Seeded #6 • Played #3 Walsingham and lost 0-7 • Finished the season 9-7 overall.

Girls Volleyball • Seeded #6 • Played #3 Norfolk Academy and lost 0-3 • Finished the season 9-14 overall. Girls Tennis • Seeded #10 • Finished 5th out of 10 schools in TCIS Tournament play • Finished the season 7-8 overall.

ALL-STATE AWARDS Boys Soccer: Dixon Mescall ’24, Second Team Boys Soccer: Noah Benson ’26, Second Team

TCIS ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS Boys Soccer: Noah Benson ’26, First Team All-Conference Boys Soccer: Bryson Creager ’24, Second Team All-Conference Field Hockey: Grace Virginia Deal ’24, Second Team All-Conference Cross Country: Nathan Gu ’25, All-Conference Cross Country: Cece Lentz ’28, All-Conference

Cross Country: Nathan Gu ’25, All-State Field Hockey: Sadie Goldberg ’25, Second Team All-Conference Field Hockey: Betty Jean Riddick Sportsmanship Award Girls Volleyball: Ellie Kersey ’27, Second Team All-Conference Girls Volleyball: Betty Jean Riddick Sportsmanship Award

The Colonnade |

S T E W A R D ARTS

Whirled Peace Day

Art, heart, and community connections With a schoolwide theme of service this year, Whirled Peace Day, which honors the International Day of Peace, was made even more meaningful. Spartans created pinwheels (symbols of peace), which they planted on the Wilton lawn on September 21. Students gathered on the lawn as bubbles filled the air (thank you, Upper Schoolers!), and Lower Schoolers proudly wore peace-sign necklaces that they’d been given for this special occasion. Lower School Art Teacher Lynn Zinder, who has been instrumental in organizing Whirled Peace Day at Steward since 2007, teamed up with Lower/Middle School Visual Arts Teacher Abby Klein and Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Kristin Snellings to coordinate this year’s celebration. The Upper School chorus, under the direction of Middle School/Upper School Choral Music Teacher Heidi Taylor, led the group in the national anthem, and then sang a touching arrangement of “Stand by Me.” The combined Upper and Lower School choir performed “Be a Light,” a joyful, thought-provoking song. Each year on Whirled Peace Day, Spartans collect donations to present to a local organization. This year, the school partnered with Feed More. At the event, the donated canned food was presented to Kourtney Boughey ’03, volunteer coordinator for Feed More’s Meals on Wheels program. A proud alumna, Ms. Boughey told the crowd, “Since 2010, Steward has donated 18,919 pounds of food to Feed More, which equals 15,765 meals.” As the crowd cheered, she added, “You’re making a huge impact in our fight against food insecurity!”

Sixth-grade Instrumental Music Class Playing a New Tune For more than 20 years, the sixth-grade instrumental music class has focused on the fundamentals of music theory and learning to play the recorder. This year, John McAlister, Middle and Upper School instrumental music teacher, and his students are hitting new notes. The students still learn music theory, but the recorder has been replaced with rotations of playing high-quality plastic versions of the flute (called the TooT), the saxophone (jSax), the pTrumpet, and the pBone (trombone). The students spend about two weeks on each instrument throughout the nine-week class. Why the TooT, jSax, pTrumpet, and pBone instead of the classic versions of these instruments? “Simple,” Mr. McAlister said. “They’re more affordable, and they sound really good! The

The Colonnade

students are learning the same technique and having a fantastic experience using these instruments. And, perhaps most importantly, they’re having a lot of fun!” Caleb Tuck ’30, who also plays guitar, piano, and drums, agrees with his teacher: “My favorite instrument so far has been the trumpet. It wasn’t easy to learn how to keep the right pitch, but we had a lot of fun. And I know I’m going to remember what I’ve learned if I want to play in the band when I’m in Upper School.” The students are learning songs from popular artists such as Lizzo and Panic at the Disco as well as standard beginning band literature. The nine-week rotation completes with a reciprocal performance with the choral students who practice in the nextdoor music room.

Mr. McAlister was inspired to try the TooT, jSax, pTrumpet, and pBone by a professional development conference he attended last summer. “As far as I know, we are the only area school doing this,” he said.

S T E W A R D AR T S

“The Addams Family” takes the stage Halloween week The stage was quite literally set … it was Halloween week, and all over Richmond, macabre decorations could be seen in front yards and windowsills. It was the perfect time for “The Addams Family” musical to open at Steward. On an unseasonably warm opening night, 34 Middle and Upper School students donned their black clothes and wigs and took on the absurdly delightful and dark characters of “The Addams Family.” The familiar theme song reverberated around the Lora M. Robins Theatre in the Cramer Center for the Arts, as did the audience’s laughter. “The students helped us select this show,” Susan Sanford, the Middle School Theatre and Upper School Public Speaking teacher who directed the musical, shared. “They were enthusiastic when the idea first came up and stayed that way throughout rehearsals and performances.” Rally Costen ’24, who played Uncle Fester, said: “I had a great time performing on stage in such a creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky role. The

set design was one of my favorite parts of the show due to the many creative pieces and team effort that was put into it. This play was definitely different from any production on the Steward stage that I have been involved in, but I was truly impressed and content with the results!” Elise Gresham ’24, who played Wednesday, shared: “It was a challenging yet rewarding experience to portray such an iconic role. I loved that I had the opportunity to play a character completely different from what I had ever played before and see my friends really embrace their quirky characters as well. It was definitely a bonding experience for everyone involved.”

The show was a lot of fun, but Ms. Sanford explained that it was so much more than entertainment. Being a part of the theatre is life-changing for students. “Once kids find this safe space where they can be themselves, they really feel like they are a part of something,” Ms. Sanford said. “They’re encouraged to take risks. They are inspired by the older students’ example. Then, when they become seniors themselves, it’s meaningful to realize they are setting an example for the kids coming behind them.”

“The Addams Family” musical includes all the familiar characters from the television shows, but the storyline is unique. It centers around Wednesday’s relationship with Lucas, a “normal,” played by Connor Murray ’24. The family, including mother Morticia (Charlotte Olexy ’24), father Gomez (Jordan Solomon ’26), and Uncle Fester (Costen), must decide if Lucas can be accepted into the family.

The Colonnade |

COVER STORY

CO M PA S S 2 02 8

A new strategic plan for the Steward community

In the fall of 2023, the Steward community embarked upon a new strategic plan, Compass 2028: Inspire the Future. The plan was developed during the 202223 school year, with input from hundreds of parents, teachers, students, alumni, volunteers, grandparents, community leaders, and staff. Programming will focus on three core areas: innovation, expression, and community. Compass 2028 builds on the momentum of our last strategic plan, Compass 2022, and integrates what we’ve learned since it was written. As a compass (instead of a specific set of directions), this plan provides guidance with flexibility as we move forward into our next 50 years. It reflects our dedication to the growth and wellbeing of our students, our commitment to robust and innovative academic opportunities, and our obligation to serve our school and local community. Faculty and staff committees are already hard at work bringing these ideas to life. They will meet throughout the school year to explore the topics, consider strategies, and bring the ideas in Compass 2028 to fruition. Future updates about the progress of Compass 2028 will be provided in the summer edition of this magazine, as well as on the school website. For now, the entirety of the plan may be read in the pages that follow.

The Colonnade

T H E S T E WA R D S C H O O L S T R AT E G I C P L A N

CO M PA S S 2 02 8

INNOVATION

EXPRESSION

COMMUNITY

The Colonnade |

OUR MISSION is to prepare our students for college and for life in a community defined by robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care.

As we look ahead to an exciting and unpredictable future, one thing is clear: the world our children inherit will be all but unrecognizable to us. They’ll be called on to seize opportunities and tackle challenges we can only dream of, with tools and technology we can hardly imagine. In this context, The Steward School’s mission is as important today as it was on the day it was written 50 years ago. As we uphold our abiding values, we must also explore innovative educational approaches that equip our students with the critical thinking and social skills necessary to engage, lead, and build a better future and a stronger community. That community must be one in which every member is seen, heard, and valued, and where civil discourse and mutual respect enable us to address the

OUR CORE VALUES are innovation, inspiration, care and respect, achievement, individuality, and civil discourse.

most complex and difficult issues and achieve our most ambitious goals. We may not know what the future holds. But we know the possibilities are endless. The values and skills our children learn at The Steward School will prepare them with the knowledge, empathy, and inspiration they’ll need to lead in the world ahead. The task of the strategic plan is to chart the course toward realizing Steward’s timeless mission in these exciting times.

The Colonnade

COMPA SS 2028 Inspire the Future

INITIATIVES, MILESTONES, AND GUIDEPOSTS The Steward School remains steadfast in our long-term commitment to these goals: maintaining small class sizes; hiring, retaining, and developing the best faculty, staff, and coaches; managing our finances ethically and efficiently with an eye toward sustainability; improving the quality of our athletic program; developing highquality opportunities in the fine arts; growing alumni programming; increasing our capacities in belonging and inclusion; and continuing the work we have begun in systems and design thinking, coding, and making. In addition, we are focused on the initiatives of our strategic plan for the near and distant future. As in our last strategic plan, Compass 2022, each is accompanied by milestones (discrete goals) and guideposts (directional objectives to move us toward each milestone). We are intentionally using the milestones as interim destinations as opposed to final stops. We believe that in exploring the feasibility and design of each milestone, we may find that it is exactly the right outcome, or, we may find in our study a similar but different direction that better meets the needs of students and our mission. It is critical that we incorporate flexibility into the process. Guideposts include steps for the first one to three years. These will be prioritized by the senior executive team, and we will work alongside the Board of Trustees to review and update the plan on an annual basis. While exploring these initiatives, you will see intentional redundancies, overlaps, and synergies. Each initiative is designed to work in sync with the others, one feeding the other in the greater service of the school community.

The Colonnade |

INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING The strategic initiatives in this section are designed to create higher levels of academic achievement, deeper levels of student engagement, and fearless exploration of our world. These innovative efforts in teaching and learning will keep Steward at the forefront of academic achievement and reflect our commitment to a learning environment rooted in a unique mix of challenge, curiosity, and care.

Milestones and Guideposts Offer new ways for students to develop, demonstrate, and be assessed on their learning at Steward A rapidly accelerating technological landscape continues to evolve how and what students need to learn. Mastery of both content and skills, not one more important than the other, will become something students will need to be able to demonstrate. Steward will explore new ways to support students to understand their own learning and be able to reflect on how they develop as learners and doers. Steward will:

•

Establish a “Beyond A.P.” pilot that allows for greater reflection and autonomy to demonstrate mastery. Develop means for students to demonstrate mastery of skills and content through multiple media, in addition to traditional tests and papers and including reflection statements.

•

Pilot student-led parent-teacher conferences in Middle and Upper School.

•

Pilot a Summer Quarter: Experiential and project-based learning programs open to Middle and Upper School students from Steward and other schools.

Expand our Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Service Learning programs Entrepreneurship, leadership, and service are hallmarks of a Steward experience for students. Seeds are planted in the earliest grades for students to develop the skills and mindsets of entrepreneurs and stewards. Charting pathways for students to formally practice and be assessed on these skills as they move into the middle and upper grades allows them to graduate with demonstrated competencies that are attractive and applicable to both college and career landscapes. Steward will:

The Colonnade

COMPA SS 2028 Inspire the Future

•

Develop shared programming and experiences for the Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Service Learning programs.

•

Launch the schoolwide service learning initiative project.

•

Program a semi-annual Community Week in both the Middle and Upper Schools to promote student passions, engagement with the greater Richmond community, and increased opportunities for travel.

Expand the Bryan Innovation Lab Program and Impact The Bryan Innovation Lab (BIL) is a hub of hands-on learning, building, design thinking, and creative expression at Steward. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that the BIL is seen less as a location on the campus but rather as an approach and a set of skills that students learn and practice in all aspects of the program. A modern education must offer students a mix of fundamental academic skills, practical life skills, and interpersonal skills. The Bryan Innovation Lab offers many of these already, and we expect the next five years to expand both the offerings as well as the impact of the BIL. In essence, the Bryan Innovation Lab will ensure that more courses across the curriculum integrate skills of prototyping, building, and exposing students to how things work. Steward will: •

Reinvigorate the Visiting Innovators program, design a residential innovator program, and expand JK-12 programming associated with each.

•

Elevate environmental leadership through vertical gardening, recycling programs, and fresh food donations.

•

Offer opportunities for students to learn life skills with elective classes that teach hands-on skills such as sewing, cooking, plumbing, electrical, wood, or metal work as means of exercising prototyping, design, and systems thinking skills.

•

Develop programming in signals forecasting and social simulations to design specifically for future scenarios, based on the work of the Institute For the Future.

Leveraging technology: augmented reality/virtual reality, artificial intelligence, media literacy, and computer science If the first quarter of the 21st century was shaped by the internet, the next twenty years will see advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual and augmented reality (VR). We know that all of these advancements will have huge benefits when used appropriately. The Colonnade |

Steward students and graduates will exercise critical thinking and curiosity to learn how to collaborate with and leverage technology in creative and ethical ways. To that end, we will take a proactive approach to intentionally integrating technology into student work. Steward will:

•

Develop assignments that incorporate generative AI but which amplify human input so as not to value or conflate the AI content over the work of the students.

•

Incorporate learning experiences with AR and VR hardware.

•

Provide students with guidance on ethical technology use and information literacy.

OPTIMIZING HOLISTIC, WHOLE-PERSON EXPERIENCES Every aspect of the Steward experience contributes to our mission. The initiatives in this section reflect our belief that the School experience should teach and enrich each of our students’ and community members’ lives. We will foster a connected community that maintains a focus on individual passions and personal well-being and embodies our core values.

Milestones and Guideposts Ensure our campus aligns with and enhances our programs and values The design and layout of the Steward campus continue to be one of the ways we express many of our programmatic goals and live our values. We want to be sure that our campus supports the goals and core values of our school. In addition, ensuring the campus is a safe place for learning is critical. Steward will:

•

The Colonnade

Undertake a campus-wide space audit to align priorities in space allocation and design with curricula, programs, and our values.

•

Seek ways to use the campus in ways that support sustainability.

•

Intentionally design spaces that support well-being.

COMPA SS 2028 Inspire the Future

•

Ensure a safe and secure campus through the completion of the School safety plan that includes conducting twice-yearly tabletop exercises with the crisis management team, formalizing after-action reports for crisis reflection and improvement, adopting a Risk Management Committee of the Board of Trustees, upgrading and expanding security equipment and communication systems, and hiring full-time security personnel.

Leveraging our humanity: the Center for Civil Discourse and Discernment The ability to hear and understand perspectives and lived experiences that are different from our own forms the basis for civil discourse — a core value of the Steward community. In a world of increased political polarization, unfiltered social media use, rampant disinformation, and artificial intelligence, students will need, more than ever, to be able to discern truth from falsehood and recognize their own echo chambers and biases. Learning to research expertly, express opinions respectfully, communicate skepticism, and manage nuance and ambiguity are necessary skills. To that end, Steward will address civil discourse with a formal program. Steward will:

•

Prepare for a Center for Civil Discourse and Discernment to parallel the Center for Engagement.

•

Explore and adopt frameworks and techniques in discourse and both/and thinking.

Care and balance: health and wellbeing Steward is a lively campus with students involved in academic endeavors, co-curricular programs, and outof-school personal passions. Our faculty and staff are deeply engaged in their work as educators, guides, and mentors of these students. There is a fine line between engagement and healthy levels of stress and feeling overwhelmed and anxious. To that end, Steward will:

•

Train the Center for Engagement members and others to train all faculty and staff in Mental Health First Aid.

•

Audit the school’s current use of time — both the calendar and daily schedule — to better understand the current pace and workload and impact on students and staff and make recommendations and adjustments as necessary.

The Colonnade |

•

Develop a pro forma annual series of events through the Center for Engagement for the community, including parents, and including informal, organic gatherings for fellowship.

•

Complete Restorative Practices (based on the work of the International Institute for Restorative Practices) training for all faculty.

BUILDING AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY Not only does Steward have a vital community of our own that includes students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff, but we also exist within the broader communities of Richmond, our commonwealth, our nation, and the world. These initiatives will strengthen the ties that bind members of the Steward community to each other and the communities all around us. And in doing so, we will better prepare our students to engage and lead at Steward and beyond.

Milestones and Guideposts Core values: define, integrate, and measure those values that matter most to the Steward community In curated dinners and community focus sessions, we have heard again and again what parents, students, and alumni value about Steward and what makes us distinct among Richmond’s schools. The values of innovation, inspiration, care and respect, individuality, academic achievement, and civil discourse are woven throughout this strategic plan. As part of this next five years, it will be critical for Steward to define, claim, and embody these values and to work with members of the community to arrive at common definitions and ways to measure ourselves in these areas. Steward will:

•

Reach consensus on definitions of: innovation, inspiration, care and respect, individuality, academic achievement, and civil discourse.

•

Employ the definitions above as a starting point for describing the outcomes we believe all graduates should have.

Stakeholder Partnerships and Participation The Steward community extends beyond the students and staff who are on campus each day. Our families and our alumni are core stakeholders whose involvement is important to our culture and the success of our program.

The Colonnade

COMPA SS 2028 Inspire the Future

The family and School partnership is enhanced when families know one another and members of the faculty and staff. For example, our alumni programs have grown substantially since the last strategic plan, and we see the mutual benefits. Steward will:

•

Audit current school-based events for families and alumni to emphasize those that are most impactful (keep), least (let go or modify), and absent (build) as a means of restoring and amplifying the greater community of the school.

•

Invite family members and alumni as guest speakers in classes to leverage expertise and experience.

•

Create a training program to allow parents to assist with recess, lunch, and carpool coverage.

Ecosystem of partnership: opportunities with and for the external community Our last strategic plan planted the seeds for what we imagine can become a greater ecosystem of partnerships in greater Richmond that will allow our students to apply their classroom learning in real-world contexts and enable them to follow interests and passions in new ways. These experiences might come in the form of internships, service opportunities, or entrepreneurial ventures. Regardless, this ecosystem will be a way for students to take their learning out into Richmond and for them to bring new learning back to Steward. Steward will:

•

Provide space and support for a gRVA (greater Richmond)-based start-up in exchange for including our community in progress discussions and allowing entrepreneurship students to work as interns.

•

Study the feasibility of acquiring space in a start-up hub for student use in gRVA community projects.

•

Invite schools and the wider community to all schoolbased topical events.

•

Offer annual or bi-annual student-led, faculty-assisted symposia on a different theme (e.g. technology, arts, civility, health and wellness, DEI, etc.).

The Colonnade |

A LUM NI

2023 Alumni Achievement Award The 2023 Alumni Achievement Award, presented at Convocation, was given to Alexandra “Sandy” Szilassy ’86. Ms. Szilassy was a four-sport athlete at Steward, garnering 21 varsity letters and winning multiple MVP awards. The recipient of awards in science, math, and theatre, she also received the Dixon Award, Steward’s highest honor. She went on to play field hockey at the University of Virginia, served as an assistant field hockey coach at Dartmouth College,

Lifer Terrace A special place for superlative Spartans Following the 2023 Convocation ceremony, Alumni Achievement Award recipient Sandy Szilassy ’86, who was one of the school’s first lifers, and the lifers (those who attended Steward from junior kindergarten or kindergarten through Grade 12), gathered near the newly created Lifer Terrace, located outside the Athletic Center. Brick pavers on Lifer Terrace display the names of all 178 Steward lifers to date. Last year, during Steward’s 50th anniversary year, Sydney Smith (development special projects coordinator) and Shahwar Qureshi ’90 (director of technology) wanted a tangible way to honor these very special Spartans. “It’s a big deal to be in one place for so long,” said Ms. Smith. “We want to recognize our Steward families’ dedication to the school. Lifer Terrace is a gathering place that is instantly recognizable to the Steward community.” Each year, more bricks will be added to Lifer Terrace. Ms. Smith noted, “The Class of 2024 includes 20 lifers, and it’s the first to include students who started at Steward in junior kindergarten.”

The Colonnade

and is the co-founder and director of Virginia-based TCOYO (Take Care of Your Own) Hockey. In 2015, she was inducted into Steward’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame. One of Steward’s first lifers (alumni who attended Steward from junior kindergarten or kindergarten through Grade 12), Ms. Szilassy beamed when she said, “It is so awesome to see how Steward continues to grow to meet the needs of the new generations who will experience this wonderful place.” She added, “I try to live out every lesson that I learned at Steward.”

Homecoming Weekend Celebration, Steward style

When Spartans gather, great things happen. Following a super-charged Spirit Week (complete with blue-andgold pep rallies!), the Steward community celebrated Homecoming Weekend October 13-14. At Friday’s Trucks and Shucks, a school favorite hosted by the Alumni Association, oysters, live music, and perfect weather combined for a festive, friendship-filled (and sold-out!) evening. Thank you to Harry Baron ’01 (father of Maddie ’32) and Chloe Staples ’14, co-chairs of the Fundraising and Events Committee of the Alumni Board, for their leadership in making this annual event a success. A hearty Spartan shoutout to our sponsors (especially our Blue and Gold sponsors: Anonymous, Howard and Leslie Baron, and Financial Services of Virginia), whose

generosity made Trucks and Shucks possible. Throughout the weekend, alumni reminisced and caught up with one another at class reunions. A whopping 450 people attended Saturday’s SpartaFest, a schoolwide festival aimed at creating community. This family event was spearheaded by SpartaFest Committee Chair Betsy Kersey (mother of Ellie ’27 and Lilly ’30) and made possible with the help of our hardworking SpartaFest Committee and Parents Association volunteers. Food trucks, bounce houses, music, and games made for a funfilled day. A popular addition to SpartaFest was the Chili Cook-Off. With 10 contestants (and lots of taste-testers), Steward parent Andrew Broocker (father of Whitten ’32 and Lizzy ’34) took home the “big spoon” award!

ALUMNI LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP In its first year, fundraising for the Endowed Alumni Legacy Scholarship was amazing. Approximately $40,000 has been raised toward the ultimate goal of $100,000 in order to be endowed. Once that milestone has been reached, it will be able to provide four scholarships for the children and grandchildren of Steward alumni. Until then, it will remain the Alumni Board’s fundraising focus. As the school’s alumni base continues to grow, there will be more and more Steward alumni families, and, therefore, more generations of potential Spartans, so the Alumni Board wants to make sure it is giving back to pay it forward. Many thanks to the donors who have made gifts and created excitement with challenges! You can be a part of this history-making initiative by contributing to the establishment of the scholarship. Scan this QR code for more information:

Alumni Wall

The faces of all 1,502 Steward alumni now reside in a hallway of the Upper School to smile upon the current students who will one day join them. Beginning with the school’s first three graduates in 1977, and going all the way through the Class of 2023, there is now a composite for each class, recognizing the importance of those who have come before. The composites also include the school’s seal for each era, and graduating classes will be added each year once the students are officially alumni. We invite alumni to visit the wall and walk down memory lane for decades to come.

The Colonnade |

Left to right: Rob Henkel ’08, Sam Douma ’13, John Orgain ’18, Scott Howard ’98, John Kipley ’99, Mason Mire ’15, Matthew Stainback ’03, Rusty Perkins ’99, Matthew Ruiz ’25, and Randy Howard ’92

Spartans in Service Erik Engelke ’20, a midshipman at the Naval Academy, with his parents, Kent and Diane Engelke.

The Colonnade

S PA R TA N S I N S E R V I C E

TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR SHIFTS, public-sector salaries, witnessing horrific accidents, missed time with family and friends. To work in a field that includes these criteria requires a special personality; not surprisingly, a significant number of Steward’s 1,500 alumni have felt the calling to firefighting/ EMT, as well as law enforcement and the military, in the Richmond area. We gathered some of these Spartans in service together in November 2023 to explore their career choices and the common Steward thread they share.

a former marine and a Henrico County police lieutenant with a 25-year law enforcement career, said, “You’re going to wear a lot of different hats in life. Steward lays the groundwork to prepare you for that. I didn’t realize that until later in life … Kids going to Steward need to understand that it’s OK to be different. It’s OK to start a career, go into a trade, try different things to find something you like.” He added, “Steward has always pushed creativity for their kids. There was no set thing – they wanted you to be happy with what you were doing.”

Goochland County’s Fire Station 3 in Centerville seems to be the epicenter of student involvement in firefighting. Beginning in the late 1990s, several Steward students started volunteering there, and it caught on. Most of the alumni who have chosen firefighting as a career have volunteered or worked at one of the Goochland stations at some point.

Blake Frostick ’03, a lieutenant with the Hanover Fire Department, said, “Honestly, [firefighting]

is a representation of what Steward is. When I attended, the goal was to make stewards of the community. I don’t know all of the alumni [firefighters], but … we all feel the same way. We are here to serve others.” Matthew Stainback ’03, a battalion chief in Hanover County, added, “If it wasn’t for Rusty, Scott [Howard], and Randy, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I think my generation got started with all these guys out there volunteering, and our parents Bryce Brown ’17 drives the fire truck when he’s on duty for Henrico County Station 21.

Mason Mire ’15, a firefighter with another company in Goochland, started volunteering at Station 3 in high school. He said Steward was always very supportive of this extracurricular endeavor, including times when he worked an overnight shift and was running late to get to school the following morning. “The career days and fire safety week were always my favorite things at Steward ... I figured out pretty early that I wasn’t going to work in an office environment,” Mr. Mire said. “Steward brought me connections because when I was a freshman, we had a lot of older people who were volunteering in Goochland, and I looked up to them, and they guided me in starting to volunteer, which turned into a career.” While some alumni have pursued emergency/ rescue work as a career, many stay on board as volunteers, and Rusty Perkins ’99 is a perfect example. In addition to his full-time job as a project manager doing civil site work with F.G. Pruitt, he is a district chief at Station 3, which means he is in charge of the station one night a week for a 12-hour shift plus administrative time. He has been volunteering there since he was 16 and even brought his skills to the Steward campus during his student days. The alumni all give credit to Steward for continuing to recognize that pursuing different passions throughout life is important. Randy Howard ’92,

The Colonnade |

S PA R TA N S I N S E R V I C E An article from the Henrico Citizen in fall 2001, shortly after 9/11, when John Kipley ’99 was a speaker at Steward, along with Sir Patrick Duffy, a British knight, about the military realities with which the world was grappling at the time.

said, ‘You need to figure out something to do.’ That kind of snowballed into Steward supporting it through Alternate Program [the precursor to today’s Minimester]. It’s a great job … It can offer you many different avenues of success.” Sam Douma ’13, a firefighter with the city of Richmond who completed her training in 2023, didn’t start out with an interest in rescue work during high school, but in retrospect, she believes that her strong performance in Susan Latourelle’s anatomy class at Steward should have been a clue about how well she would do as a firefighter/ EMT. “The sense of community and belonging that Steward harbored was … part of my calling for this job – I wanted that sense of community, belonging, brotherhood, sisterhood, and kinship that you get. You don’t get that in a lot of career fields. My crew is my family. Having such a strong background in a very community-rooted school was a big driving force for me because I’d always been surrounded by it.” One of the most difficult issues the fire department faces today is recruitment. Rob Henkel ’08, a firefighter/paramedic with Goochland, notes that just five to ten years ago there were 1,200 applicants a year for 20 spots in local counties, but now Goochland may get 40-50 applications because fewer young people are interested. “We all started young … but I think you develop a niche, and everybody finds their strengths in their departments,” Mr. Henkel said. “Over 75 percent of what we do now is EMS, and there are fire investigations, technical rescues, administrative work, and training a new guy. You realize how much it can open up and flourish once you get into it.” Mr. Howard added that there is healthy competition among the localities because the pool is so limited. “You can’t lower your standards. You have to have the right person in the right spot,” he said. “The job is not for everyone. It takes a special person. You’re not going to get paid well, so you have to love it.” Several young Steward alumni are pursuing careers in firefighting. In addition to Mr. Mire, John Orgain ’18, Peter Orgain ’18, and Bryce Brown ’17 are fulltime firefighters in the Richmond area. Mr. Brown was a talented photography student at Steward,

The Colonnade

and when he graduated he considered attending Savannah College of Art and Design, where he’d been accepted and had scholarships, but he knew in his heart he wanted to pursue firefighting because he’d been volunteering in Goochland since tenth grade. So he changed his plans, got a job in retail, and applied to seven counties for a firefighting job. After a year, he was accepted in Prince William County, and he commuted from Richmond for about six years.“Henrico was my dream job,” Mr. Brown said, so he applied for three years and was finally accepted in 2023; he started at Station 21 in Glen Allen this past August. ”It still gives me goosebumps to realize I’ve achieved my dream,” he added. The stress of emergency work may be one reason recruitment is difficult. Ms. Douma said that even in her first year on the job, “It’s a balance between home life, family life, and station life because we

see a lot of stuff that can affect us, and we have to learn how to deal with it and not take it in a negative way.” Mr. Howard stated, “If we have to respond to something, somebody is in serious need, and we see them in their worst moment. There have never really been a lot of ways for law enforcement and fire rescue to handle the amount of stress it brings … It hasn’t been until recently that [PTSD] services are starting to be available. It’s very similar to what the military experiences.” John Kipley ’99, who has both firefighting and military experience, added, “The worst stuff I’ve ever seen is from riding on EMS calls. In combat, you can kind of deal with it, plus you’re there, but when you come home,” it’s different. He said he once heard the advice “Don’t work where you live” because of the likelihood that an EMT could be

S PA R TA N S I N S E R V I C E

called to work a scene where they know the victim of an accident. Mr. Kipley has seen his fair share of stressful situations: He served in the US Army from 2001-09 (September 11 occurred three days before his basic training graduation). His service included being part of an airborne infantry unit that spearheaded the invasion of northern Iraq in 2003, a drill sergeant in the US Army Reserves, and time in a military police unit. He was also a seventh-generation firefighter in Chesterfield and a volunteer EMS provider in Henrico; he now works with Trane Technologies. Another alumnus with experience in multiple fields is Parke Smith ’01, who has been with the Henrico Police Department since 2008 and is a drug canine handler and bomb technician. Prior to the police department, Mr. Smith was a volunteer firefighter with the Goochland Fire Department throughout high school and after graduation. He joined the US Marines in 2003 and served for four years. “There is nothing glamorous about service work,” he said. “It takes a toll. Is it a rewarding job? Absolutely.”

Steward would love to have a complete list of all Steward alumni who work as firefighters/ EMTs, police officers, and those in the military, both past and present. The lists below are according to our records; please correct us as needed at alumni@stewardschool.org.

Fire/EMS Bryan Law ’78 (retired) Scott Howard ’98 Rusty Perkins ’99 James Reed ’01 Parke Smith ’01 Blake Frostick ’03 Matthew Stainback ’03 Andrew Ware ’03 Robert Henkel ’08 Mason Sizemore ’12 Sam Douma ’13 Mason Mire ’15 Bryce Brown ’17 John Orgain ’18

Peter Orgain ’18 Carter Patterson ’18 Graydon Patterson ’22 Pierce Chapman ’23 Military Jill Narron ’85–Air Force Adam Vogt ’86–Coast Guard Matt Smith ’88–Army Randy Howard ’92–Marine Corps Michael Malarkey ’93–Navy John Kipley ’99–Army Parke Smith ’01–Marine Corps Mark Tharp ’13–Navy Michael Sims ’13–Navy

Current service academy students: Mark Carnes ’20 (Air Force Academy) Erik Engelke ’20 (Naval Academy) Allison Langenburg ’20 (Air Force Academy) Law Enforcement Randy Howard ’92 Monty Agee ’94 Parke Smith ’01 Ryan Burgess ’09

The science of firefighting has changed as well. Scott Howard ’98, a firefighter/EMT in Charles City County and a lifetime volunteer member (which means a person has volunteered for 15-plus active years) in Goochland said that homes today are built so that they burn quickly because of lighter materials and open floor plans, whereas homes built decades ago were sturdier and had more walls, so they take longer to burn. The Steward tradition of volunteer firefighting continues with current students. Gates Orgain ’24 recently completed his coursework and sat for the EMT exam, and Matthew Ruiz ’25 and Ryan Tyndall ’25 both work one Saturday a month at the Lakeside fire station. Mr. Ruiz says he wants to be a doctor, and he believes that spending time now as a firefighter/EMT will be beneficial when he applies to both undergraduate programs and medical schools. While rescuing people and animals, fighting fires, serving tours of duty, and keeping the community safe will never be easy jobs, it is comforting to know that these Spartans take the word steward very literally as they pursue their passions. Perhaps Mr. Perkins sums it up best: “A lot was given to us. I know I’m happy to give back.”

Left: Matthew Stainback ’03 spent time at a local fire station during Alternate Program in the early 2000s. Right: Rusty Perkins ’99 chose a firefighting project for Alternate Program Minimester when he was in high school.

The Colonnade |

Class Notes

12 10

11 32

The Colonnade

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

Harry Baron ’01 accepted a new position as head of sales in North America at Tenerity. 1 Sarah Jefferson ’01 and her husband, Taylor, welcomed baby Brooke in December 2022. She joins big sister Ava. Mrs. Jefferson’s journey with IVF was featured on the MCV Foundation website, and she hopes it inspires people to support IVF treatment.

Andrew Ware ’03 was named lieutenant of the Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Lindsey Carter Jennings ’04 is the director of development at the Institute for Humane Studies. She and her husband, Jeff, welcomed baby Wolfgang Robert on September 14, 2023. Chris Brown ’05, through his business Nickel Bridge Designs, has been creating Steward merchandise for the Spartan Shop. He is also the logistics coordinator for an auditing company and the director of tennis at Huguenot High School.

Bloemendaal House of Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Former Director of the Middle School Mike Maruca performed the ceremony, and Sam Douma ’13 was a bridesmaid. Attendees included Jan and Michael Lewis of Riverston School in London, which was Steward’s “sister school” for many years. The couple lives in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and plans to move back to the U.S. in the near future. Mary-Kate Kelleher ’14 married Pasquale Graziosi on October 14, 2023, at CCV-Westhampton. Susan Mire ’14 moved to New York City with her job at Computer Futures. Hailey-Marie Ragan ’14 married former Steward boys lacrosse coach Kurt Henegan on October 21, 2023, in Virginia Beach.

Alexander Tharp ’08 married Molly Newcomb on May 12, 2023. Charlie Beebe ’08 and his wife welcomed baby Sydney Eileen on July 16, 2023. 3

Scott Ailsworth ’08 married Wesley Shirley on August 19, 2023, in Columbus, GA. Brock Shifflett ’09 and his wife, Carley, welcomed baby Walker James on September 25, 2023. 4

Chloe Pieters ’12 started a job at Richmond Creative Counseling as a resident in counseling. 5 Liza Jones ’13 married Erik Baarda on June 10, 2023, at the

Jack Sims ’15 works as an associate attorney at USAA in San Antonio, and he passed the bar exam in October 2023. Virginia Villani ’15 married Matt Zwiren on October 8, 2023, in Richmond. Elise Taylor ’15 and Anna Woodfin ’16 were maids of honor, and Steward guests included Zach Barnard ’12, David Cross ’15, Caroline Curry ’16, Caroline DeCredico ’15, Ben Fox ’15, Megan Frayser ’15, Conor Frydenborg ’15, Lydia Heitman Haley ’15, Ally Dods Keefe ’16, John Keefe ’15, Dan Kovach ’16, Mark Leopold ’15, Bella Metts ’15, Emily Parris ’15, Chloe Staples ’14, and Yvonne Taylor ’13; former student Skylyr Phillips; former teachers Bonnie Anderson and Monica Moehring ’95; and current teachers Craig Smith and Mary Ann Taylor. Mrs. Zwiren is pursuing her master’s in physiology at VCU’s School of Medicine and will apply to med school this fall. 6

Bryce Brown ’17 married Baylee Kittrell, and he now works at Fire Station 21 in Henrico County as a firefighter/EMT. Tucker Diveley ’17 moved back to Richmond and works at Enthalpy Analytical. 7 John Orgain ’18 was promoted to lieutenant of Station 3 Centerville at the Goochland Fire Department. He is the youngest lieutenant in Goochland history. Peter Orgain ’18 graduated from Henrico Fire Academy in June after completing the six-month academy. He is now stationed at Station 5 Lakeside as a firefighter/EMT.

Gracie Goodpasture ’19 graduated from Roanoke College and is working at Boston Scientific in Richmond. Lizzie Parris ’19 is working as a freelance designer in Richmond following several months of working in Italy. Abby Dwelle ’19 started a graduate program at Texas A&M in October 2023. 8 Bentley Mescall ’19 was the cover model for Bal Harbour magazine’s fall/winter 2023 20th anniversary issue, which includes an interview with her (balharbourshops. com).

Nik Bright ’20 and Kaylee Bowers ’19 were married in August 2023. Kara Bright ’16 was a bridesmaid; Ross Arrington ’17 and Joe Shaia ’20 were groomsmen; and faculty members Stephanie Arnold and Melissa Freed attended the wedding. 9

10 Will Eiben ’20 was the fall 2023 intramural men’s competitive tennis singles champ at UVA.

11 Michael Stein ’20 was one of 12 College of Charleston students to receive a Career Center Internship Award, a yearlong program that makes internships more accessible by alleviating financial stress and providing career readiness support. He was an intern in the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia during the summer of 2023. 12 Noah Nichols ’20 qualified for the Pan American Games, which were held in Santiago, Chile in October 2023, to swim for the University of Virginia. He placed second in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke and fifth in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke.

Hailey Wharram ’21, a student at Georgetown, is an intern with the local publication The Georgetowner and had her first article published.

Memorials Glenda Nichols Burke Former parent and former substitute teacher, June 19, 2023 Medhat Matar Father of Murad Matar ’18, July 14, 2023 Travis “Tre” Traynham Father of Mimi Traynham ’21, November 23, 2023 The memorial section is new to the Steward magazine. The information on these pages has been submitted, listed publicly, or is printed with permission from the family. Please contact the Development Office at alumni@stewardschool.org or (804) 740-3394 if you have information to share.

The Colonnade |

SNAPSHOTS

Whirled Peace Day

First Week of School

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

The Colonnade

SNAPSHOTS

Blue and Gold Reveal

Convocation

The Colonnade |

SNAPSHOTS

Fall Social

Homecoming

The Colonnade

SNAPSHOTS

Founders Celebration

MS/US Grandparents & Special Friends Day

The Colonnade |

SNAPSHOTS

World Cultures Dinner

Fall Spirit Week

The Colonnade

SNAPSHOTS

Give Some, Get S’more

Thanksgiving

The Colonnade |

SNAPSHOTS

LS Holiday Program

Winter Concerts

The Colonnade

Help us

INSPIRE THE FUTURE. Please Please join join in inthe thetradition traditionof of supporting supportingthe the Annual Annual Fund. Fund.This This critical criticalfund fund helps helps cover cover what what tuition tuitiondoes does not. not.Your Your gift giftdirectly directly impacts impacts students’ students’ learning learning experiences experiences and and inspires inspiresour our faculty faculty and and staff staffto to bring bring innovation innovationto tothe the classroom classroomthrough through professional professionaldevelopment development funding. funding.Simply Simply put, put,your your participation participation in inthe the Annual Annual Fund Fund plays plays aavital vital role role in in providing providingthe the full fullSteward Steward experience. experience. Make Make aa gift giftthat that isis meaningful meaningfulto toyour yourfamily family and and help help us us achieve achieveour our goal goalof of $415,000 $415,000 in in Annual Annual Fund Fund contributions. contributions.

Give Give today! today! stewardschool.org/GIVE stewardschool.org/GIVE

Your gift inspires new ways of thinking. Gifts at Work Gifts Gifts to to the the Annual Annual Fund Fund last last year year enriched enriched the the learning learning experience experience and and supported supported the the school’s school’s highest highest needs needs including: including:

INNOVATIVE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING PROGRAMMING Gifts Gifts to to the the Annual Annual Fund Fund supported supported the the work work the the Bryan Bryan Innovation Innovation Lab Lab does does across across all all divisions divisions to to provide provide experiential experiential learning learning opportunities opportunities with with aa focus focus on on interdisciplinary interdisciplinary skills, skills, real-world real-world problem problem solving, solving, and and community community engagement. engagement.

TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY The The Annual Annual Fund Fund helped helped support support the the addition addition of of new new Viewsonic Viewsonic smartboards smartboards in in classrooms classrooms to to support support innovative innovative learning. learning.

SAFETY SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ENHANCEMENTS The The Annual Annual Fund Fund supported supported the the addition addition of of aa full-time full-time security security guard guard on on campus, campus, additional additional cameras, cameras, and and digital digital display display speakers. speakers.

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

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

THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS. Each year, donors to Steward’s Annual Fund support our campus community. Gifts are put to work immediately to fund Steward’s highest priorities. When combined with hundreds of gifts from parents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, grandparents, and friends, your gift — no matter the size — adds up to big support for our school.

YOUR PARTICIPATION MATTERS! Make an impact today and give to the Annual Fund. stewardschool.org/support