Saints in Action, Spring 2025
SAINTS IN ACTION
RECOGNIZING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
At Academic Convocation in January, we recognized eight Commended Merit Scholars, four Commended Scholar Finalists, two National African-American Recognition Award recipients, and one National First Generation Recognition Award. Congratulations, Saints!
In addition, Domenick Bailey ’18, currently a student at Harvard Law School, addressed the students and shared inspiring advice on the risks worth taking in their academic and professional journeys. “I believe that if you’re willing to go to new places, surround yourself with people who know more than you, take on the unexpected, answer the phone, and do the small things, you’ll be that much more prepared, fulfilled, and better off because of it. Remember, no risk—no story.” After the convocation, students and faculty were invited to lunch to chat and ask questions with Domenick in the Chiaramonte Family Seminar Room. [Read more about Domenick on p. 76]
In February, seniors Tate Commission, Dimitri Criswell, Paul Eisenberg, and Anne Louden Kostel were named as Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program! This honor establishes them among the top 1% of U.S. high school seniors who took the PSAT. The determination is also based on test scores, academic records, recommendations, and essays.
COMMENDED SCHOLARS
Sandhya Augustine ’25
Karina Constandy ’25
Micah Gura ’25
Anderson Jones ’25
Ella Joshi ’25
Carmyn Lee ’25
Lydia Penkiunas ’25
Jake Welter ’25
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS
Tate Commission ’25
Dimitri Criswell ’25
Paul Eisenberg ’25
Anne Louden Kostel ’25
NATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN RECOGNITION AWARD
Amaya Nicholls ’25
Ramtulai Jalloh ’26
NATIONAL FIRST GENERATION RECOGNITION AWARD
Ramtulai Jalloh ’26
SSSAS RANKED #1
We’re proud to share that St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School has been ranked the #1 K-12 Independent School in Virginia in Virginia Living Magazine! This recognition is especially meaningful as we celebrate our 100th year—a century of inspiring students to pursue knowledge + goodness together. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible teachers, dedicated parents, curious students, loyal alumni, and supportive community. This honor belongs to all of you.
From the Best of Virginia 2025 Edition of Virginia Living Magazine:
“On three campuses in Alexandria, SSSAS provides exceptional education within an Episcopal tradition. This independent school offers rigorous academics, competitive athletics, and comprehensive arts programs. The school’s nurturing community emphasizes character development, service learning, and spiritual growth. With dedicated faculty, students receive personalized attention preparing them for college and beyond.”
ART AND LITERARY AWARDS
Sixteen Saints received top honors for their artistic and literary skills in local and regional contests and exhibitions.
Charlotte Barnes ’27
“Time Warp”
Painting, Honorable Mention
Regional Scholastic Award
Dava Boyce ’26
“St. Milburga”
Digital Art, Gold Key
Regional Scholastic Award
Makayla Jones ’25
“King”
Ceramics & Glass, Silver Key
Regional Scholastic Award
Tyler Troy ’25
“Expectation”
Mixed Media, Silver Key
Regional Scholastic Award
Charlotte Barnes ’27
“The Carnival: Barkers”
Painting, Gold Key
Regional Scholastic Award
Ian Niemira ’25
“Roadtrip”
Digital Art, Honorable Mention
Regional Scholastic Award
Tyler Troy ’25
“Vessel With Two Hands”
Ceramics & Glass, Gold Key
Regional Scholastic Award
Willa Johnson ’27
“Jelly”
Ceramics & Glass, Honorable Mention
Regional Scholastic Award
Malcolm Beane ’27
“James Beeane”
Digital Art, Gold Key
Regional Scholastic Award
American Visions Nominee
“James Beeane” was selected as an American Visions Nominee for the Fairfax County Art Region, an exceptional honor. The region sends only five nominees to be reviewed during National adjudication, when a panel of judges chooses one of the works to receive the American Visions Award for our region. The American Visions Award is considered the best individual artwork from our region.
Charlotte Secrist ’27
“Faces of the Past”
Digital Art, Silver Key
Regional Scholastic Award
Ariya Harrington ’26
“Fragmentation”
Glass Mosaic
Studio Gallery Student Show
Tyler Troy ’25
Self Portrait
Found Cardboard
Studio Gallery Student Show
Colin Adams ’26
“23”
Cardboard Sculpture, Third Place
Winter Independent Schools Juried Exhibition
Rose Breckinridge ’26
“Red Blossoms”
Oil on Canvas
Studio Gallery Student Show
Tyler Troy ’25
“Overgrown”
Ceramics, First Place
Winter Independent Schools Juried Exhibition
Suri Wang ’25
“Live, Land, Love”
Colored Pencil
Studio Gallery Student Show
REGIONAL SCHOLASTIC WRITING AWARDS
Ramtulai Jalloh ’26
“That One Night When It Was Raining”
Dramatic Script, Gold Key
Ella Schneider ’27
“Summer Haibun”
Poetry, Gold Key
Dava Boyce ’26
“The Glass”
Dramatic Script, Silver Key
Janney Cooper ’26
“The Temperature of Extinction”
Poetry, Silver Key
Jackson Sipple-Asher ’27
“Whale”
Poetry, Silver Key
SAINTS HONORED BY VISAA
In May, the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) honored past Head of School Joan Holden (1984-2014), current Coach Kathy Jenkins, and past Coach Betsey Rice (1983-2013) with Silver Anniversary Legacy Awards at their 25th Anniversary Dinner. The award recognizes the vision, dedication, and enduring contributions of those who established and nurtured the foundation of VISAA. The honorees embody the core values of VISAA: fostering character development, inspiring excellence, and promoting respect and teamwork among diverse member schools.
From drafting the VISAA mission statement in snowstorms to becoming a dynamic statewide organization with 100 member schools and championships in 24 sports, the honorees stayed true to VISAA’s founding values—promoting character, inspiring excellence, encouraging fair play, and cultivating respect and teamwork.
In a letter in the event program, VISAA Executive Director Adam Brick said, “We come together to say thank you—to the leaders whose dedication made a difference, to the coaches who shaped lives, and to the communities that supported this vision every step of the way.”
Excerpts from the program:
Joan Holden
Independent School Visionary
“During her 30 years as head of school at SSSAS, Joan Holden helped shape generations of young people and fostered a culture that celebrated academics, character, and athleticism. A passionate advocate for youth sports, she coached varsity field hockey and JV boys’ tennis at Groton before coming to SSSAS.
Joan played an integral role during the formative years of VISAA, where she and fellow visionaries brought to life a model that celebrated excellence, integrity, and opportunity in independent school athletics. ‘It was an exciting time,’ Joan reflected. ‘There was a vision, and we worked hard to fulfill it—promoting the scholar-athlete, fair play, and a love for sports in young people.’”
Kathy Jenkins
Champion of Girls’ Sports
“Kathy has coached basketball, tennis, and lacrosse, and while she transitioned from teaching physical education in 2020, she continues to coach—driven by a passion for competition, team building, and character development. Her influence extends beyond SSSAS through her role as a director for St. James/Stars Lacrosse, and her dedication to promoting girls’ sports at all levels.
Her favorite VISAA memory dates back to 1996, at the very first state tournament she attended. Her girls’ team faced the Potomac School in Charlottesville during UVA’s graduation weekend—a logistical challenge that led the two schools to share hotel rooms. ‘It was electric,’ she recalls. ‘The atmosphere, the opportunity, and the camaraderie made it unforgettable. I’ve attended many state tournaments, especially with my daughters who played field hockey. Each one was an honor.’
Betsey Rice
Volleyball Committee Leader
“Betsey was instrumental in shaping the competitive landscape of volleyball in VISAA. Working alongside fellow honoree Donna Satterwhite, she served on the volleyball committee, a crucial role that involved ranking and selecting teams for state tournaments, organizing events, and choosing all-tournament and all-state players. Betsey is a member of the SSSAS Hall of Fame.
‘I really loved seeing the growth of volleyball in the state,’ Betsey reflected. Her passion for the sport and her commitment to excellence helped elevate volleyball to a new level across Virginia.
She brought a deep joy to her role as a coach and committee member, enjoying the chance to travel, meet teams, and witness the evolution of girls’ sports in independent schools. Through her work, Betsey helped create a culture that celebrated opportunity, hard work, and team spirit—a lasting impact that continues to ripple through VISAA athletics today.”
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes is very proud of Joan, Kathy, and Betsey, and grateful for the extensive contributions they made to our school and others across the state of Virginia.
ATHLETICS: WINTER SEASON WRAP-UP
HALEY LEHMAN ’25
VARSITY SWIMMING
STATE CHAMPION
IN 500 FREE
ALL-ISL
4.56.65 500 FREE SCHOOL RECORD
1.51.76 200 FREE SCHOOL RECORD
52.01 100 FREE SCHOOL RECORD
OTHER GIRLS SWIMMING RECORDS
3:37.13 400 FREESTYLE
HALEY LEHMAN ’25, ELISABETH CARROLL ’25, ANNABELLE BREMNER ’27, AND LILA BROCK ’27
58.21 100 BACKSTROKE
LILA BROCK ’27
COLTON MOORE ’26 | ALL-STATE | NATIONAL PREP QUALIFIER
EVAN INGRAHAM ’25 | ALL-IAC
BOYS SQUASH SENIORS: RJ DAVIS, MICAH GURA, DIMITRI CRISWELL, WILLIAM THISSELL, WILLIAM PRICE, SAMUEL CATLIN
NAHEEMA GOIN ’26 | ALL-ISL
RILEY JACOBS ’25
VARSITY BASKETBALL
1000 POINTS
WASHINGTON POST ALL-MET
HONORABLE MENTION
All-IAC
JACK GANS ’25 | MAPHL All Star
FARRAH DEVAUGHN ’25 | ALL-ISL
COLTON MOORE ’26
ALL-STATE | NATIONAL PREP QUALIFIER
MADISON HUGHES ’26
VARSITY WINTER TRACK
ALL-STATE SECOND TEAM
QUALIFIED FOR THE
ADIDAS INDOOR NATIONALS
OTHER TRACK RECORDS
4:29.07 GIRLS SPRINT MEDLEY RELAY
ELLA SCHNEIDER ’27, MADISON HUGHES ’26, HAYLEY LOOKADOO ’25, SYLVIE MCGOLDRICK ’27
3:43.34 BOYS SPRINT MEDLEY RELAY
JACK RUTTER ’26, MILES SPENCER ’26, TAWON FIGARO ’26, JAMES LONDON ’25
GIRLS VARSITY SQUASH TEAM
MARCUS HANCOCK ’26 | ALL-IAC
COLIN POLLOCK ’25 | ALL-IAC
“HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION”
In March, more than 80 Upper School students and nearly a dozen faculty and outside theatre professionals brought Anaïs Mitchell’s “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning, Broadway hit musical, to the CPAC stage. As the magazine went to print, the production was nominated for two Cappies. The Hadestown Band (featuring 11 students) was nominated for Best Orchestra—their third nomination in four years, and Aden Wright ’27 was nominated for Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical—his first Cappies nod! Click on the photo below to open the “Hadestown” gallery!
