Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023-24 Ray Tate Student-Athlete Scholarship, Grace Virginia Deal ’24 and Ian O’Hallaron ’24. The scholarship is named in memory of Ray Tate, the founding president of the Spartan Club, who devoted much of his time and energy to athletics at Steward. 

At a ceremony during Upper School Assembly on October 25, Grace Virginia and Ian were celebrated for their excellent character, strong work ethic, and extracurricular involvement — characteristics that all Spartans are encouraged to develop and nurture. As the audience cheered and applauded (including their proud families), Grace Virginia and Ian were presented $1,000 scholarships by Chuck Wingfield, president of the Spartan Club.

Grace Virginia is a varsity athlete in field hockey, cheerleading (team captain), and lacrosse. A superlative lacrosse player, she was a member of the 2021 team that won the VISAA DII State Championship. In 2023, she was named Second-Team All TCIS, and she has committed to play DII lacrosse at Catawba College. 

A spirited Spartan, Grace Virginia is a member of the faculty-appointed Student Life Committee, shares her love for Steward as an Admissions Ambassador, and helps others as a member of the Stewardship Club, which commits itself to community outreach. She proudly represented Steward as a student representative at the 2023 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. 

Grace Virginia is also a member of Steward’s Entrepreneurship Program, and she shares her talent and time as a member of the Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools (FOCUS) Club, Prom Committee, Fashion Club, Spirit Squad, and Women’s Empowerment Club. In addition, she serves as president of the School’s Special Olympics Club. A dedicated scholar, Grace Virginia is a member of the National Honor Society. 

Ian is a proud member of Steward’s varsity golf team, and his athleticism has garnered him well-deserved accolades. 

As a freshman, he was named First Team All-TCIS, First Team All-State, and Team MVP. The following year, Ian won an Individual State Championship and was named First Team All-TCIS, First Team All-State, VISAA DII Virginia State Player of the Year, and Team MVP. In his junior year, he was named First Team All-TCIS, First Team All-State, and Team MVP. 

A hardworking musician with wide-ranging talent and interests, Ian is a member of the Pep band, Concert band, and Jazz Band. As the first chair saxophonist and guitarist, he wows audiences with his musicianship at School concerts and other special events. 

Ian serves as an Admissions Ambassador and serves on many community projects, volunteering with Pocahontas State Park trail building, helping the fourth-grade class at Anna Julia Cooper School, and serving as an intern in fundraising and business ventures for UP RVA, which supports students from the East End of Richmond who attend independent schools. 

Congratulations, Grace and Ian!