On a chilly winter afternoon, three married couples sat onstage in the Lora M. Robins Theatre, microphones in hand. The couples, who had met at Steward years earlier and subsequently married, were gearing up to play The Stewlywed Game — a Spartan-centric version of The Newlywed Game, a popular 1960s game show. The school’s version was a good-natured take on the original, in which couples compete against each other in a series of question rounds to determine how well the spouses know each other, and it served as the opening entertainment at Steward’s annual Board, Faculty, and Staff awards presentation.

As couples John Keefe ’15 and Ally Dods Keefe ’16, Graham Hickerson ’89 and Barbara Werderman Hickerson (former Steward development associate), and Frazer Orgain ’95 and Corbin Adamson Orgain ’96 prepared to play, Special Projects Coordinator Sydney Smith welcomed the audience, explained the rules of the game, and introduced game-show host Jimmy Benson ’92.

Ms. Smith, who in 2024 spearheaded and now manages a Steward alumni podcast series, said, “I had the idea to record an episode of the podcast onstage. Because the Board, Faculty, and Staff awards presentation took place on the evening before Valentine’s Day, it hit me that The Newlywed Game could be transformed into The Stewlywed Game. Podcast host Harry Baron ’01 was instrumental in planning the game, so when he woke up with the flu on the morning of the event, he was crushed. We are so grateful to Jimmy for stepping in at the last minute and doing a terrific job as game-show host!” 

Answers to questions such as If your husband could take a dream vacation with no budget or limitations, where would he go? and What’s one habit of yours that drives your wife crazy? had the audience erupting with laughter. Middle/Upper School Music Teacher John McAlister entertained the crowd with zippy interstitial music. 

“I love to think outside the box about ways to bring alumni back to campus,” said Ms. Smith. “Our guest couples were great sports and had lots of fun.” Listen to the podcast.

Once a Spartan, always a Spartan: Our alumni enrich the Steward community in many ways! They can join us at Convocation (where we annually present the Alumni Achievement award); share their college and career experiences with students on Alumni Inspiration Day; participate in panel discussions for Leadership Program students; come back to campus for special events such as Homecoming Weekend, Trucks and Shucks, and SpartaFest; and gather for alumni networking and social events on campus and off. Alumni are invited to sign up on Almabase, a great place for Spartans to stay connected with one another and the school; follow the Alumni Association’s Instagram and Facebook accounts; and submit a class note.