Minimester 2025

Each spring, Upper Schoolers participate in Minimester, a Steward tradition. Freshmen team up for community service projects and tour a college, sophomores and juniors can intern or travel, and seniors finish their senior projects. The Class of 2025 also spent an afternoon during Minimester shredding the blue-and-gold paper chain that Spartans adorned with handwritten sentiments last fall. The festive shreds will be part of this year’s graduation ceremony.

Thank you to the faculty who collaborated to make Minimester a success: Alexa Bolt (coordinator of service learning and engagement), Peter Hurley (freshman coordinator), Scottie O’Neill (sophomore coordinator), and Kristen Householder (junior coordinator). 

On Location
Imagine being an Upper Schooler and spending five fast-paced days meeting people, learning new skills, and getting a peek into the world of work. That’s what Minimester internship participants did! Some examples of where Spartans interned: an architecture firm, a healthcare facility, the U.S. Federal Court, the Virginia Department of Aviation, a ski resort, The Powhatan Fire Station, and schools in Colombia and Honduras. In all, 127 juniors and sophomores participated in internships, gaining insight into networking, professional mentorship, and career possibilities. 

When Rafi Zepeda ’26 participated in Alumni Inspiration Day earlier this year, she met Gerald Walsh (father of Wesley ’24 and Grady ’22), vice president of Lockwood Broadcast Group in Charlottesville, Va. That meeting evolved into an opportunity for Rafi to intern at CBS 19 News during Minimester, where she shadowed reporters and producers. Rafi conducted interviews in the field, wrote scripts, and edited B-roll. 

“The most interesting story featured the unveiling of a historic marker in downtown Charlottesville,” said Rafi. “We interviewed those who had worked to create the marker, (including the mayor), quickly did research, wrote scripts, and went live on the 4 o’clock, 5 o’clock, and 6 o’clock shows.” The week presented challenges, too. “I had to recognize my own biases when reading the news,” she shared. “A reporter’s job is to present information, so I had to keep my biases in check while writing and reading scripts.” 

College Prep
In collaboration with our College Counseling Office, Spartans begin touring colleges during their freshman year. During Minimester, ninth graders and the Grade 9 advisory team toured the campus of Longwood University and met with admissions representatives. Our mission is to prepare students for college and for life, and we are proud that 100% of Steward’s graduates are offered admission to four-year colleges and universities!

Freshmen also engaged in service opportunities during Minimester. At The Faison Center, students served as reading buddies for students, and at CARITAS, they teamed up to assemble furniture for those in need. Spartans helped with inventory at the Richmond ToolBank, a tool-lending non-profit, and at Pocahontas State Park, they spruced up trails, cleaned cabins, and built bunk beds. A trip to Woodland Cemetery gave students opportunities to reflect on the cemetery’s historical significance as they tidied up gravesites. And at Doorways, which provides lodging for families who need to be close to hospital facilities, Minimester participants cleaned windows and common areas. 

Juliet Forlano ’28 is grateful to have had the chance to help others. 

“At CARITAS, we sorted through huge containers of donated items,” she said. “I found it to be satisfying work and enjoyed the feeling of giving back. At Doorways, our group cleaned the halls and public spaces. While it seemed like surface-level work, two friends and I had an experience that showed us how much our help was appreciated. A woman asked us to clean the windows of her room, and we talked to her and her wife while doing so. Hearing their story was difficult but incredibly inspiring, and by the end, I felt I had a deeper understanding of the work that Doorways does.”

       

Noah Charity ’28 said, “I most enjoyed the friendships that I made with the kids at the Faison Center, and I made many great memories. Minimester was a wonderful experience.” 

Experiencing the world through travel is one way that Spartans are engaged by ideas that encourage critical thinking, empathy, and civil discourse. Fourteen travelers led by faculty members Colleen Carpinelli and Gardner Mundy explored Iceland, including the capital city of Reykjavik. 

“We hiked countless waterfalls and took the bus along the Golden Circle to view the black sand beaches of the fjords, and to the Vatnajökull glacier, which is located in the southeast of Iceland and covers about eight percent of the country’s landmass,” said Ms. Carpinelli.  

Travelers explored Diamond Beach, where chunks of icebergs float from the glacier and lodge on the black pebble beaches before melting and becoming part of the Atlantic Ocean. They also swam in the world-famous Blue Lagoon and other hot springs. An unforgettable moment: The temperature of one hot spring was 111 degrees, which students delighted in while snow fell softly overhead. When they toured a geothermal tomato farm and baked bread underground with the heat from a hot spring, travelers had a one-of-a-kind (and delicious!) experience. 

“My favorite parts of the trip were visiting the Blue Lagoon and being with my peers,” said Kensington Charles ’26. “The Blue Lagoon was very soothing and tranquil. Minimester allowed me to experience Iceland’s, cuisine, customs, and fashion, all of which fascinated me.” 

Steward’s core values (innovation, inspiration, care & respect, individuality, academic achievement, and civil discourse) are woven throughout Minimester. 

Ms. Bolt said, “Minimester is a tremendous opportunity for students to step into new experiences, bond with classmates, and stretch their community service muscles. Spartans dove into Minimester with enthusiasm and open hearts, and we are so proud of them!”