While celebrating the Class of 2025, St. Stephen’s recognized 10 Spartans for going above and beyond, and leaving a lasting impact on The Hill.

Congratulations to the St. Stephen’s Class of 2025, honored at the 75th Commencement on Saturday, May 24. Parents, grandparents, friends and special guests convened on The Hill and others joined virtually to celebrate a myriad of accomplishments. It is a tradition on The Hill for a handful of faculty, staff and students to also be surprised and presented with a number of distinguished awards during the Baccalaureate and Graduation Exercises.

Here’s a full list of the St. Stephen’s award recipients and the remarks shared about them:

The Dean H. Towner Master Teaching Chair

Kerry Patterson, Middle School Math Instructor
Kurt Oehler, Upper School Math Instructor

The Dean H. Towner Master Teaching Chair was established by Mary Jon and J.P. Bryan ’58 and the Mary Jon and J.P. Bryan Foundation to support teaching excellence and honor Dean Towner’s demonstrated years of excellent teaching at St. Stephen’s. The holder of the Dean H. Towner Master Teaching Chair is an experienced, devoted teacher who exemplifies Dean Towner’s sterling character, concern for the success of all students, and care for the well-being of the school. The holder of this chair lives Dean Towner’s legacy of faith, integrity and high moral standards.

Middle School math instructor Kerry Patterson has spent 30 years elevating students to become their best selves, and 10 of those years have been with Middle School students in Gunn Hall. She welcomes students into her classroom with a warm smile, careful planning and consideration of the material, and a creativity that inspires her colleagues. Patterson meets students where they are on their intellectual journey, and encourages them to expand their definitions of the subject matter and delve deeper into the historical context of this discipline. In her classroom, learning math deviates from the standard model and becomes a lesson in academic curiosity for our youngest Spartans at St. Stephen’s. 

She sponsors the Middle School Math Club, runs yearly math competitions, serves on the Admissions Committee, and plans and hosts wonderful travel opportunities as the assistant student travel coordinator. Outside of the classroom, Patterson serves as a House Leader in the residential program, creating a friendly and caring environment for the residential students lucky enough to live in her dorm. A member of Patterson’s dorm team said, “Her kindness and wisdom are limitless, and her calm authority can help resolve even the most dramatic moments.”

For 19 years, Upper School math instructor Kurt Oehler has impressed the school community with his intelligence and generosity. Not many teachers at St. Stephen’s can teach the highest levels of calculus, plus statistics, advanced geometry, engineering and physics.  

Beyond the classroom, the curiosity of Oehler’s mind has added to the school’s culture. For years, his original word and number puzzles, distributed at Upper School lunches, have led hundreds of students to try to solve the puzzles, which leads them to the small prizes he has purchased himself and hidden in unexpected places on campus.

Because he cares about student interest in the sciences, Oehler has been the sole faculty sponsor of a major STEM summer internship program, the Saxena Fellowship, which has connected current St. Stephen’s students with former students in the program, along with professional employers and academic researchers.

Because he values athletics — and was a significant student-athlete himself at St. Stephen’s — he has coached cross country and basketball at St. Stephen’s.

Because Oehler values collegiality, he is one of the first to volunteer to provide coverage when his colleagues need it. His willingness to do this has become legendary in the departments and programs where he has worked.

Because Oehler values residential life at St. Stephen’s, he has helped the dormitory team he leads to create a positive and structured living environment, which isn’t always easy for a dorm that houses only 9th and 8th grade boys.

And because he values the life of entire classes of students at SSES, Oehler has become one of the most indispensable adults on the 8th and 9th-grade retreats. He’s the guy who loads, and then drives, and then unloads, the food and equipment truck. It would be hard to think of a more thankless job, and he has done it for years.

Upper School Teacher & Staff Excellence Awards

Andy Aceves, Upper School English Instructor
Tristan Brown, Director of Custodial Services

The Upper School Teacher Excellence Award was first given in 1988. Each year, the Upper School student body votes on an outstanding Upper School teacher to receive this award. Each winner receives a $1500 honorarium from the St. Stephen’s Parents’ Association, and the names of all recipients are engraved on a plaque that hangs in Brewster Hall. The plaque reads, “The award is given to a teacher who effectively imparts the knowledge of their discipline, who stimulates the learning mind and fosters independent inquiry, who is available for extra assistance and guidance and whose love of learning has set an example for others to emulate.”

Upper School English instructor Andy Aceves is described by his students as “The G.O.A.T.” Other students wrote that he made them a more confident student and better writer, and that he makes English a fun class and not just boring essays. 

The Staff Excellence Award was first given in 2007 and is awarded annually to the full-time staff employee who has gone above and beyond expectations. This award is voted on by faculty and staff, and the awardee receives a $1500 honorarium from the Parents’ Association. The names of all recipients are engraved on a plaque that hangs in Brewster Hall. 

Director of Custodial Services Tristan Brown is described by faculty and staff as someone who puts in an H+ effort, shows he cares and is a good person. One colleague said, “This year's recipient is as dedicated and tireless as they come. He works hard every hour of every day, and he routinely goes above and beyond. No request of him is too big or too small, and many times he does things that need to be done before he is asked.”

The Velberta Asher Towner Award in the Performing Arts

Audrey Wan ’25
Casey Maina ’25

This award is given in memory of Velberta Towner. Known to everyone as Bert, she was a member of the St. Stephen’s faculty from 1958-1984, and longtime chair of the Fine Arts Department. She built a program in which students could explore and excel in the arts. We honor her contributions with this award, presented to two students who have excelled in the performing arts during their time at St. Stephen’s.  

Audrey Wan arrived at St. Stephen's a little unsure if music was a thing she wanted to pursue. But she jumped in. Wan’s growth and her contributions to the school have never stopped. This young musician has given her time, energy and skill to playing great solo piano pieces, while also playing in the full orchestra, playing in the Sinfonietta, playing with chamber music groups, and working collaboratively with other soloists. Wan thrives in performance and has been featured as a concerto soloist at school, as well as in a series of successful concerts across Europe on the Orchestra tour. She has also served as a mentor to younger musicians as they attempt to reach her level. Wan’s spirit of giving and her generous musical spirit know no bounds. Dedicated to the music and to the process, every performance she offers is at a thrillingly high level. Wan has plenty of musical things to say, and she delivers every time.  

The second Towner recipient, Casey Maina, displayed courage when she ventured out of her comfort zone to audition for the fall play in the 9th grade, even though she never participated in Middle School theatre and was at a new high school far from her hometown.

Maina’s remarkable poise and natural expressiveness made her a valued and trusted member of the company of “Sense and Sensibility.”

She bravely took on outlandish challenges, like playing Professor Plum in “Clue,” literally throwing herself into the broad demands of physical comedy. As Janice in “Mean Girls,” Maina was a masterful narrator, and demonstrated an effortless command that only comes with dedicated work. As Emily Webb in “Our Town,” she found resonant vulnerability by drawing on the profound relationships she built on this campus during her years here. This hill was in many ways her Grover’s Corners, her home, a place of triumphs, challenges and devastating loss. And she shared all of this with us in her remarkably moving performance. In these performances and in her honest engagements with this community in various spaces, including this Chapel, she gave us the gift of witnessing her journey and the power and hope of this community.  

The Don Cunningham Memorial Awards

Clara Rogers ’25
Charlie Dugan ’25

This award is presented to two seniors who lettered in three sports their senior year, and have demonstrated talent, leadership, dedication and sportsmanship—all traits held high by Don Cunningham, esteemed coach and director of athletics during St. Stephen’s early years. 

The first Cunningham Award recipient, Clara Rogers, has been a four-year, two-sport Varsity starter for Spartan Athletics in addition to earning Southwest Preparatory Conference qualifying times in a third sport all four years of her high school career. Rogers captained two Varsity teams as a senior, and her impact on the girls’ athletic program at St. Stephen’s has been nothing short of extraordinary. One coach shared, “She is technically sound and strategically savvy on the field. What’s most impressive, though, is that she is a model of consistency - and that’s really what it takes to be great in any sport.” Rogers has also been recognized by her teammates as a leader. One of her peers shared, “She has always been positive - win or lose. She’s always the first to say good job or offer an idea for correction or improvement without tearing down her teammates. She managed to hold us accountable while also fully supporting our team.” She strikes the perfect balance between intensity and encouragement. 

The second Cunningham Award recipient, Charlie Dugan, has been a four-year, three-sport Varsity athlete for Spartan teams, and the positive impact he’s made on our athletic programs is immeasurable. He has earned All-SPC honors in two sports and served as a captain of two of his three Varsity teams. One coach shared, “He may be the best pure athlete I’ve coached at St. Stephen’s. He’s quick, fast, coordinated, smart and tough — the kind of kid who makes everything look easy. He led by example — showing up, working hard, and raising the bar for the whole team.” Another coach added, “He was the soul of our team. As a true sports chameleon, he could adapt to a new role and make a difference right away. He possesses the kind of athleticism that makes an immediate impact, and his all-in attitude will reverberate in our program for years to come.” A teammate shared, “He pushed everyone around him to be better and raise their game to the next level. He left everything out on the court or field, and his intensity and dedication were at another level.”

The Bishop John E. Hines Medal

The Bishop's Medal is named after John Hines, the co-founder of St. Stephen's Episcopal School, who was a man of extraordinary vision and bold action. It is awarded to a member of the senior class who has maintained the highest academic standing over the last two years. 

Annabel Furlong is a student whose consistent academic excellence is expressed in all facets of learning. Her “natural curiosity” and “exemplary work ethic” has made her a standout student whether she is applying her solving skills to integrations and functions in upper level mathematics, executing “flawless” and “delightful” laboratory work in Hines Hall and the Project and Idea Realization Lab (PIRL), or synthesizing translations of Cicero and Caesar in Latin. Furlong’s writing is not only “consistently clear and lucid” but a teacher remarks she is “always excited to start reading when they see her name.” Pairing a good-natured smile with a quiet and assured energy, Furlong leads every classroom she steps into as a discussion leader and fount of curiosity. The breadth of her academic accomplishments was already on display earlier this week, where Furlong won awards for Calculus, Latin and European History! Clearly, she demonstrates mastery in many fields. A consistent thread of commentary among her teachers stretching back to her days in the Middle School is that she is a rare student who pushes not only her fellow students to “up their game,” but her teachers as well. Earning high honor roll status while maxing out her schedule every year, she balances her academic prowess with her generosity of spirit as a leader in athletics, student government, service learning and the Madrigals. She authentically engages with everything she does and while she works hard, she does so with a smile and self-confidence that never seems to break a sweat. 

The Dobbie Leverton Fenton Medal

Rebecca Cole ’25

The St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Alumni Association established the Dobbie Leverton Fenton Medal on October 27, 2001, inspired by the beloved teacher, advisor and friend who lived a life of compassionate service. Dobbie came to St. Stephen’s as an 8th grade boarding student and graduated in 1963. She returned to St. Stephen’s in 1968 to begin what would become a 33-year career at the school. Dobbie taught English, served as a college counselor, and was a mentor to hundreds of students. She also had a boundless belief in the ability of individuals to change the world for the better. Through her own words and actions, she celebrated differences, was slow to judge others and ministered to all she met, believing that everyone deserves equal and respectful treatment. That is how she lived her life. The Dobbie Leverton Fenton Medal is awarded annually to a member of the senior class who lives life in that same way—promoting the values of social justice.

Rebecca Cole is a tireless activist, advocate and scholar. She is a force of nature, combining boundless enthusiasm with a deep commitment to making the world a better place. Cole’s energy is infectious, and she works to create an inclusive environment and to foster positive change. Whether she's elbow-deep in compost or discussing politics, culture and policy in Model UN or Elevate, she takes a hands-on approach to everything she does. Cole leads by example, never asking anyone to do anything that she wouldn’t do herself. She co-directs the iAct program on weekends, organizing and training volunteers, and tutors refugee youth and adults, particularly young women. Cole is also dedicated to assisting Austin’s unhoused population in many ways. Throughout the year, she’s up early to serve breakfast to fellow Austinites experiencing homelessness, carrying on a commitment that started with her volunteer work in the Hope food pantry and Community First! Village. Cole is also deeply invested in life on The Hill, mentoring students in the Theatre Focus program, serving as a Health TA, and advocating for DEI initiatives. You can see her interacting with her peers, day and boarding–sometimes in languages other than English–all over campus. Cole connects to people from all walks of life through her positivity, curiosity and authenticity; it’s hard to picture this student without a smile on her face. Her cheerful leadership of the Green Gobs–planning Earth Day and helping to manage the composting program–reflects the essence of her commitment to the community. In so many ways, she strives to make the present and the future, at St. Stephen’s and beyond, better for everyone. 

The William Brewster Medal

Casey Maina ’25

The St. Stephen’s faculty established the William Brewster Medal in 1960 to honor the founding headmaster. Brewster wanted a school where students learned by studying and by living in a community grounded in a Christian tradition of respect and concern for others. He wrote "that a Church school should have in it both boys and girls of every economic and social group, that color of skin be no barrier, and that through constant common worship and emphasis on common ideals…that a Christian atmosphere would prevail." Brewster believed St. Stephen's students who thrived in an inclusive school community would be prepared to be engaged citizens of the world. Each year a faculty committee chooses the recipient of the William Brewster Medal and awards it to that member of the senior class who, in the eyes of the committee, has made the greatest total contribution to the life of the school. 

Casey Maina’s leadership has touched many parts of our campus throughout her high school career, giving back to those both within our community and beyond. As a three-year volunteer with the Breakthrough program, she has been a consistent and essential presence. Maina welcomes the Middle School students who visit campus, asking questions to get to know them and freely sharing her wisdom with them in return. Her natural gift for caring mentorship shines through in her ability to lead a classroom of middle schoolers with ease.

On campus, Maina has given of her time, energy and leadership skills to help shape inclusive spaces. As a member and co-leader of the student affinity group Unapologetic, she helped implement the first Girls Day Out for members of the group. Maina has quietly carried on the legacy of Yvonne Adams, standing up for equity, inclusion and belonging in all she does. 

In the dorms, Maina has served as a proctor with calm assurance, fulfilling her role with grace and poise. She lends a helping hand to anyone who needs it and models what it means to be trustworthy and reliable. Outside of the dorm, you might find Maina in front of the Chapel as a member of the Chapel Leadership Team, or giving a chapel talk that encourages us to build a stronger, more compassionate community. 

And of course, no one can talk about her without recognizing Maina’s deep contributions and leadership within the theatre program. When performing on stage, her willingness to be vulnerable and to find the heart of a character has given us the joy of getting to know characters like Janis from “Mean Girls” and Emily Webb from “Our Town.” Perhaps most importantly, Maina is a kind and welcoming community member off stage, offering a bright smile and warm welcome to all who walk through the doors of Bowen. Even as she leaves The Hill, Maina’s legacy will resonate here for years to come.