Hundreds returned to The Hill for a weekend packed with events, honoring a legacy of excellence and looking ahead to the bright future that lies ahead for generations of Spartans.

Reunion Weekend 2026 attracted more than 400 Spartans and their families back to The Hill to celebrate 75 years of St. Stephen’s. The three-day event, hosted by the Spartan Alumni Association, welcomed alumni, parents of alumni, and current and former faculty and staff to campus. Class representatives also organized their own off-campus gatherings to connect with former classmates.

“This place means a lot to me, and I hope in the future, it will mean a lot to you as you grow through the ranks here and out into the wider world of college and the workforce — carrying with you some of the basic virtues learned here: the virtue of hard work, the virtue of giving to others and helping others, and putting others before yourself,” Will Brewster ’51, whose father co-founded the school.

Brewster and his classmate Cliff “Toppy” Castle ’51 offered opening special Middle School and Upper School chapel remarks kicking off weekend’s activities which began Friday, April 17. Brewster and Castle joined event Co-Chairs Liza Ayres ’14 and Mallory Boyle ’04.

Alumni got a glimpse into current student life through the Student Panel Discussion in Becker Library. Dalia Rangel ’26, Nicole Leal Blanco ’27 and Levi Skaistis ’26 shared their experiences on The Hill, engaging with alums of all ages. Later Friday night, Pioneer Spartans welcomed the Class of 1976 to their annual dinner honoring alumni celebrating 50-plus years since graduating. While guests dined, The Madrigals performed and invited guests to attend the Modern Voices show in the Helm Fine Arts Center later that evening.

Despite chilly Saturday weather, the strong Spartan spirit warmed the energy and excitement for the day’s big event, the Spartan Leadership Brunch and Awards Presentation. 

This year’s outstanding honorees included:

• Rudy Green ’71 | Founders Award for Distinguished Service
• Ricky Green ’86 | Spartan Leadership Award
• Ellen Osborne Ray ’86 and John Harrison ’65 | Spartan Impact Awards
• Sophie Foreman Mann ’06 | Young Alumni Award

The afternoon featured Head of School Chris Gunnin’s State of the School address, campus tours guided by the Advancement Office and a return of the popular Classes Without Quizzes series. Faculty-led sessions included Shelley Sallee, Ph.D. (Constitutional Law), Troy Lanier (LEDs, Circuits and Color), Jim Woodruff (Theology) and Mike Dolan, MFA, and Clay Nichols, MFA (Theatre Focus).

Saturday evening, hundreds of Spartans filled Clayton Gym for receptions honoring the parents of alumni and current and former faculty and staff, and the annual Taste of Austin food truck celebration. The evening hummed with energy as guests socialized under twinkling indoor string lights and enjoyed dinner from food trucks parked in the outdoor breezeway. The upbeat event also featured live music by the Trahan Brothers (Elliott Trahan ’17, Lee Trahan ’19 and Josh Mosier ’15) and a 75th anniversary toast led by Chris Gunnin. The evening concluded with Trivia Stream, hosted by Gus Davis ’99.

On Sunday morning, alumni laced up their walking shoes and joined Charlton Perry, director of outdoor education and land management, and John Dugan, director of counseling and co-director of health services, for a hike through campus trails before volunteering in a Becker Library service project. The weekend concluded with Alumni Chapel, featuring a homily delivered by former Head of Upper School Tad Bird ’79, with Will Brewster ’51 (Tad’s uncle) assisting in the Eucharist.

Reunion Weekend 2026 was a success thanks to the leadership of the Reunion Committee: Liza Ayres ’14 (co-chair), Mallory Boyle ’04 (co-chair), Louise McNutt Brazitis ’07 (vice president), Hank Ewert ’70 (former faculty representative), Shannon Powers Flahive ’96 (president), Claire McKay ’71 (parents of alumni representative), Alice Nazro Nezzer ’87 (alumni recognition chair), and many dedicated campus partners including the Advancement and Marketing and Communication teams.

Make plans to join us for Reunion Weekend 2027 on April 23–25, 2027. For more information, please contact Michelle Geo Olmstead, director of alumni relations at molmstead@sstx.org and David Allen ’19, alumni engagement officer at dallen@sstx.org.