O’Neal School Celebrates Scholarship Recipients and the Values of Character, Leadership, and Service
The O’Neal School recently welcomed students, families, faculty, and generous supporters to campus for its annual scholarship celebration, an evening dedicated to honoring students whose accomplishments reflect academic excellence, leadership, resilience, and compassion.
The program opened with remarks from Interim Head of School Steve Lisk, who offered sincere thanks to the School’s scholarship benefactors — Stan and Jean Bradshaw, Jean Ray Hinson, and Helen Holmberg Herbert — recognizing their enduring generosity and commitment to expanding educational opportunity at O’Neal.
In his address, Lisk shared a reflection that has guided his work as an educator. Recalling a conversation with a parent years ago, he shared the simple hope that the parent held for his children: “At the end of the day, I simply want my kids to be good and do good.”
“That sentiment captures exactly why we gather tonight,” Lisk said. “As a school, we celebrate students who pair strong achievement with integrity, empathy, and a genuine sense of responsibility to others.”
Lisk emphasized the lasting importance of O’Neal’s scholarship programs, noting that applicants grow stronger each year academically, extracurricular, and in character. He also highlighted the culture that develops among scholarship recipients — one marked by mutual respect, support, and leadership rooted in both intellect and heart.
The ceremony featured remarks from Kennedi Hamner, a senior and recipient of the Helen Pringle Holmberg Scholarship four years ago. Hamner will graduate in two weeks and matriculate to Southern Virginia University, where she will play collegiate soccer.
A member of the National Honor Society, recipient of the Amelia Cagle Award for character and inspirational presence, a four‑year class president, and a three‑sport athlete who served as team captain in volleyball, basketball, and soccer, Hamner reflected on how the Holmberg Scholarship supported her growth.
“The Holmberg Scholarship didn’t recognize perfection,” Hamner said. “It gave me the opportunity to grow into leadership, into academic challenge, and into discipline and perseverance.”
She shared how rigorous coursework, experiential learning beyond the classroom, athletics, and mentorship shaped her journey, noting that O’Neal rewards students who are willing to engage fully.
“O’Neal gives back what you put into it,” she said. “You don’t need a title or a scholarship to do something meaningful — you just have to be willing to try.”
The evening continued with the recognition of this year’s scholarship recipients across three distinct programs, each reflecting O’Neal’s mission to educate the whole child.
The Hannah Marie Bradshaw Scholarship, given in memory of Hannah Bradshaw — who spent half of her life as an O’Neal student and loved the School as a place that helped her reach her true potential — is awarded to deserving students not currently enrolled at O’Neal who demonstrate financial need. The $6,000 annual award supplements financial aid and is renewable throughout Upper School with a maintained grade point average of 3.5.
This year’s Bradshaw Scholars are:
- Thomas “Tre” Grabos, who will join O’Neal from Stars. Tre enjoys baseball, basketball, cooking, and chess and aspires to a future in the culinary arts.
- Gavin McRae, a graduate of West Pine Middle School, who plays competitive basketball and has interests in computers, graphic design, and travel, and is known for being dependable and community minded.
- Phoebe Rollinson, who will move from California to join the O’Neal community in August. Phoebe is a competitive equestrian, avid reader, and artist with interests in drawing and photography.
The Helen Pringle Holmberg Scholarship, awarded in honor of Helen Holmberg Herbert, an O’Neal graduate and the School’s first John Motley Morehead Scholarship recipient, recognizes students who exemplify leadership, scholarship, moral force of character, and physical vigor. The scholarship covers 75% of tuition and is renewable throughout Upper School provided the student maintains a 3.5 grade point average. Recipients are current O’Neal students who meet academic criteria and are nominated by faculty.
This year’s Holmberg Scholar is Abigail Schupp, an eighth‑grade student at O’Neal recognized for her inquisitive nature, discipline, humility, and quiet yet confident leadership. Faculty praised her strong work ethic, positive influence, and ability to balance a demanding schedule with grace.
In addition, the School recognized a group of Rising Falcon Scholars, recipients of a four‑year partial upper school scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to current O’Neal eighth grade students who actively contribute to making the School community stronger and more vibrant, exemplifying integrity, leadership, resilience, and compassion.
This year’s Rising Falcon Scholars are:
Kennedy-Grace Aytes, Lucy Emond, Isabella Grotzke, Haddie Habets, Abigail Holroyd, Muirenn Matthews, Elliot Means, and Lainey Murphy.
As the ceremony concluded, Lisk offered a final reflection, sharing a quotation from legendary coach John Wooden: “Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to remain there.”
“To each student honored tonight,” Lisk said, “we believe in you. We are proud of your accomplishments, confident in your paths forward, and excited to see the good you will do in the world beyond O’Neal.”
Applications for these scholarships are accepted at the beginning of each calendar year. Visit The O’Neal School website for more information.
The O'Neal School
The O'Neal School admits students of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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