Celebrating the Class of 2026

The 61 members of the Class of 2026 became Nansemond-Suffolk Academy's newest alumni on Friday, May 22.

"You, the Class of 2026, are and have been a vital part of the NSA village, helping to mentor and guide the students in the grades below you," said Head of School Mike Barclay during his commencement address. "We are in debt to you and owe you a world of thanks for your leadership this past academic year. With little Saints constantly looking up to you and faculty looking at you, you have brilliantly led through your actions, your words, your work in the classroom, on the playing fields and courts, under the bright lights of the stage, marching on Friday nights and through the countless ways you mentored younger students simply by being yourselves." 

"As you leave Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, carry with you the understanding that character will matter more than reputation, relationships will matter more than recognition and the way you make people feel will matter more than any title you ever earn," said Head of Upper School Kim Aston '88, offering words of wisdom to the graduates. "Go forward with courage, humility and purpose. Chase meaningful lives, not just impressive ones. And wherever life takes you, never forget that you will always have a family here at NSA."

To view photos from graduation and Senior Day, please click the links below. Special thanks to alumnus, past parent and First Team Auto Chief Executive Officer Ashton Lewis '90 for serving as our commencement speaker this year.

Photos: Class of 2026 Graduation
Video: Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony
Photos: Class of 2026 Senior Day

Class of 2026 Honors and Awards

Joselyn Poppy Byars, Valedictorian
Christina Joy Tabet, Salutatorian

• Joselyn Poppy Byars, Claudia Stell Hawks English Cup
• Eliana Sue Carson, Hunter Davis Richardson '04 Alumni Scholarship
• Sarah Katherine Carson, Betty Jean Riddick '72 Girls’ Athletic Cup
• Brooke Annmarie Christy, Science Cup 
• Ryan Michael Hynes, Brenda Darden Kincaid Mathematics Cup
• Ryan Justin Nelms Jr., Boys' Spirit Cup
• Grace Lauren Patterson, Douglas C. Naismith Leadership Cup
• Jack Richard Rosenberg, History Cup
• Sophie Grace Rosenberg, Nachiket Surendra Patel Cup 
• Henry John Ross, TCIS All-Academic Team 
• Aubrey Danielle Rountree, Raymond T. Carson Jr. Scholarship for Education 
• Christina Joy Tabet, Patricia Ruffin House World Language Cup, Girls' Spirit Cup and TCIS All-Academic Team 
• Jamal Omar Babafemi Thomas, Boys' Athletic Cup 
• Celine Marie Waddy, Band Cup and Deborah B. Russell Saints Cup
• Aubri Marie Walker, Visual Arts Cup

Class of 2026 College Acceptances

• American University
• Appalachian State University
• Auburn University
• Babson College
• Bentley University
• Boston University
• Bridgewater College
• Bucknell University
• Campbell University
• Catholic University of America
• Christopher Newport University
• Clemson University
• Coastal Carolina University
• College of Charleston
• Colorado School of Mines
• Coppin State University
• Delaware State University
• East Carolina University
• Eastern Mennonite University
• Elizabethtown College
• Elon University
• Flagler College
• Florida Atlantic University
• Fordham University
• Furman University
• George Mason University
• Hampden-Sydney College
• High Point University
• James Madison University
• Lafayette College
• Lehigh University
• Liberty University
• Longwood University
• Louisiana State University
• Maryland Institute College of Art
• Meredith College
• Mississippi State University
• Morgan State University
• New York Institute of Technology
• Norfolk State University
• North Carolina Central University
• North Carolina State University
• North Carolina Wesleyan University
• Old Dominion University
• Paul D. Camp Community College
• Penn State University Altoona
• Penn State University (University Park)
• Radford University
• Randolph College
• Randolph-Macon College
• Regent University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Richard Bland College of William and Mary
• Roanoke College
• Rutgers University
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Smith College
• The University of Alabama
• The University of Tampa
• The University of Tennessee 
• The University of Virginia's College at Wise
• Tidewater Community College
• University of Central Florida
• University of Delaware
• University of Kentucky
• University of Louisiana at Monroe
• University of Louisville
• University of Lynchburg
• University of Mary Washington
• University of Maryland 
• University of Miami
• University of Mississippi
• University of Richmond
• University of Rochester
• University of South Carolina
• University of Southern California
• University of Virginia
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Utah State University
• Villanova University
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia Military Institute
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Virginia State University
• Virginia Wesleyan University
• William & Mary