School's trong foundation helped alumni soar in 2021

Every facet of a Fredericksburg Academy education is carefully crafted to prepare students for a life of learning and fulfillment in college and beyond. We do this through small class sizes, enriching opportunities in arts and athletics, guidance that leads to 100% college acceptance and more. But it all starts with the passionate faculty members we seek out to make this educational experience possible.

Alumni consistently tell us that the relationships they built with members of the faculty during their time at FA had the single-greatest impact on their learning experience and ability to succeed in and beyond college.

Cate Hazel ’18, now a junior at Harvard University with a concentration in sociology, captured the essence of how FA faculty make all the difference in her college admissions essay about Upper School Math Teacher Alpana Wilson:

“Before I even stepped foot into her class, word had spread that she was a demanding teacher, but she elicited the very best from her students. … The confidence she displayed in both her command of mathematics and ability to communicate the material to her students was matchless. She was not satisfied with a student’s ability to solve a simple mathematical algorithm. She expected students to reach a rigorous understanding of underlying concepts. When in front of a classroom, her mind was never at rest. She seemed to be always plotting her next attempt to bring her students to a more profound understanding of math. The most unsettling part of being her student was receiving lower grades than I was used to getting. But a C from Mrs. Wilson was not discouraging, it was an encouragement to work harder and engage with the class more seriously. She had a way of making me want to succeed because I didn’t want to let her down. Mrs. Wilson was not just a work of art, she was an artist herself. She was that rare teacher who was in full possession of the art of teaching.”

Here are a few examples of how FA graduates have continued to soar in 2021:

Liz Albertine Kassar ’04 was promoted to Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, in February. Liz joined DeLauro’s staff in 2020 and most recently spent three years as Legislative Director. “Liz’s work ethic, knowledge, and passion for using the legislative process to make a difference in people’s lives will make her uniquely qualified to lead my team as we help the people of Connecticut’s Third Congressional District recover and build back better,” Rep. DeLauro said.

Nia Jones ‘10, won the 2020 Big Sister of the Year Award through her work with Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Fredericksburg. She was recognized as an outstanding role model in the area through BBBS's one-to-one mentoring program, which supports the critical social and emotional development needed to help build resilience and promote the mental health and well-being of thousands of children across America.

Will Moss ‘06 was inducted into the Hampden-Sydney College Sports Hall of Fame. While at Hampden-Sydney, Will was a four-time ODAC Player of the Year (2007-10) and First Team All-ODAC honoree at number one singles for the Tigers. He was also a two-time ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2009-10), and the 2007 ODAC Rookie of the Year. This Falcon helped the Tigers to a four-year record of 53-19, including 30-6 in the ODAC—the Tigers going 25-2 in the ODAC over his final three seasons.

Where can a Fredericksburg Academy education take your child? Visit FredericksburgAcademy.org to learn more.