A hearty Spartan congratulations to Steward basketball standouts Ella Grace Saunders ’26 and Lilly Thoman ’26, who each received $2,500 scholarships at the May 11 Sports Backers/Richmond Times-Dispatch Active Living Leadership ALL Stars celebration! Ella Grace and Lilly were included in an article about the program in the May 12 issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The event took place at Richmond’s Hippodrome, with Steward’s Assistant Director of Athletics and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Kara Bacile serving as the keynote speaker. 

The ALL Stars program provides mentorship to a select cohort of exemplary scholar-athletes from the Richmond region. Throughout the year-long program, ALL Stars work together in small groups with the support of their mentor: They attend educational sessions, engage in community service, and team up to address community needs through a capstone project. Ella Grace’s group designed a trail in Church Hill with markers that give walkers specific exercises to break up their trek. Lilly’s team partnered with Jacob’s Chance to create a social media campaign exploring ADA-inclusive parks. The group visited public parks and created a guide for the best ADA-accessible parks.

Lilly was awarded an additional $2,500 scholarship as the recipient of the Sports Standout award, which honored her impressive career as a Spartan athlete. In her senior year, Lilly was a first-team All-Metro girls basketball selection, honoring her as one of the top six girls basketball players in the greater Richmond area. In February 2026, Lilly led the Spartans to a VISAA Division II state title game appearance. She will play basketball for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as she begins her college career.

In her senior year at Steward, Ella Grace hit her 1,000th career point – an astonishing achievement. She played varsity for five years, and Coach Bacile noted, “She … was always the teammate who put everyone else first and did the hard work that made the team better.” In February 2026, Ella Grace was interviewed by the Richmond Times-Dispatch about her Sports Backers ALL Stars distinction. In that article, Ella Grace said of the ALL Stars program, ‘I’ve been able to meet new people, meet new friends, reach out and build new opportunities. It’s just been a lot of fun.” 

In her keynote, Coach Bacile, who was named VISAA DII State Coach of the Year for 2025-26, spoke to the ALL Stars about intentionally valuing the people who made their journeys so special. 

“So often, as high achievers, we get so hyper-focused on achieving the next milestone that we get lost on the things that truly matter,” said Coach Bacile. “The relationships you build, the bonds you form with those working for the same goals, and the people who help you along the way are ultimately what you will remember more than any accolade or accomplishment.” 

She added, “I am so proud of Ella Grace and Lilly. They are exceptional athletes, dedicated scholars, and true servant leaders. We are proud that they represent our Steward community.”