The Walker School

Walker Summer Camp is in full swing! Last week, Global Quest Adventure Camp spent the day serving at the market at St. Vincent de Paul, delivering donations and creating snack packs for those in need before celebrating with ice cream at Frosty Caboose! 🍦

It's just one example of how Walker Summer Programs help students explore new places, try new things and live out Walker's core values of curiosity, kindness, honesty and dignity all summer long.

The Class of 2026 gave us not one, but two incredible legacy stories this year through Walker traditions that connect generations of students.

Falon Arnold carried on a family legacy as the second Arnold sister to be crowned Homecoming Queen. Following in the footsteps of her sister, Channing Arnold ’24, Falon made her own mark at Walker as a Varsity Volleyball and Basketball athlete, Co-President of Girl Talk, Founder and Co-President of the Black Student Union, Guided Scientific Research student, and Spark Day speaker. This fall, she heads to Louisiana State University.

Before her, Channing built an impressive legacy of her own as a state standout in Track & Field and Swimming. She finished Top 10 in the state in the 400m and 200m, placed 3rd in long jump, and signed to continue her Track & Field career at North Carolina Central University.

We also celebrated a one-of-a-kind Joey T. legacy with siblings Avi Fox ’25 and Talia Fox ’26. Avi became the first Joey T. after Walker brought the mascot tradition back in 2024. This year, Talia proudly carried the torch.

Avi combined robotics leadership with competitive trampoline and now attends the University of Maryland, College Park. Talia leaves behind an extraordinary Walker resume that includes Varsity Swim, Varsity Soccer, Robotics programming lead, Thespian leadership, Literary Magazine design, and more. This fall, she will attend Georgia Tech, where she hopes to work in exoskeleton and prosthetic labs.

Both Avi and Talia are Eagle Scouts, proving that leadership and school spirit truly run in the family.

The Class of 2026 is proving that talent runs in the family. This graduating class is home to not one, but TWO sets of twins and a set of triplets, and each sibling has made their own incredible mark on Walker. 🎓✨

Eliot and Owen Axt have balanced elite athletics with meaningful involvement on campus. Eliot served on the yearbook staff and will continue her dressage career with the Rollins College Equestrian Team, while Owen, a standout rower and intern with the Atlanta Preservation Center, is committed to rowing at Washington State University after contributing to historic preservation efforts in Sweet Auburn.

Twins Isabel and Ava Sanderson have been leaders both on and off the court. The sisters competed in varsity basketball, participated in student athletic training, ROOTS, and National Honor Society. Isabel also led the girls' track and field team and set the school record in the 800m. Both Isabel and Ava received awards at The WESPYS, Walker’s Athletic Honor Ceremony, in May. Ava received “The Commitment to Care” award, and Isabel was named “Female Athlete of the Year.” This fall, Ava will attend the University of Georgia, and Isabel is headed to the University of Maryland.

Then there are the Koppel triplets, Dylan, Jason and Sam, whose impact could be felt across athletics, leadership, arts and student life. Dylan was a four-year varsity softball player, three-year co-captain, varsity lacrosse player, Hillel member, and Step Up leader, and will attend Elon University. Jason competed in cross country and golf while also participating in musical theater, mock trial and Step Up, and is headed to Tulane University. Sam contributed to the golf program and yearbook staff and will attend the University of Tennessee.

We can’t wait to see where their next chapters take them!

There is something especially meaningful about welcoming an alumna back to campus for commencement. Once seated where our graduates sit today, Dr. Kate Callahan ’97 walked these same halls, learned from dedicated teachers, and celebrated the same milestone of crossing the commencement stage. Her return to Walker was a powerful reminder that graduation is not an ending, but the beginning of a lifelong connection to the Walker community.

Now an Associate Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Kate has built a career focused on improving healthcare systems and advocating for older adults. As she prepared her commencement address, she asked many of those older patients what advice they would offer the Class of 2026. Their wisdom helped shape a message that was both practical and deeply heartfelt: say yes, stay curious, and invest in your relationships.

She closed her remarks with words that beautifully captured the spirit of Walker and the promise of what lies ahead for our graduates: “Wherever it is you go, you’ll be ready. Say yes, stay curious, invest in your relationships, and the Walker love will still be here for you.”

We are grateful to have welcomed Kate home and thankful for the wisdom, encouragement, and heartfelt reminder that no matter where life leads, our graduates will always have a place in the Walker family.

Welcome to Sams Club.

These six seniors named Sam proved that sharing a name doesn’t mean sharing a story. Each brought something completely unique to the Walker community: football, soccer, band, orchestra, yearbook, SAU, peer leaders, Step Up leaders, Hillel, NHS, Honor Council, FCA, Culinary Club, Spikeball Club… plus award-winning filmmaking, award-winning golf, indie rock bands, visual arts and Spark Day speaking.

And now this wholesale warehouse of talent is heading off to the University of Georgia, University of Miami, Virginia Wesleyan (to play golf!), University of Tennessee, DePaul University and University of Alabama.

Turns out the best thing bought in bulk this year was the Class of 2026’s Sams. Thanks for all you've given to Walker.

Walker's own Gino Groover '20 has been called up to the Majors by the Arizona Diamondbacks! Tonight, the Diamondbacks will take on the Washington Nationals and Groover will be starting at 1st base and batting 5th. Tune into MLB Network at 9:40 EST to catch all the action!

Andy started at Walker in Pre-K. “I am most proud of the connections I’ve made with both students and faculty.” His favorite memory is going on the Spanish exchange trip and the Spanish Department trip to Peru. “It was great being able to build global perspectives while having fun with friends.” Andy was on the Golf Team, Captain of the Academic Team, Vice President of Honor Council, Board Member for Model UN, participated in the Guided Scientific Research program for Public Health, was a Step Up leader and an Eagle Scout with Walker’s troop. Andy was also Walker’s Valedictorian for the Class of 2026. He will attend the University of North Carolina in the fall. Congratulations, Andy!