St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School Earns National Recognition for Outstanding Athletic Program
Alexandria’s Saints Score Big with NIAAA “Exemplary” Commendation
ALEXANDRIA, VA – St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School (SSSAS) has earned a prestigious national accolade for its top-tier athletic program. The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) has recognized the Saints with its 2025 Quality Program Recognition at the Exemplary Level—the highest honor awarded to high school sports programs nationwide.
According to the NIAAA, this distinction celebrates schools that demonstrate excellence in implementing and managing athletic programs through evidence-based policies, high standards of professionalism, and a commitment to continuous improvement. SSSAS stood out among applicants nationwide for its rigorous adherence to ten key program benchmarks set by the organization.
“This is a tremendous honor for our school community,” said Stephanie Koroma, CAA, the school’s Athletic Director, who will officially receive the award at a recognition ceremony on Monday, December 15. The award includes a plaque, banner, and official commendation letter, and will be presented during the 2025 NIAAA Annual Business Meeting at the National Athletic Directors Conference in Tampa, Florida.
To qualify for the award, Koroma and her department completed the NIAAA’s LTC 799 leadership training course and submitted detailed documentation demonstrating the school’s commitment to best practices in high school athletics. This included showcasing institutional policies, coaching education programs, student-athlete development initiatives, safety protocols, and achievements across sports teams.
“This recognition is a reflection of the collaborative efforts of our coaches, administrators, student-athletes, and supportive families,” Koroma said. “We are proud to be recognized on a national level for something we pour our hearts into every day.”
As part of the honor, the SSSAS athletic program will also be featured in the NIAAA’s official Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Journal, the organization’s website, and its e-newsletter, with news of the achievement shared across national and local media.
The NIAAA commended the Saints for embracing innovation and setting a benchmark for others to follow. “The St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School athletic program truly deserves to be recognized for implementing and supporting an outstanding athletic department,” the letter stated. “This award assumes an ongoing commitment to research, planning, and goal-setting aimed at continuous improvement.”
SSSAS’s recognition underscores the school’s ongoing dedication to excellence—not just in academics and the arts, but on the playing field as well. With this achievement, the Saints continue to lead the way in Alexandria and beyond.
