Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Austin Stevens
Hats off to the Class of 2026! Stroll Historic Brookhaven congratulates our neighborhood’s 35 high school graduates, who attended a variety of public and private institutions. This year’s class is smaller than the class of 2025, which boasted 52 Historic Brookhaven graduates, and mirrors national trends. The national birth rate declined in 2008, which resulted in fewer high school graduates nationwide this year.
The Class of 2026 faced different challenges than their preceding classes. Masks and virtual classes were part of their middle and elementary school experiences, not high school. They have and will continue to navigate changes brought on by AI, from its impact on education to the changes it’s bringing to the job market. Social media continues to be a big influence on and challenge for these graduates, as it impacts social interactions and mental health. Yet, we are confident these students will rally and thrive in their future endeavors.
Stroll Historic Brookhaven asked a few members of the Class of 2026 to tell us about their high school years and future plans. Here’s a small sampling of what some of our graduates have achieved and will move onto:
- Addie Alford – At Marist, Addie was captain of the state champion varsity volleyball team her senior year. She served as a member of Student Council all four years of high school, a Marist peer leader and grade coordinator, and was a member of the National Charity League. She plans to attend Georgia Tech, where she will be a psychology major in the pre-health track. This summer, Addie is getting her EMT (emergency medical technician) certification. She is the daughter of Fuller Drive residents Sloane and Brad Alford.
- Andrew Campbell – Andrew plans to study business at Auburn University. He played on the Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School varsity golf team, which captured the Area 3 Private Championship and went on to state competition. In the summers, Andrew worked at the Horizons Atlanta at Holy Innocents’ summer school. Horizons is a six-week academic program for elementary and middle school children from underserved areas of Sandy Springs. Andrew is the son of Club Drive residents Christy and Dan Campbell.
- Jackie Dwyer – This Wesleyan graduate is headed to the University of Georgia in the fall to pursue a degree in Interior Design. While at Wesleyan, Jackie was a peer leader, member of the Homecoming Court, and player for the 2025 State Champion Softball team. She served as a small group leader for Young Life’s middle school group, Wyldlife, and was co-president of the 2025-2026 leadership board for Pound the Pavement for Peter. Jackie is the daughter of Carter Drive residents Dawn and Kevin Dwyer.
- Carter Pafford – Carter graduated from Greater Atlanta Christian (GAC) School in May and plans to major in sports marketing at Samford University in Homewood, Alabama. At GAC, she was a varsity cheerleader and a member of the state champion girls varsity track and field team. She was awarded the Heart of a Spartan cheerleading character award and the fine arts work ethic award. She is the daughter of Farmington Lane residents Jeff and Kaki Pafford.
- Adelyn Plaisance – In the fall, this Atlanta Classical Academy (ACA) graduate will enter the University of Alabama with the presidential scholarship in the Honors College. At ACA, Adelyn sang in the girls’ select choir, played violin in an ensemble, was cheerleading captain and Student Government parliamentarian, published poetry in the school’s literary magazine, and was a member of the chemistry club. She and mom Louisa Berman were members of the National Charity League. Adelyn plans to major in criminology and political science. She is the daughter of Club Terrace residents Louisa Berman and Tristan Plaisance.
- Austin Stevens – Austin, who graduated with honors from the Lovett School, plans to major in finance at the University of Georgia. He was a member of the basketball team all through high school, and served as a vestry warden, Peer Assistance Leader, Student Mentor, and Bible study leader. Austin also volunteered at Open Hand and the Christopher League, and helped to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He is the son of East Brookhaven Drive residents Pat and Kathy Stevens.
- Elijah Thomas -- Elijah graduated from Chamblee High School with the President's Award for Educational Excellence and DeKalb School District's 150K Scholarship Club. He was part of Wildcat5e Robotics, a joint team for Chamblee and Dunwoody High Schools. Elijah has worked as a camp counselor for Camp Wieuca each summer during high school. He plans to major in aeronautical engineering at Kennesaw State University. Elijah is the son of Mabry Road residents John and Jana Thomas.
HEAD = 2026 High School Graduates
Stroll Historic Brookhaven congratulates all graduates of the Class of 2026 on the culmination of 12-plus years of hard work! Here’s to a successful future and best wishes. Historic Brookhaven’s 2026 high school graduates are:
Name Graduating School
Addie Alford Marist School
Julia Batchelor The Lovett School
Stark Byce Marist School
Andrew Campbell Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School
Maggie Carpenter Westminster
Bo Cary Westminster
Ben Corley Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School
Ryder Degitz Marist School
Eliza Dunlap Mount Vernon School
Alec Devlin Marist School
Jackie Dwyer Wesleyan School
Kyle Edwards Wesleyan School
Coleman Fleming Westminster
David Epstein Woodward Academy
Charlie Fowler Mount Vernon School
Madlyn Goldman North Atlanta High School
Baker Hardison Marist School
Sam Laughter St. Pius X High School
John David Linch Marist School
Lucy Linch Marist School
Maggie Mount St. Pius X High School
Carter Pafford Greater Atlanta Christian School
Victoria Pizzo Marist School
Adelyn Plaisance Atlanta Classical Academy
Jon Regnier McCallie School Chattanooga
Gavin Rivas Westminster
Whit Schoeffler Woodward Academy
Frank Shaifer The Lovett School
Anna Kate Shelton Pace Academy
Luke Stenglein Blessed Trinity
Austin Stevens The Lovett School
Elijah Thomas Chamblee High School
Ryan Wakely Westminster
Whit Webb Marist School
Ian Westfall Marist School
Editor’s note: We recognize this may be a partial list. It was compiled from resident submissions as well as our staff perusing Historic Brookhaven for graduation yard signs. If your child was not mentioned, send us an email with full name, high school, and matriculation status. We will include them in a future issue of Stroll Historic Brookhaven. Contact Lisa Wargo at lgwargo@aol.com.