Kate Maddison ’26 - I Am Grateful
Reflecting on Saint Mary’s Junior Ring Banquet, Kate says, “I’m excited to experience a tradition that dates back generations to receive my Saint Mary’s ring. I am grateful for my education and to be part of a strong legacy of Saint Mary’s families who demonstrate leadership, stewardship, and service.”
Kate Maddison ’26
Saint Mary's School Junior Day Student
Saint Mary's fosters gratitude.
As we celebrate 90 years of the Annual Fund and 145 years of the Alumnae Association in 2024, we highlight current junior, Kate Maddison '26.
Kate Maddison is a junior day student from Raleigh, North Carolina. Kate says she is grateful for the core competencies and skills she’s developed inside the classroom and on the field as a student athlete. She’s also thankful for Saint Mary’s longstanding traditions and alumnae legacy, which she’s now a part of, spanning generations within her own family.
Kate chose to enroll at Saint Mary's, drawn to its rich history, traditions, and exceptional all-girls education program. She is part of a multi-generational legacy of women graduates, each of whom shares a deep gratitude for Saint Mary’s.
Throughout this legacy, women in her family have been nurtured to grow in self-confidence, compassion, critical thinking, and leadership—qualities essential for navigating an ever-changing world. They have forged lifelong friendships that continue to enrich their lives as they also serve and steward their alma mater.
(Pictured Left to Right: Jane Purrington Maddison ’31C and Sarah Purrington ’26C)
Kate’s time at Saint Mary’s has provided countless opportunities to grow and deepen her Episcopal faith, build meaningful relationships, participate in service and stewardship experiences, and develop skills that
will serve her well in college and life. As a student, she has played JV Field Hockey and JV Lacrosse and is a member of the Granddaughters Club, the National Honor Society, and is both an Admission Ambassador and a Development Ambassador.
In mid-November, Kate had the honor of being at the induction of her cousin, Anna Prather Maddison ’28, into the Granddaughters Club. This special moment was shared with Anna Prather’s parents, John and Cason Maddison, younger sister Margaret, their legacy grandparents, Larry and Clare Garden Maddison ’64C, aunt Sally Maddison Wooten ’85HS, and Kate’s mother, Sarah Maddison.
The Maddison family legacy at Saint Mary’s spans generations and is deeply woven into the fabric of the school’s mission. Service and stewardship are deeply embedded in their values.
Kate’s grandparents, Larry and Clare, have served the school in multiple leadership and philanthropic capacities. Kate’s aunt Sally has a similarly distinguished record of service, including time on the Parents Association while her daughter Maddison Wooten ’19 was a student.
Kate’s great-grandmother, Jane Purrington Maddison ’31C, served as Alumnae Association president, while Kate’s maternal grandmother, Martha Weeks Daniel ’64C, great-aunt Blair Maddison Sloan ’59C, and great-great-aunt Sara Purrington ’26C, all helped lead and steward their school.
(Pictured Left: Blair Maddison Sloan ’59C)
The family’s legacy includes many other branches of the family tree – too numerous to name – all of whom have strong ties to Saint Mary’s and its mission.
Reflecting on Saint Mary’s Junior Ring Banquet, Kate says, “I’m excited to experience a tradition that dates back generations to receive my Saint Mary’s ring. I am grateful for my education and to be part of a strong legacy of Saint Mary’s families who demonstrate leadership, stewardship, and service.”
During this season of gratitude, we hope you will join with us and other members of the Saint Mary's community to help provide an unparalleled all-girls education experience for young women who will become our future stewards. Make your 24-25 Annual Fund gift or pledge today. To contribute to the Annual Fund, make a pledge, or a three-year commitment, visit www.sms.edu/grateful. Thank you for your partnership and for supporting today's Saint Mary's girls!
