Athletic Turf and Field Manager Mark Roberts has made Steward history—the School
has won Field of the Year in the school/parks and recreation category from the Sports Turf Managers
Association (STMA) for the baseball field. This prestigious award is a first of its kind for Steward, and it is
the result of Roberts’ hard work in maintaining the field. Roberts accepted the award on Steward’s
behalf at an awards presentation in January.
On Saturday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m., Roberts will be honored for his achievement prior to Steward’s
home varsity baseball game against Bishop Sullivan.
Roberts said that this award “should bring a fair amount of attention to Steward, and that’s why I do it.”
As part of the baseball program, he trains the players to maintain the field, giving each student a regular
job—such as packing the mound or taking care of home plate—following all practices and games. As a
result, he says, “We get games in when others don’t…because our field can be put back to game
condition so readily.”
“My goal is for these kids to get as close to a college or professional field as they will find,” Roberts says.
After a 15-year career spent in the athletic fields business in one aspect or another, he knows his turf.
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The Steward School is an independent, coeducational, nonsectarian day school for 630 students in JK-12
and is located in western Henrico County. Since its establishment in 1972, the school’s mission has been
to prepare each child for college and for life. Core character values include honor, responsibility, and
achievement, balanced by caring and respect for oneself and for others. Steward is committed to small
classes and small overall size, which allow for discovery and development of each student’s unique talents
and passions, while providing more opportunities for individual participation. The school cultivates an
environment with a diversity of talents, abilities, cultures, and backgrounds to provide the richest and
most fully rounded educational experience.
