HRA alumnus Zack Caulford ’25 receives a collegiate scholarship at the Peninsula Sports Club’s 2025 Headliner’s Night

Hampton Roads Academy excels at producing not only outstanding scholars, but also well-rounded leaders who are prepared to contribute to their communities in a myriad of ways. Recent graduate Zack Caulford ’25 showcased the impressive accomplishments and exceptional qualities of the Academy’s alumni when he was awarded a competitive collegiate scholarship at the Peninsula Sports Club’s 75th Annual Headliner’s Night the evening of June 23.

Supporting his studies in the coming year at Florida Southern College, the scholarship recognizes Caulford’s achievements in varsity athletics as well as academics, character, leadership, and service. Through hard work and boundless energy, Caulford has for years embodied precisely the ideals this award is meant to honor. He has channeled his love of sports into driving positive change in his community, at HRA and beyond.

A Remarkable Record on the Field and the Court

Zack Caulford ’25 celebrates his prestigious scholarship with his mother, Lower School music teacher Erika Caulford

Caulford, a Navigator since Pre-Kindergarten and the son of HRA Lower School music teacher Erika Caulford and Director of Technology Will Caulford, has demonstrated unparalleled commitment to the Academy and its athletics program. Across 12 seasons, he has distinguished himself on HRA’s basketball, soccer, and track & field teams.

On the basketball court, he quickly made his mark as a freshman shooting guard, earning the Polaris Award for his incredible effort and leadership. He similarly set himself apart as a soccer player. Starting at right back in his freshman year, he soon became the backbone of his team’s defense as center back. In his senior year, his leadership and talent on the pitch earned him a second Polaris Award, as well as the honor of being selected as a First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State player.

Caulford’s long record of contributions to HRA track & field included strong performances in 400-meter and 800-meter races and relays in his freshman, sophomore, and junior years. As a senior, he faced an unexpected hurdle when an injury prevented him from committing to running as he had in the past. Never faltering in his passion for the sport and his dedication to his team, Caulford demonstrated remarkable resilience and shifted his focus to throwing rather than walking away from the track.

Making a Difference through Athletics

Caulford’s devotion to athletics and his skill and generosity as a leader have allowed him to make an impact well beyond the practices and matches to which he dedicated so much time and energy. Just as committed to service as to team sports, he has labored since his time in HRA’s Middle School to benefit his community through philanthropic athletic activities.

One of his proudest achievements is his work on behalf of Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that provides free, life-changing cleft surgeries and comprehensive care to children around the world. To support this important mission, Caulford has coached and refereed a major charity dodgeball tournament. In fall 2024, he planned and hosted a community-wide cornhole tournament that raised an impressive $15,000 for the organization.

Most recently, Caulford organized a student leadership workshop open to the entire Hampton Roads community. At this event, he shared what he had learned as an athlete and student at HRA in order to guide others in making a difference outside the classroom and the athletic field.

Continuing a Tradition of Excellence

The Peninsula Sports Club college scholarship is a well-deserved reward for Caulford’s years of outstanding success while at HRA. It is also an acknowledgment of his readiness to apply the skills he honed through his studies and through sports to ethical leadership in the wider world—a testament to the excellence that a holistic education at HRA makes possible. The Academy could not be prouder of this pillar of the Class of 2025.

For his own part, Caulford is quick to give credit to the teammates, classmates, teachers, and coaches who helped him achieve all that he has as a Navigator. Through a long academic and athletic career at HRA, he said, “I have been able to develop and grow up with a close-knit community that has supported me every step of the way.”