Dylan Stewart, a senior at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, will attend Morehouse College this fall to study sports journalism and computer science. His years at Archbishop Carroll have been defined by academic excellence, leadership and a strong sense of compassion, especially for his younger brother, Tyler.
Stewart, 18, is the son of Troy Stewart and Demetra Smith and lives in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. His father, a 1990 Carroll graduate, works for the Environmental Protection Agency. His mother, an engineer, graduated from Howard University.
Stewart is the oldest of two sons. His younger brother, Tyler, a freshman at Washington Leadership Academy, has autism.
“My brother’s my best friend,” he said. “He’s really reserved, kind of in his own world. But when I’m with him, it’s like we’re each other’s best friends. I want him to be himself, no matter what.”
Growing up alongside Tyler, Stewart said, shaped how he sees the world. “Having a brother with autism made me more patient, more aware of how people communicate differently,” he said. “It made me more compassionate, and I think that’s my biggest strength.”
Stewart brought that same care and focus to his time at Archbishop Carroll, which is sponsored by The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. He served as a student ambassador, played four years of baseball and participated in the Jim Vance Media Program. He is a member of the National Honor Society and consistently earned placement on the Distinguished Honors and Principal’s List. He also received the 74th Eastern Region Teen Conference Distinguished Teen Award from Jack and Jill of America.
Archbishop Carroll’s communications director Kim Boone said Stewart’s teachers describe him as focused and dependable — qualities well suited to his goal of becoming a sports data analyst.
“I want to combine data and storytelling to bring a new angle to sports reporting,” Stewart said. “That idea came from my mom.”
When Stewart entered the Jim Vance Media Program at Carroll, he was unsure of his career path. Through courses, hands-on projects and co-curricular activities like panel discussions on social issues, he found both direction and confidence.
“I learned how to tell stories better,” he said. “That’s one of the biggest skills I took away from it.”
Kim Boone said Stewart’s public speaking on topics such as social equity reflected the maturity and presence he developed through the program and the strong family support behind him.
Stewart said attending Archbishop Carroll also deepened his understanding of faith, service and justice. Though he identifies as Christian with no specific denomination, he described his first school Mass as memorable.
“The first one freshman year felt really different — so many steps, people walking in and out — but it was cool to see,” he said. “Experiencing Catholicism gave me a new perspective on religion.”
Stewart cited his Social Justice class he took his junior year as one of his most meaningful experiences. “It taught us how to serve others and advocate for ourselves,” he said.
He described Carroll in three words: “Fun, challenging, family.” Earning a spot on the honor roll each quarter helped him feel affirmed.
After applying to several historically Black colleges and universities, Stewart chose Morehouse.
“I grew up around HBCU culture,” he said. “When I visited Morehouse, I fell in love with the campus. It’s a smaller school, and that’s what I’m used to.”
Outside the classroom, music brings Stewart peace, especially during difficult times. He enjoys singing at home, a talent his father encouraged, although he prefers not to perform publicly.
“It’s a hidden talent,” he said.
His favorite subject is math. “When I understand it, it’s easy,” he joked.
Stewart values his friendships and makes an intentional effort to support others. “I like serving others and supporting my friends,” he said. “On College Decision Day, I posted every one of my friends’ decisions in my stories. I want to celebrate them.”
His advice to younger students: “Keep God in your life. That’s helped me stay humble. Humility means being true to yourself without boasting.”
As he prepares to move to Atlanta, Stewart said the hardest part will be leaving his family, especially Tyler.
“Even when we’re not talking, we’re connected,” he said. “He’s a big part of who I am.”
