APS ALUMNI

AZANIA STEWART
ALEXANDRA PARK SCHOOL
2001 – 2007

“Having a wonderful time being a commentator at the women’s Afro basketball Competition.” – Azania Stewart in Dakar, Senegal (AUG 2019)

Azania has made a career change, switching from playing the game she loves to commentating on it. Azania Stewart was part of the first British women’s basketball team to appear at the Olympics at London 2012. She made her senior British team debut in 2009 after appearing at every age group level from 16.
She won a scholarship to the University of Florida, winning a series of awards and turned professional after 2012, playing for club sides in Spain, England and Hungary. The pinnacle of her career came while playing for England and securing a Commonwealth Games silver medal at the historic Gold Coast 2018 tournament.

BEN KEMPLEN
ALEXANDRA PARK SCHOOL
2004 – 2011

I am a graduate from the University of Chichester with a BA (Hons) degree in Physical Education and Sports Coaching. I have been coaching sport from the age of 14 and have both FA and LTA coaching certificates, have experience gained at one of the world’s most prestigious football foundations as well as being a regular member of staff at an award winning local community tennis club.

I have the ability to inspire and engage both children and adults in sporting and educational activities in a way that develops their skills and enhances their enjoyment. I am a confident and sociable person who is not afraid to try something new. I am trustworthy, loyal and hard-working with a proven ability to take responsibility and use my initiative. I always go the extra mile to ensure that customers are satisfied and colleagues are supported.

The Saints community champion role is based at Redbridge Community School. I am responsible for coordinating the delivery of the Foundation’s Community and Education based programmes, becoming the central point between the Saints Foundation and the Education Provider. I ensure the core values of the Saints Foundation are fully embedded within school life, raising the aspirations of pupils and liaising with teachers and parents to promote the resilience of young people aged 10-16 years old.

Saints Foundation’s Ben Kemplen, said in the BBC’s Match of the Day Community feature: “A lot of what we’re trying to do is improve the confidence and help these students fulfil their potential. I understand we’re not going to change the lives of every single kid in the school, but if it’s just a few – their attendance improves or they’re coming into school with a smile on their face – it’s little things that go a long way in the work we’re doing here.”

The Saints Community Champion role includes creating key partnerships with other young people’s services and working closely with the Saints Foundation Project Officers to ensure a detailed monitoring and evaluation programme is implemented. I also deliver a number of family liaison and young leader’s programmes.

I also spent a year volunteering with ‘Arsenal in the Community’ where I gained immense experience as a football coach. I also achieved FA Level One Coaching and Referee qualifications, together with certificates in TEFL, First Aid, Health and Safety and Child Protection. While working on the Programme I spent time in London, Uganda and Barbados.

ABEL THORNTON
ALEXANDRA PARK SCHOOL
2004 – 2011

Abel is now working as a Graphics Operator for a company called Alston Elliot. He is responsible for the ‘live’ on-screen graphics for a number of sports channels, mainly BT Sport, Sky Sports, ITV and BBC.

The images that you see pre, post and during events are the work of Abel, including formations before kick-off, statistics for talking points of the show, naming guests and promoting other sports shows during halftime and at the end of the event.

It is a behind the scenes sort of job but critical to the prodcast and involves Abel travelling up and down the country and occasionally abroad working alongside the sound engineers, camera operators, directors and VT Technician

CHIARA RITCHIE WILLIAMS
ALEXANDRA PARK SCHOOL
2010 – 2016

Chiara is currently studying Economics in the USA with a football (soccer) scholarship. LSU freshman Chiara Ritchie-Williams solidified her reputation as one of the top young defenders in college soccer, when she was awarded All-Southeastern Conference honors as a second-team selection by the league’s head coaches on the strength of her outstanding rookie season.
“Chiara fully deserves the honor and has laid the groundwork for a great career here at LSU,” said LSU head coach Brian Lee. “She headlines a freshman class that has all the signs to make a huge impact over the next several years – five starters, several others with potential and most importantly the kind of work ethic and character championship teams can be built around.”
A native of London, England, Ritchie-Williams hit the ground running for the Tigers since first stepping onto campus in Baton Rouge for preseason training as she has started all 18 matches of her freshman season while establishing herself as one of the SEC’s top central defenders in 2017.
The England youth international and product of the Arsenal Ladies academy was among just four freshmen honoured with first-team or second-team All-SEC accolades for the 2017 season.