Lindsey Ellison
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Her dad enlisted in the Marines and her grandfather and cousin attended the U.S. Naval Academy, so it’s no surprise that Lindsey Ellison will be following in their footsteps. An elite lacrosse player and tireless volunteer for causes supporting service members and their families, she will attend the Naval Academy this fall and aims for a career in nursing if she leaves the military.
Ellison’s father, Lt. Col. Kyle Ellison, deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and will do so again this year. Her family has moved around the country for his career and currently lives in Arlington.
“Seeing what it’s like to have a family member overseas and the toll it can take, I felt there was something more I could be doing to give back and thank [our service members] for everything they’re doing for us,” says the teen.
She started a local “Saints for Soldiers” chapter, and in 2017 organized a benefit concert for Fisher House Boston, which provides housing for military families whose relatives are receiving medical treatment. The club raised more than $20,000.
This year Ellison organized a pottery night for veterans to craft ceramics at her school and, through her church, made care packages filled with socks, granola bars and hand warmers for a Marine Corps unit based overseas. She also volunteers at Jill’s House in Vienna, which provides respite care for families with special-needs children. A cousin has Down syndrome, and she has always been drawn to children with disabilities.
“She is incredibly kind, and she sees the good in every person,” says Claire Bowes, Ellison’s strength coach for lacrosse. “She personifies what the military means.”
The Naval Academy’s athletic requirements shouldn’t be a problem for Ellison, who first took up lacrosse in sixth grade and has played goalie since eighth grade. She captained her school’s team and also plays for Sky Walkers Lacrosse, one of the most competitive programs in the region. She says she originally picked up the sport because she was looking for a challenge but stayed because of the dedication it requires. The Naval Academy’s Division I women’s lacrosse team was a definite draw.
Lacrosse “is all about coachability and mentality,” she says. “You can be the best-skilled player on the field, but you’re never going to win unless you have heart.”