Eleanor Noell ’04 was the quintessential Episcopal alumna. A standout student, athlete, leader, and friend, she thrived during her four years at The High School. After her death in 2016, her older siblings, Nell Noell Byrd and Davis Noell, began to consider how to honor her memory. One thing was certain, they said — it had to include education.

Despite not attending Episcopal themselves, Byrd and Noell saw firsthand the positive impact the experience had on their beloved younger sister. “Episcopal gave Eleanor so much strength and confidence,” Noell said. While he was working his first job in New York City and Byrd was finishing college at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Eleanor was paving her own way at EHS, making deep friendships and finding a true home on campus.

Byrd and Noell included their spouses, Rusty and Stacey, and their parents, Charlie and Paula, in the conversation, and the family quickly came together to establish the Eleanor Carraway Noell ’04 Scholarship. The Noell Scholarship grants will be awarded to female students who begin their EHS journeys as freshmen, exhibiting outstanding character and academic achievement in addition to demonstrated financial need. Recipients will be eligible to receive the grant through Commencement. With the initial scholarship awarded in the 2024-25 school year, there will always be an Eleanor Carraway Noell ’04 Scholar at The High School to honor her memory.

The Noell family hopes that the scholarship grants will provide future female students with the same opportunities Eleanor had while at Episcopal. “Eleanor would want whomever receives these scholarships to find their purpose and always follow what they believe in,” Byrd said. As Eleanor did so beautifully throughout her life.