Roman McNichols, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) class of 2026, is universally described as unflappable by parents, teachers, and mentors alike, so it’s almost surprising to find anything that could daunt him. 

In admiration, Jack Ryan, McNichols’ mentor at his Philadelphia Woodworks internship, referred to this poster child of levelheadedness as, “an ice cube … calm, cool, collected, who executed tasks like a machine.” 

This ability to face down substantial obstacles and master them recently earned McNichols an extraordinary recognition. At the end of April, His Royal Highness, British Prince Edward, personally bestowed upon McNichols and other Philadelphia-area Outward Bound participants two prestigious Duke of Edinburgh International Awards at a local ceremony.

 Founded by Prince Philip in 1956, this globally recognized award celebrates young leaders who demonstrate exceptional commitment to personal development through a ladder of challenging extracurricular endeavors and community contributions. McNichols received both bronze and silver awards from the prince. 

Matt Norcini, head of SCH Upper School and McNichols’ advisor, said,“Very few students in the Philadelphia area have met the expectations of the bronze medal. Roman’s work not only earned him a bronze medal, but a silver medal, as well.” 

“Grounded composure” and natural harmony

McNichols’ mother, Maria, describes Roman’s legendary composure as “the steady glue that holds our family together.” The tight-knit family, including father Thomas and daughter Siena (aka Birdie, also an SCH student) reside in the Andorra section of Roxborough. 

“Roman has always been an incredibly easy child to parent — focused, consistent, and even-keeled,” Maria said. “He doesn’t seek attention or bring surprises, but his steady presence and dry sense of humor are gifts, as is his kindness. He shows a measured range of emotion, and there’s a calm strength in that. Our kids are perfectly balanced — Birdie’s vibrant energy and Roman’s grounded composure creates a natural harmony between them."

Being centered is all about how one responds to life’s highs and lows. Of course, McNichols scales the peaks and the valleys of emotion like other mortals. His magic ability is his measured response — how he finds a sweet spot in any challenge, channeling it into motivation, and then skill. 

During the final portion of his Outward Bound excursion in North Carolina last summer, when he found himself climbing a 400-foot sheer cliff, McNichols literally scaled those peaks and valleys. 

“I am scared of heights,” McNichols explained, “so this activity was a challenge. The last leg of the climb had a ledge that you had to jump up and grab to pull yourself up to the top. I looked behind me and down and wondered, ‘What am I doing here?’ But I did the jump, and I cried tears of joy at the top, which I had never done before in my life.”

Norcini said of the Outward Bound excursion, “It helped Roman discover a new interest in the outdoors and a renewed sense of purpose and leadership. As a student who does not identify as a jock, Roman has, at times, wrestled with what it means to be the kid who loves woodworking, theater, and politics and not football. His Outward Bound expedition gave him another perspective on himself and his potential.” 

McNichols agreed. “Rock climbing was way, way out of my comfort zone but I overcame it.” 

Community asset

Praised for his tenacious and unwavering dedication to everything he does, McNichols exemplifies a well-rounded individual. In addition to his role as staff writer and editor of the Campus Lantern, the school newspaper, he served as captain of the SCH cross country team, volunteered weekly for several years with Friends of the Wissahickon — removing invasive species, planting trees and picking up trash — and honed those previously mentioned woodworking skills. 

Woodworking mentor Jack Ryan said McNichols is an “exceptional young man who takes directions well, needs very little oversight, and pushes himself to try new things.” The “artistic creativity” of working with hard, often unyielding wood, said Ryan, “is not in the final product, but throughout the process.” 

McNichols is fully aware of this truth. “I think my greatest accomplishment is not one specific thing,” he said, “but the continuous growth I've seen in myself over the past few years. I try to learn from every mistake I make, and I am very in tune with how I am feeling, and I try to be consistent and reliable every day.”

The “non-jock” even took up rowing this season. His mother explained that “when he and his boatmate, Marshall Minor, SCH ’28, won a gold medal at the City Championships, he celebrated with uncharacteristic excitement that surprised those who knew him well.”

Norcini sums up what makes this future leader tick. “What I appreciate most about Roman is that he dedicates himself to these tasks not because he has to but because he loves to do them.” Norcini said McNichols is “an old soul in a young body whose wisdom, focus and attention to detail tend to make him appear older. He knows what brings him joy ... and has no reservations about making the right choice over the popular choice.” 

Emotional intelligence may be the key to 21st-century leadership. McNichols, who turned 17 on May 12, seems to hold the keys to this kingdom. It appears the Duke of Edinburgh chose his medalist well.