PREP 9 XXXVIII Marks Milestone with Commencement Celebration

Serving as Master of Ceremonies was Hugo V. (P9 XXXVIII/The Hotchkiss School), who guided a program featuring remarks from new Prep for Prep CEO Diahann Billings (VI/Grace Church ’86, Poly Prep ’90, Yale ’94) JD, Columbia ’02 as well as the presentation of academic and achievement awards. 

This year marked Diahann’s first PREP 9 commencement as CEO, and she used the moment to share a deeply personal message with the students. “A Prep alum asked me why I returned. And my simple answer I gave him, I'm going to give to each of you now. You. I returned because of you.” She went on to affirm the students’ power to create change, reminding them, “We are leaders and we make great things happen.” Her words set a tone of pride and purpose that carried throughout the evening’s celebration.

Samiha T. (P9 XXXVIII/Phillips Academy Andover) delivered the student address, celebrating the camaraderie and teamwork that defined her contingent. “This contingent has shown me what it means to work as a team and to be in this together. I love how willing we are to help one another out. Let us all remember to hold on to the connections that make us who we are as we take our next steps…. Now, we will carry our excellence through our respective boarding schools as we enter this new phase of our lives. Even as we go our separate ways, Prep will always be home.”

As part of the tradition of inviting a faculty member to speak, students selected science teacher Lucien Kouassi, who praised their resilience and determination. “You are leaving PREP 9 not just with skills, but with the ability to shape your own future. You're proving that you can push past the limit, lock in strength, and inspire others along the way.”

The evening also included the ceremonial handoff of the PREP 9 book, a symbolic passing of the torch from one contingent to the next. Samuel A. (P9 XXXVIII/Phillips Exeter Academy) and Salali S. (P9 XXXVIII/Phillips Academy Andover) presented the book to Temilola O. and Aiden P. of Contingent XXXIX, continuing a tradition that links all PREP 9 students across generations.

Certificates were then awarded to each student by Prep advisors, with warm congratulations from Diahann, Akintoye, and Director of Academic Programs Nikole Smith, who celebrated the students’ hard work and growth.

The program concluded with students performing two songs under the direction of choral director John Danny Madden: “Celebrate the Differences” and Bruno Mars’ “Count on Me.”

This fall, PREP 9 XXXVIII students will attend the following boarding schools:

Choate Rosemary Hall
Church Farm School
Concord Academy
Deerfield Academy
Frederick Gunn School
George School
Groton School
The Hill School
The Hotchkiss School
The Lawrenceville School
The Loomis Chaffee School
Middlesex School
Milton Academy
Northfield Mount Hermon
Phillips Academy Andover
Phillips Exeter Academy
St. Andrew’s School
The Taft School
Westover School
The Williston Northampton School