Prep’s Lilac Ball Raised $3.8 Million for Education and Leadership Development Programs

"I hope my son will remember from tonight that we all have a responsibility to help each other and to pay it forward. With the past as our guide, we help students here and now in the present. We work together to build these connections and communities for the future." 

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From student body presidents to varsity team captains, community service leaders to social justice advocates, the Class of 2019 represented the success that comes when talent and effort are matched with opportunity. 

Despite the many late nights of homework and the long commute from East Flatbush to the Upper West Side, sixth grade student Ashley Bodkin (XLI/Packer) shared her excitement at finding a group of like-minded peers at Prep for Prep. "I was finally with kids my age who could have fun with math problems!" She is looking forward to the many acting, singing, and travel abroad opportunities that await her at Packer Collegiate this fall. Watch her speech here.

 

High school senior Diego Flores (P9 XXVIII/Middlesex '19, Harvard) recalled the jarring adjustment between his under-resourced Bronx public school to the beautiful and bountiful resources of a Massachusetts boarding school. "Eventually, I found myself in entirely new ways: as a tenor, an actor, a wrestler, a saxophonist, and - get this - a squash player. After feeling like such a fish out of water freshman year, it was gratifying being voted School President senior year. My victory reflected my efforts to truly becoming a part of the community, even if my background was so different from many of my peers." Despite the challenges of balancing his academic and professional opportunities with helping his parents at their taco stand, Diego persevered through each challenge and is headed to Harvard this fall. Watch his speech here. 

Senior speaker Jada De Leon (XXXV/Trinity '19, Yale) and her mother Christine Duncan shared a heartfelt recollection of their Prep for Prep and Trinity experiences. They burned the midnight oil together during Prep’s Preparatory Component and each became leaders at Trinity in their own ways. Christine co-chaired the Single Parent Affinity Group, volunteered with the Prep/Trinity 40th Anniversary, and served on the Senior Class Fundraising Committee. In addition to academic accomplishments, Jada dedicated her free time to helping her communities through volunteering: Wednesday morning French and Spanish tutoring before school, Saturdays with elementary students at an under-performing public school, and mentoring a Trinidadian-American girl in her local neighborhood. They both recalled crying tears of joy when Jada was accepted to Yale. Christine remarked, "Because of Prep, my daughter and her fellow Prep seniors became courageous and championed through many obstacles, to believe in themselves and their dreams. We are Prep for life." Watch their speech here.

 

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Prep for Prep students will take their passions and leadership skills to top liberal arts and business schools, women’s colleges, and HBCUs this fall. Top college choices include: 

Amherst  4	Kenyon  3
Barnard  4	Penn  8
Boston College  4	Princeton  3
Columbia  5	Syracuse  5
Cornell  5	Wesleyan  10
Harvard  3	Williams  3
Johns Hopkins  3	Yale  8

View the full college list here.

About the Lilac Ball
Since 1986, the Lilac Ball has served as Prep’s signature annual event. It not only honors leaders with a commitment to education and youth, but also celebrates the outstanding college choices of Prep’s graduating high school seniors who host the evening’s festivities. Proceeds from the event support Prep's mission of creating a more diverse national leadership pool. All funds raised through the Lilac Ball go directly to Prep programming; event-related expenses are underwritten by the Board of Trustees.