New Event Celebrates the Contributions of Prep for Prep Alumni

On Thursday, April 7, Prep alumni, staff, and other community members gathered at Sotheby’s for the inaugural Celebration of Alumni Leaders. The new cocktail-party event was created to honor Prep for Prep’s dedicated alumni volunteers and generous alumni donors. 

During the event’s program, Director of Alumni Affairs Renata Henry (XXII) shared impressive data about alumni involvement and impact during the 2020-2021 program year: 

“Everything you do for Prep matters and we really, really appreciate you,” said Renata. “The support you have given has and will have a lasting effect.”

Prep for Prep CEO Ruth Jurgensen reiterated the organization’s gratitude. “Prep alumni are critically important ambassadors for Prep for Prep…. You are incredibly important to this organization. Please continue to be ambassadors for the mission that is so critically important to this day. Thank you for all that you do.”

Ruth shared a preview of the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which was created with the input of and will be executed with the help of many Prep alum. She also shared plans for a new entrepreneurship program that will debut this summer. (Stay tuned for details about both.)

Every year, the Alumni Prize is awarded to an alum who has gone above and beyond in service to and support of Prep for Prep. The 2021 Alumni Prize was presented to Amanda Boston, PhD (XXII), who is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. “For over 10 years, Amanda has impacted every aspect of the Prep journey as a volunteer, staff member and mentor,” said Renata, during her introduction of Amanda. (See Amanda Boston (XXII) Recognized as 2021 Alumni Prize Recipient For Her Service to the Prep Community.)

William Huang, recipient of the 2020 Alumni Prize shared a story about his experience with Amanda. “I was tasked with creating a one-pager for alumni elections…. I remember Amanda having just this encyclopedic knowledge of the Alumni Council. I could tell that you really care about Prep and that’s just a joy to see.”

“The Prep alumni roster is deep and so is our commitment to Prep, so I don’t take this honor for granted,” said Amanda, in her acceptance remarks.  “I’m truly humbled and outdone in so many ways by this recognition.”

Amanda was joined at the event by her parents, two siblings, and many friends and loved ones. Also in attendance were the fourth grade teacher who recommended her for Prep for Prep and a beloved high school teacher who cultivated her love of language.

“I continue to volunteer with Prep not just because of all the organization has given me, which is so much, but because its founding vision still resonates very powerfully,” said Amanda. “Every child deserves access to quality educational experiences. Racial and class disparities in educational outcomes reflect broader structural inequalities in society rather than some sort of inherent inequality in individuals’ and groups’ talents and acumen. The persistence in educational inequality is a problem that humans have created so it's on all of us to play a part in leveling the playing field, through whatever time, talent, skills and resources we have to offer, however big or small they may seem.” 

Amanda announced that she would be donating her $5,000 prize to help strengthen Aspects of Leadership, the required leadership curriculum for all Prep for Prep high school students. 

Many thanks to Prep for Prep trustee Charles F. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Sotheby’s, for hosting the event and Eric Rothfeld, CEO of REI Capital LLC, for his steadfast support of alumni and the Alumni Prize.