PREP 9 Commencement Celebrates the Achievements and Resilience of Contingent XXXVII

After completing PREP 9’s 14-month Preparatory Component, students in P9 Contingent XXXVII are more than ready for boarding school. Their families and friends joined Prep staff at Congregation Rodeph Sholom on Thursday, August 15 to celebrate their accomplishments. 

Akintoye Moses, Director of the PREP 9 Preparatory Component, welcomed attendees and shared some words of inspiration and appreciation. “Over the last 14 months, we have witnessed an exceptional journey toward excellence,” said Akintoye. “When you think about your certificates tonight, remember that it is more than just your academic success, it is a testament to what happens when we bring together the highest achieving students from public and charter schools, provide them with additional resources, hold them accountable, and believe in their potential even when they might not believe in themselves.”

Naldo E. (P9 XXXVII), who is attending The Hill School this fall, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event, which included remarks from Prep for Prep CEO Ruth Jurgensen and the presentation of a host of academic and achievement awards. 

Janelle B. (P9 XXXVII), who is now an incoming freshman at the Middlesex School, gave the student address. She reflected on the community support her contingent received and shared highlights of their 14 months together. “Whether your school is in New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania; whether your mascot is a zebra, lion, pelican, door, bearcat or even the letter L (Go Lawrenceville!), we all have at least one thing in common: PREP 9. For me, Prep has introduced me to a wonderful group of people we are here to celebrate today and I am glad to call them my friends who will go off to their boarding schools and change them for the better.”

Each year, PREP 9 students select a faculty member to speak at their commencement ceremony. This year, they chose history teacher Eric Tull, who in his remarks stressed the importance and impact of little gestures and celebrated all they have accomplished. “You are a resilient generation and you know how to make the best of your opportunities,” said Eric. “...[Y]ou are ready for the future.” 

Following the faculty address, Dikko G. (P9 XXXVII/Phillips Academy Andover) and Kelechi U. (P9 XXXVII/Phillips Exeter Academy) presented the PREP 9 book, which contains the signatures of every PREP 9 student who has completed the program since its inception, to Samuel A. and Salali S. of P9 Contingent XXXVIII.

Afterward, students received their certificates, which were presented by their Prep advisors. They also received congratulatory handshakes from Ruth, Akintoye, and Director of Academic Programs Nikole Smith. 

This spring, Contingent XXXVII lost one of its members, Madina Sissoko. During the commencement ceremony, Madina’s brother Mamadou presented her certificate to their family. To celebrate her memory, nine students from the contingent performed “Dear Madina, I Promise,” prose they wrote detailing their memories of Madina and the impact of her friendship. 

The program concluded with students performing two songs: “Celebrate the Differences” and Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again.” 

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

Choate Rosemary Hall

Church Farm School

Concord Academy

Dana Hall School

Deerfield Academy

Frederick Gunn School

The Hill School

The Hotchkiss School

The Lawrenceville School

The Loomis Chaffee School

Middlesex School 

Millbrook School

Milton Academy

Miss Hall’s School

Oakwood Friends School

Phillips Academy Andover

Phillips Exeter Academy

St. Andrew’s School

St. Benard’s School 

The Taft School