Urban Prep Hosts 1st Annual Network Alumni Day 2022

By Dominick Williams Managing Editor, Bronzeville Campus

On December 19th, Urban Prep hosted the 1st Annual Network Alumni Day. This event was an expansion of alumni day, which started at the Englewood Campus. For Alumni Day, Urban Prep Alumni from all campuses and class dating back to the Englewood Inaugural Class of 2010 to date returned to speak with current student and enjoy a day of fellowship.

The event was hosted at the Englewood Campus. All students from the Bronzeville and Downtown Campus traveled to Englewood after community for the day of events. To kick off the day, students were split by class into two large groups to listen to panels of Alumni discuss their journey through Urban Prep, college and life. Alumni answered questions that students were allowed to submit via their Pride Leaders prior to the event.

Lunch was catered by Taquizas and students really seemed to have enjoyed the taco bar. Alumni had an opportunity to fellowship with their younger Urban Prep brothers and catch up with fomer classmates who were in attendance.

The day also included Kwanzaa celebrations, which were coordinated by Englewood Pride Leader, Mr. Johnny Dorsey. During the celebration, students honored women who have made impacts on their lives by presenting them with roses and a certificate. Mrs. Jefferies, Ms. Chandler, Mrs. Wilson, Ms. Childs, Urban Prep Parent Ms. Bruce, Ms. B. Hampton, Ms. S. Hampton, Ms. Robinson, Ms. Simmons, Ms. Teague and Ms. Ross.

The comminating event was the Alumni Day basketball games. Students from all campuses gathered in the gym to cheer on two games: Alumni Class of 2010-2015 vs. Alumni Class of 2016-2022 and Team UP staff vs. Current Students. Mr. Michael Taylor, Class of 2015 found his way on the microphone as the unoffical MC for each game. The excitement and energy of students cheering on their fellow classmates, teachers and alumni was heartwarming. It was a day filled with togetherness and unity as a network, not individual campuses. "What I liked most about Alumni Day was that the energy, love, and pride was definitely present and visible", said Mr. Dwayne Carter, Englewood Dean of Students.

The event concluded with Urban Prep Annual Holiday Gift distributions. Students each year recieve gifts such as Urban Prep vest, jacksets, hoodies and hats. Alumni assist with the campuses with this process.

Alumni Day 2022 was truly a day to remember and students from all campuses raved about how much they enjoyed the day of activities.

"I liked how all the alumni got to see each other and play basketball together. They were able to come back and speak to us and were able to see how they are achieving in both college and life," said Mr. Billy Haynes, Englewood Campus Class of 2023.