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TAMPA PREP ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Chelsea Nauta '07 addressing the Class of 2018

Connect

CONNECT WITH CLASSMATES

As a Tampa Prep graduate, you’re automatically a member of our Alumni Association – nearly 4,000 strong! – with access to the BRAND NEW Tampa Prep Network online community, a range of events, a dedicated e-newsletter and social media presence, and other resources for alumni. 

Alumni play an important role in Tampa Prep traditions like Terrapin Day, the annual All-Class Reunion and so much more. The Development Office facilitates these and other opportunities for alumni of all ages to connect, engage, network and, above all, have fun with fellow Terrapins!

As President of the Alumni Board, I personally invite you to reconnect in the ways that make sense for you. Events and guest speakers at school are going virtual in the short term, while we all do our part to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve also launched the Tampa Prep Network, a platform for alumni to share information and opportunities, strengthen personal and professional networks, and support each other and the school. We hope you are well and look forward to seeing you digitally for now… and in person when we are back to our regular calendar of in-person events!

— Chelsea Nauta ‘07, President of the Alumni Association Board, pictured above giving a speech at the Class of 2018 Commencement at the Straz Center for the Arts.

Engage

Just like Lee, we hope you’ll tell us what you’ve been up to! Engaged members of the Alumni Association work closely with the School’s Development Office to provide you with opportunities of interest both socially and professionally. Got a new job or promotion? Got engaged or married? Had a baby? Want to tell us what you miss most or how Prep helped you grow? Join the Tampa Prep Network to share your news.

Other Ways to Get Involved

We know things are different right now, but Prep still needs you! There are many ways to get involved that don’t require a visit to campus. Please contact Maggie Thomas, Director of Donor Engagement, at mthomas@tampaprep.org to learn more about the opportunities below.

  • Join the Tampa Prep Network
  • Share job openings or internships at your company with other alumni (and seniors!)
  • Serve as a guest speaker or panelist
  • Mentor a young alum or current senior
  • Attend an athletic event virtually
  • Answer questions about your college, career or employer
  • Make introductions for other alumni to your professional network
  • Host an alumni event
  • Nominate yourself or someone else for the Alumni Board
  • Connect with a class or student club in your area of expertise
  • Volunteer to help another alum with resume review or interview preparation
  • Support Tampa Prep by sponsoring an event or contributing to the Annual Fund through the Red & Gold Society

MEET OUR ALUMS

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“When I remember my days at Tampa Prep, I remember the teachers who cared about me. Tampa Prep teachers don't want to see a student fail, and they do everything they can to help. I also credit an alumni networking connection for my current project, Hall on Franklin. After graduation, I played basketball overseas and eventually I came back to Tampa looking to work while I applied to law schools. I started working at a company named Realnet that would buy and flip "ugly" houses to investors for a finder's fee. I ended up flipping over 150 houses before branching out and starting my own real estate firm. Ultimately, if you're finding houses for people you might as well finance the transaction, so I then started a mortgage company.”

Jamal Wilson '93Owner and Developer, The Hall Properties
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“In high school minutes moved slower than molasses; now I blink and a half a decade is over. I donate to Tampa Prep because I'd give anything to go back to those painfully slow adolescent moments that truly mattered. I donate to Tampa Prep because this institution makes the most of every moment for each Terrapin. I donate so students can think beyond the correct answer; create masterpieces in clay, equations, melodies and test tubes; be themselves with confidence as they foster friendships; aspire to excellence through adversity and to go beyond the walls on West Cass Street with a sense of purpose. I donate to Tampa Prep because each of these five pillars provided the foundation for where I am today.”

Grace Fredlake O'Bannon '09East Coast Region Manager, Nutiva Inc.
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“I first came to Prep as a student only a few years after we immigrated from Russia to the U.S., and we were still going through very rough times. My family was amazed that not only was I admitted but I received the financial assistance I needed. Tampa Prep gave me a good early push toward my career path as a college professor and researcher, for which I am grateful. While there are many great causes in the world, I've come to realize that education is the one closest to my heart. My donation to the Annual Fund will help today's Tampa Prep students achieve their goals.”

Zak Mesyan '97Associate Professor of Mathematics, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
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“Even though I am no longer in Tampa, I give to Prep because I feel that the school and the coaches and teachers associated with the school gave a tremendous amount to me during a very formative stage of my life. Part of my experience was made possible by the donations of others. As time has passed, I have continued to realize how much value I received from my Tampa Prep experience and I feel that contributing what I can to help provide a similar experience for others is the right thing to do.”

Steve Trundle '86President and CEO, Alarm.com
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“I have fond memories of friends and faculty from Tampa Prep and I believe the school prepared me well for college and beyond. I hope my contribution helps ensure the school can continue providing a rigorous, diverse and caring environment for many students in the future as well.”

Jay Wiley, '96Chief Marketing Officer, Vohra Wound Physicians