In October 2023, we launched our first ever alumni engagement survey. We received more than 250 responses from our Puma alumni that spanned every decade of UPrep’s history. Through the survey, we heard how our alumni feel about their experience as Pumas. Alumni also shared how they are currently involved with the school and how they would like to be engaged going forward.

“We’re proud of our alumni and all that they have accomplished in their lives after graduation. We appreciate their willingness to make the time to share their experiences, perspectives, and insights with us,” said Claire Fallat, associate director of development.

"The thing I valued most for myself and for my kids was the individual attention that the students got from the teachers and staff in many ways and forms." –ALUM, CLASS OF 1979

Alums Feel Positively toward UPrep

Overwhelmingly, alumni feel UPrep prepared them well for college, as well as life after college.

96% of alumni in college reported that they were well prepared for college.

94% of alumni out of college reported that they were well prepared for life after high school.

Nearly 8 out of 10 respondents attributed an important part of their success to UPrep.

3 out of 4 believe in UPrep's mission to develop each student's potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world.
 

When invited to provide more information, alumni said they valued UPrep for:

–The high-quality education they received

–The relationships they formed

–The supportive and caring culture

As an alum, how do you lead a life of learning?

“It is so important to keep an open mind and to be curious. You’ll learn so much more by being curious and being open to new ideas and concepts. I’m so glad I learned this from UPrep.” –ANONYMOUS ALUM

"UPrep set me up to learn every day. I remember teachers' passion and excitement for their subject matter, and, for the most part, hard work and creativity were supported by other students. I learn and work hard every day and see my life as one that will always be a quest for knowledge." –ALUM, CLASS OF 2006

Pumas Giving Back

Alumni have returned to campus in record numbers during the 2023–2024 school year to serve as classroom lecturers, Social Justice Week speakers, athletic coaches, and LaunchPad mentors. Nearly half of the survey respondents said they would consider mentoring a current UPrep student or young alum and we are excited to find more ways for Pumas to support Pumas!

Alumni are Lifelong Learners 

Whether it is through academic, professional, or personal pursuits, our alumni are committed to leading lives of learning. One alum said, “I love to learn new things. I think the love of learning was an important thing that was emphasized at UPrep.”

Nearly 50% of alumni currently enrolled in college have engaged in, or plan to engage in, undergraduate research.

6 out of 10 college alumni have studied abroad or plan to do so.

Nearly 33% of college alumni flexed their leadership muscles in a campus club, organization, or activity. 

More than 40% of alumni have an advanced degree.

UPrep alumni who graduated from college are represented in a diverse range of occupations. Alumni reported numerous professional roles, including attorney, math teacher, actor, data scientist, engineer, acupuncturist, diplomat, researcher, reporter, investor, small-business owner, and veterinarian.
 

We Heard You

Alums provided valuable feedback about their time as students at UPrep, including their academic, athletic, and programmatic experiences. They also provided important feedback on how UPrep can strengthen our alumni program going forward.

We are delighted that our alumni program will continue to offer events on campus and regionally, and we plan to continue to grow those opportunities for in-person connections and networking. According to the survey responses, 72 percent of alumni are interested in attending a milestone reunion, and 48 percent of our alumni living outside of Seattle are interested in attending events in their area. During the 2023–2024 academic year, we held multiple events in New York City, California, and on the UPrep campus, including our annual Alumni Reunion. We’re enjoying meeting our alumni in person both locally and across the country, and we look forward to more events during this school year!

"UPrep encouraged me and my peers to grow as individuals. We were highly motivated to focus on our unique interests from a young age. Were it not for the faculty, I'm not sure I would have had the courage to pursue a creative career." –ALUM, CLASS OF 2017

There are many opportunities for alumni to get involved with UPrep. Have you considered volunteering as a guest speaker or student mentor, working as a coach for one of our teams, or joining the Alumni Board? To learn more, email alumni@universityprep.org.