UPrep Alums Lead Lives of Distinction

Six alumni talk about the impact of a UPrep education

Each June, we honor our seniors as they graduate and transition toward the next step in their journey. It is a time of celebration. What we rejoice in even more, though, are the lives of distinction our Pumas lead post-college. In fields of employment ranging from medicine and the legal domain to education and global affairs, the career paths of our 2,000+ alumni are as broad and diverse as our student body at UPrep. Yet the common thread that all our alumni share is a mixture of courage, self-awareness, integrity, and curiosity, along with a commitment to making a difference.

We have a saying at UPrep: Once a Puma, Always a Puma. This rings true for our alumni. Although they are no longer on campus every day, alumni play an invaluable role in our school’s history and future. We invited a few of our alums to talk about the impact that a UPrep education has had on their career and life journey:

Taha Ebrahimi ’97, Director of Tableau Public, graduated from Whitman College

“The teachers at UPrep sparked my curiosity and gave me permission to be creative. The small class size mattered a lot because that’s how I learned to express myself and not be afraid to talk out loud. We were also treated like what we had to say mattered.

UPrep was a great place for learning how to be curious and how to think. One of the key parts of innovation is being open to possibilities. The ability to think creatively is also what led me to get interested in using data to communicate effectively–which led me to my current work at Tableau.”

Priyanka Jain ’12, Co-founder and CEO of Evvy, graduated from Stanford University

“The small classroom dynamic and discussion-based classes were critical in exposing me to different ways of thinking and multiple perspectives. Through class discussions, it was clear that there isn’t just one way to approach the world, and issues don’t have only one solution.

In journalism and Mock Trial Club, I began developing my communication skills–one of the most important skills for my job as CEO. Through journalism, I learned how to communicate concisely; through Mock Trial, I learned the importance of making crisp arguments and thinking on my feet.”

Idalia Kaplan ’16, fashion designer, stylist, artist, and sketch writer, graduated from the Fashion Design Program at the Pratt Institute

“The adults at UPrep created a supportive, encouraging environment. I became comfortable being an individual at UPrep and straddling many worlds. I loved being in the art room; I played soccer, basketball, and softball; and I danced and sang at every Music Day.

I learned you can have totally different experiences from someone, but you can always find something in common and you can always have a good conversation. Making friends in different spaces is always beneficial, and a necessary skill for making connections in the creative field.”

Al Merati ’82, Chief of Laryngology at University of Washington Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Center, graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine

“The ethos of UPrep is to be connected to the community and to look out for each other. I took to heart the idea that the world I would be entering is impacted by my thoughts, words, and actions. We are all best served if we act as citizens and consider our community. That idea of social responsibility has always been part of UPrep, and for me, it has always been about doing good work together as a community.”

Nick Sage ’16, Speechwriter for U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer, graduated from Claremont McKenna College

“I discovered my love of history at UPrep. The entire History Department was fantastic. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was laying the building blocks of my speech writing skills set through my classes and activities at UPrep. That includes writing and delivering my first speeches: one for a Veterans Day Assembly and another one for the commencement ceremony.”

Linnea Soo ’14, Program Manager at Microsoft and member of Seattle-area Ultimate Frisbee team, BFG, graduated from Whitman College

“The UPrep Ultimate team was a welcoming and safe place for me to try something new; I’d never played before and ended up playing all four years. Playing at UPrep opened doors for me to coach youth teams, make lifelong friends, and eventually try out and play for national teams.

I was a quiet, shy child and my parents were excited for me to attend UPrep because it was a small, supportive school. I learned how to ask for help, which is often hard for people in marginalized communities, and that really has helped in college and my career.”