2018 Event Recap
In 2018, Tampa Prep’s three main alumni events — the All School Alumni Reunion, Back to School Happy Hour and Holiday Mixer — saw a marked increase in attendance and lots of new faces. Alumni Association President Chelsea Nauta ‘07 estimates that while these events pulled 60 to 80 people previously, they averaged over 120 this year.
Most recently, the November Holiday Mixer brought downtown Tampa hot spot American Social to near max capacity with around 150 in attendance. But even with the increase in quantity, it is still all about quality.
“They are fun events, but they are also highly beneficial if you’re looking to connect with amazing people,” Nauta says.
2017 Event Recap
With a diverse range of interests and whole lot of ambition represented in every graduating class, it’s no surprise that Tampa Prep alumni take their talents around the country, and even the world. That’s why the holiday season, when many Terrapins return to Tampa to visit family, is the perfect time for Prep to host an alumni social.
This year’s Alumni Holiday Mixer was another success with about 90 Prep grads spanning the School’s 43 years enjoying music, drinks and the opportunity to reconnect with friends at Franklin Manor in downtown Tampa. Alumni Board President Chelsea Colwill ’07 also used the event as an occasion to gather members of her class for a 10-year reunion. She says she was thrilled with how many former classmates, about 25, showed up. “I thought it was really fun to reconnect with my class and get to know their spouses, friends or whoever was with them,” she says.
Alumnus Miles Vaughn ’07, who was attending a Prep alumni function for the first time, says he appreciated the convenient timing of the event because it gave him an opportunity to attend while in town for Thanksgiving. “It’s great to see people you haven’t seen a while, and it’s not just the classmates but the administrators and faculty,” he says, noting the relaxed atmosphere.
Now that he knows how great Prep’s alumni events are, Vaughn has no problem recommending them to all Tampa Prep graduates. “If you’re in town, there is no reason for you not to go,” he says. “You’ll see some familiar faces.