The Enduring Relationship Between Trinity Prep and Its Alumni

The Enduring Relationship Between Trinity Prep and Its Alumni

Trinity Prep’s alumni story is a story about relationships. Teachers feel empowered to make the effort to know students deeply. Students are encouraged to pursue multiple passions, especially early on in their high school journeys. Graduates often return to mentor, perform, speak, and give back. Students graduate from Trinity Prep with a lasting sense of community, and giving back feels like a natural continuation. Read on to learn about why.

Helping Students Become Fully Themselves

Admissions Associate Lucy Carney, whose two children graduated from Trinity Prep before she joined the staff, commented that the school’s smaller size and integrated campus culture help students thrive as individuals rather than get lost in the crowd. Students are encouraged to explore across disciplines to truly discover what makes them tick.

“Trinity has always been about the whole person, getting through to each individual,” Carney said. “It’s the combo of academics, the arts, and athletics.”

That whole-child philosophy has lasting results for many alumni. Carney said her own children felt deeply prepared for college, especially in writing, critical thinking, classroom participation, and cultural awareness. McIntosh echoed that view from the alumni perspective, describing graduates as not only college-ready but also ready to be meaningfully involved in their communities.

“An alumna or alumnus who leaves here is prepared for college, but also prepared to be a friend, to be a mentor, to be a helpmate,” McIntosh said.

Why the Arts Matter at Trinity Prep

Trinity Prep has produced notable creative alumni, and arts education is woven into the school’s broader mission. Fine Arts teacher Janine Papin, now in her 26th year at the school, believes theater helps students learn to communicate effectively, listen carefully, and think creatively, skills that matter whether or not a student ever steps onto a professional stage. The most impressive students are not necessarily those with natural talent, but those who keep moving toward their goals. 

“Excellence is striving for that next level and knowing that there’s always something to learn,” Papin said.

Carney pointed to the arts as a place where students discover new parts of themselves. Even students who initially resist the arts often gain confidence and emotional fluency through the process of creating. She described Trinity Prep as a place that makes room for the student-athlete-artist and offers a breadth of experiences. The result is an environment where students can test interests and discover where they are called to grow

Alumni Who Model What is Possible

Trinity Prep’s alumni achievements are impressive, but what stands out just as much is how visible those alumni remain to current students. Papin regularly brings back graduates for master classes, mentorship, and production support. During the pandemic, an alumnus performing in “Hamilton” led a Zoom master class for students. Another alum who had appeared in multiple Broadway productions worked with students on Trinity Prep’s production of “Matilda.” At one point, there were five alumni working on Broadway.

High-profile alumni help reinforce a sense of possibility for current students. Denée Benton ’10, actor, singer, and 2025 Fine Arts Hall of Fame inductee, is one of the school’s most visible examples. Director of Leadership Giving and Donor Relations Liz McIntosh recalled bringing Benton back for a gala and seeing her fellow alumni gather to support her performance. 

That inspiration is not limited to celebrity. McIntosh shared that if the school issues a request for a speaker, alumni are eager to come back and share their journeys. One graduate from the Class of 2007, who is still serving in the military after West Point, has returned every year to speak with eighth graders. Across disciplines, alumni help current students imagine what comes next.

How Trinity Prep Keeps Alumni Connected

The school’s alumni engagement begins long before graduation. McIntosh, an alumna herself who first became involved with Trinity Prep events in the 1980s and later joined the staff, said the school’s family culture has remained one of its defining strengths since its founding.

“Once you’re a part of Trinity, you want to keep that going,” McIntosh said.

That sense of continuity shows up in many forms: alumni magazines that current students read, Hall of Fame inductions, regional events in cities like New York, Durham, and Chicago, guest speakers for academic programs, and alumni support for internships and off-campus learning opportunities. The network spans generations, with active alumni ranging from recent graduates to members of the school’s earliest classes.

What Alumni Give Back to the School

McIntosh noted that alumni success stories help people reconnect with the richness of their own experiences at the school, a powerful force in both engagement and philanthropy. The Fine Arts Hall of Fame is one formal way the school celebrates that reciprocal relationship. Unlike athletic recognition, which focuses more heavily on student achievement while on campus, the arts honor looks at what alumni have gone on to build after graduation. 

That spirit also comes through in advice shared by alumni themselves. As actor, director, and choreographer Eddie Gutiérrez ’05 put it, “Really take the time to do some introspection and understand why you want to go into this field of study.” Photographer and writer Pam Showalter ’72 offers a similarly timeless challenge: “Continually challenge yourself and don’t fear growth.”

A Legacy of Excellence and Belonging

For Carney, the school’s enduring strength is its ability to nurture the whole person. For McIntosh, the story is one of consistency: a loving community that has held fast to excellence as it has grown in size and diversity. Together, their perspectives paint a portrait of Trinity Prep as a place where students are prepared not only to succeed, but to return, contribute, and help the next generation do the same. Learn more about alumni involvement at Trinity Prep by visiting our website.