The Alumni Service Corps (ASC) began in 2013 and today, the Seattle Prep ASC alumni are all over the map. The Alumni Service Corps is an opportunity for Alumni to return to Prep and serve the community for a year after graduating from college. You may know Ms. Metcalf, Ms. Bocek, Mr. AJ, or Mr. De La Cruz as they currently play a big part in the Prep community through the ASC program. In a similar way, Hannah O’Brien, Kathryn Barth, Alec Meden, and Emily Aleinikoff made up ASC 1 and it shaped who they are today.

Through the ASC program, these Prep Alumni learned valuable skills which helped them in their field of interest. Both Meden and O’Brien teach at a high school and they both say the ASC program provided them “vital experience in education and organization.”

O’Brien stated that “it made me appreciate all the different roles at a school besides just teachers, since we worked with sports, admissions, and the LRC, I really got a full sense of the school.”

O’Brien also learned about the dedication and love within all the faculty and staff. Faced with many tasks and not much time for themselves, the ASC members must learn to balance their time.

Meden helped Mr. Othman with video classes, edited some promotional materials for the school, and helped in the Alumni office. Emily Aleinikoff was a community minister, she co-taught Faith in Action and Disease & Social Responsibility Senior Seminar, she coached cross country and track, and she led retreats. Meanwhile, Ms. O’Brien, knowing she wanted to become a science teacher, assisted with science classes, and even got the opportunity to teach them occasionally.

Barth just finished graduate school, with a PhD in biochemistry and biophysics, is now looking for a job in a research lab. She learned to balance her time and social life because during her time in ASC, she was busy working with the LRC, helping teach AP Chemistry, coaching the rowing team, and she assisted with admissions.

Not only did ASC 1 have a busy work life, but they lived in the house directly across the street from Prep. They “couldn’t escape even visually seeing McDonnell or Ignatius” as O’Brien said.

Aleinikoff is now an operating room nurse in Vail, Colorado and she stated that as the pillar at Prep says Go forth and set the world on fire, she aims “to continually be on fire in my actions and goals.”

ASC 1 learned valuable skills, but they also made friendships which will last them a lifetime. The ASC members keep in touch with each other to this day although it is difficult as they live in different states. Over the holidays, however, they will sometimes get the chance to see each other.

When asked if they would recommend joining the ASC, both Meden and O’Brien said YES! Whether or not alumni are interested in entering the field of education, the ASC program “offers a nice transition after college, giving you time to reflect and discern what might be the next steps for you!” according to O’Brien.

Barth agreed as the ASC gave her “the chance to be involved in mentorship and to explore whether teaching was the right path for her.”

Barth enjoyed the ASC community the most, even though it was one of the most challenging parts of the ASC. Barth “enjoyed sitting down with everyone and sharing a meal, talking about our day, or watching a show on TV.” However, as the year progressed, everyone’s schedule got busier, and made it harder for the ASC to spend time together. Despite this challenge, Barth learned the value of community and how to create a balance within her life.

Aleinikoff’s favorite memories as an ASC member were leading retreats and going to the Dominican Republic with students. She said that she would absolutely recommend becoming an ASC member: “I feel so fortunate and grateful to have had the work experience where I felt nurtured, boosted, and encouraged by my new co-workers that had been my teachers, especially the other community ministers, where I truly loved going to work each day.”

Meden says the ASC gives you the opportunity to build community with other ASC members but also the faculty and staff, which is a unique experience. Meden’s final reason for joining the ASC is the one and only ASC Adviser Mr. Meza. Meden affirmed Meza by saying that he “was a fantastic colleague to work with, he combines a really high degree of skill and professionalism with a really deep care for the individual, whether that’s a student, a colleague, or a member of the community.”