“Today We Graduate, Tomorrow We Soar”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alexandria, Virginia — On Saturday, June 27, nearly 200 proud parents, excited educators, family members, and community supporters gathered at the Oswald Durant Community Center in Alexandria, Virginia, to celebrate the graduation of 21 young scholars from the Hopkins House Preschool Academy. Graduates from the James L. & Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy in Fairfax County and Helen Day Preschool Academy in the City of Alexandria were honored for their achievements as they prepare to enter elementary schools this fall.
The joyful ceremony celebrated not only the completion of preschool, but also the remarkable growth each young scholar demonstrated during their time at Hopkins House. Based on the celebration theme, “Today We Graduate, Tomorrow We Soar”, the graduates delighted the audience by reciting poems, singing songs, and sharing their dreams for the future, including becoming firefighters, astronauts, botanist, and race car drivers.
“Today we glimpsed the future, and that future is utterly amazing,” said J. Glenn Hopkins, President and CEO of Hopkins House. “These young scholars have spent the past several years here at the Hopkins House Preschool Academy developing the academic, social, emotional, and problem-solving skills that will help them succeed in kindergarten and well beyond.”
Alumna and Parent of Former Young Scholar Offer Encouragement to Graduates
The ceremony featured remarks from keynote speaker Jeanne Williams, a Hopkins House Trustee and parent of a James L. & Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy alumnus. Williams encouraged graduates and families to embrace lifelong learning and remain confident in the bright futures ahead of them and expressed gratitude to the academy educators.
“My son thrived here because of the extraordinary love, patience, and genuine care he received from his teachers and caregivers,” Williams said to the assembly. “They did not simply teach him, they embraced him, nurtured him, believed in him, and helped him grow. Their dedication helped shape his confidence, curiosity, and early foundation for success.”
The audience also heard from Evelyn Fuller, a 2022 graduate of the Helen Day Preschool Academy, who reflected on her transition to elementary school and the lasting impact of her time at Hopkins House. Sharing how she overcame personal fears and embraced new challenges, Fuller offered an inspiring testament to the confidence, resilience, and courage that a strong early childhood education can foster, demonstrating how the foundation built at Hopkins House continues to support students long after they leave the Preschool Academy.
Academy Principals Congratulate Graduates and Encourage Families
During the ceremony, Brandon Peel, Principal of the James L. & Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy, and Dr. Justin Thomas, Principal of the Helen Day Preschool Academy, congratulated the graduates and encouraged families to remain actively engaged in their children’s educational journeys as they transition to kindergarten.
“Today’s graduation celebrates the hard work and achievements of our Hopkins House Preschool Academy Young Scholars, the dedication and commitment of their educators, and the unwavering support of their families,” said Hopkins before conferring preschool “diplomas” on the graduates. “We are incredibly proud of each and every one of them and look forward to seeing all the remarkable things they will no doubt accomplish in the years ahead.”
Graduates Receive Diplomas, Backpacks, and Memory Albums
Each graduate also received a commemorative bag containing a memory album featuring samples of their work and classroom experiences from their years at the Hopkins House Preschool Academy, and a backpack filled with school supplies.
Following the ceremony, families, staff, Trustees, and guests gathered for a celebratory reception hosted by the Preschool Academy Parents’ Councils. The event provided an opportunity for graduates and their families to reflect on their accomplishments, share memories, and celebrate the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Founded in 1939, Hopkins House is one of Northern Virginia’s oldest nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening children, families, and communities through high-quality early childhood education, workforce development, and family support services. Through its nationally accredited Preschool Academy, Hopkins House provides children with the foundation they need to thrive in school and throughout life.
