Knightly News

“Trust yourself.”

“Don’t get down on yourself. Things can change very quickly.”

“Know when to reach out and get help.”

“Utilize your advisors.”

Episcopal’s young alumni shared meaningful advice with current Upper School students at the school’s first Young Alumni Day. Alumni offered advice for finishing high school strong and achieving goals in college and beyond. Thank you to the following alumni who volunteered their time to current students.

Sophie Arnold ’25 – Tulane University, Journalism
Harper Doer ’19 – Schwarzman Scholar, Louisiana State University, International Law
Glynes Hill ’24 – University of Georgia Honors College, Mathematics
Miniya Malone ’25 – Princeton University, Public and International Affairs
Reed McMains ’24 – University of Virginia, Math and Business
Ava Rose Robertson ’25 – The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Economics and Art History
Hayden Singh ’24 – Lehigh University, Electrical Engineering and Finance
Lily-Kathryn Watts ’25 – New York University Neuroscience and Theatre

Advice on Preparation, Logistics and Necessities

The day began in the Visual & Performing Arts Center, where members of this year’s Student Council moderated an alumni panel with the entire Upper School student body. Alumni answered questions about their first few semesters of college, the college search process, their most valuable Episcopal lessons and advice on what they wished they had known about the college experience. Afterward, the graduates joined Head of School Dr. Carrie Steakley and administrators for lunch in the Alumni House. The discussion provided school leadership with insights into what graduates experience during the first few semesters after Episcopal and how Episcopal can help prepare students for success in the next phases of their educational journey.

Later, graduates offered a more focused panel discussion with the Class of 2026 in the Alumni House Parlor. This discussion focused on the logistics of university life, including living arrangements, meals and dorm room necessities.

Building Community Beyond Graduation

Episcopal Alumni Relations Coordinator Lindsay Turner says the goal of this first Young Alumni Day was to connect current Upper School students, especially seniors, with recent Episcopal graduates who can offer honest insights. “By hearing firsthand experiences, advice and reflections from young alumni, our current students get the opportunity to receive practical guidance and tips as they prepare for this next chapter,” she says. “Just as importantly, the day reinforces the strength of the Episcopal alumni community by showing our alumni their voice matters and can wonderfully have an impact on the direction and steps we take here at Episcopal."  

The strength of Episcopal’s community was on display at the recent event, as current students greeted the young graduates enthusiastically after the discussions. Students said the panel was helpful and educational, and that they appreciated seeing former classmates. When the alumni were asked what they miss most about Episcopal, the first response was the community. The graduates noted that Episcopal’s small class sizes enable everyone to know each other and foster a closeness among classmates that is more difficult to find in a larger institution. The new graduates also miss the Episcopal faculty and encouraged current students not to take their teachers for granted.

Turner is grateful to the alumni who participated. “When young alumni choose to return and dedicate their time to current students, it sends a powerful message that the school’s mission and community remain strong - and that its graduates are eager to give back to the place that helped shape their lives,” she says. “It reflects a lasting sense of gratitude, connection and pride in their Episcopal experience, and shows that the relationships formed here extend well beyond graduation. Their willingness to give back reinforces the idea of a lifelong community—one where alumni feel invested in supporting the next generation and helping them navigate the same path they once walked.”

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.