Lincoln Prep Celebrates New Building with Ribbon Cutting

Just days before the start of school, Lincoln Prep dedicated its newly constructed expansion with a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony. The 7,200 square foot standalone building, which will primarily serve the school’s upperclassmen, will house new classroom spaces, a senior lounge, a college counseling office, a large central hallway with lockers, exclusive parking spaces for seniors at the entrance, as well as a weight room and athletics concession kitchen that opens right onto the academy’s field.

The event was well attended by school officials, faculty, students, and families who appreciated a small break in the summer sun for the outdoor event. Attendees were treated to Ike’s Love and Sandwiches Catering and beverages from Swig, who served custom carbonated drinks with a classical literature-themed names especially for the event.

Headmaster Eric Tope gave a few opening comments to the attendees before handing the microphone over to Kate Clark, a senior at Lincoln Prep, who thanked the faculty on behalf of her class. Her graduating Class of 2027 will be the first seniors to utilize the new hall.

“This new building will give us the opportunity to have a lot more unique senior events and things to do, and all of the laughs, which come with a lot of bittersweet feelings. But I think it will ultimately just be so fun to finish out this high school experience,” shared Clark. “So, I’m so excited to spend time with friends and enjoy our final year, which will come with so many big moments that’ll be, I think, really sad, but ultimately just really exciting to look back on our years here.”

Headmaster Tope said he chose Clark to speak on behalf of the student body because of the leadership she has displayed. “Kate’s been at this campus since she was in second grade. She’s going to be a senior this year, and she is a student who is incredibly talented, incredibly smart and could go anywhere and thrive. But the fact that she chose here has a lot of that has to do with just some of the key relationships she’s built over the years… She has really just leaned into leading the student culture. She’s a student mentor, making the absolute most of her time here. She’s given back so much to students younger than her and to even her own grade levels.”

The upperclassmen huddled together along with Tope under a balloon arch and behind the large red ribbon for a photo op before ceremoniously cutting the ribbon to the cheers of the attendees as confetti filled the air. It was a great moment for the school, and one that has been in the works for the last two years. You could see the excitement and anticipation in the students’ eyes as they toured the new building with their peers and families.

This new addition and growth comes at a time when many schools are announcing closures, a fact that Tope appreciates and doesn’t take for granted. He believes that the key to the steady growth of Lincoln Prep and the Great Hearts network of classical charter schools as a whole is their continued partnership with parents, an emphasis on character formation, robust curriculum, and teachers who are genuinely invested in their students.

“I think it’s a reflection of just great choices people are making,” explained Tope. “Choices of really talented teachers to teach here rather than doing something else for their vocation and choices of great families like the Clarks to be here.”

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contactjmoore@greatheartsamerica.org. 

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.