Ready for What's Next: The Class of 2026 Lays the Groundwork for Life After Brewster
By Kara McDuffee
For the Class of 2026, graduation is close enough to feel it. Someone in the room already had a counter on their phone.
During a recent Team with Students session, Brewster's seniors and post-graduates gathered for something a little different. Professional headshots were on offer, LinkedIn profiles were being built out, and the groundwork for staying connected as alumni was already being laid. For a class that has spent years preparing for what comes next, this was one of the final pieces clicking into place.
John Northrop, Brewster's Director of Advancement and parent of two Brewster alums himself, addressed the seniors directly. His message was straightforward: the relationships built here do not have to end when you leave.
“One of the things I take great pride in is connecting older alums with younger alums or alums to be," Northrop said. "LinkedIn is a great way to connect experienced people with questions that you might have when you get there. Someone may ask us, can you find somebody that does this, and we'll go on LinkedIn and find them. I can't say enough how important that tool is."
He was clear about one thing in particular: put Brewster Academy on your profile. The alumni network is active, and the office uses LinkedIn regularly to connect graduates across industries, locations, and areas of expertise. For seniors stepping into college and careers, that network is already waiting for them.
The session was optional, but the turnout said plenty. Students showed up in blazers. They took their headshots seriously. They thought carefully about how to present themselves to the world, not just as students wrapping up high school, but as young professionals with something to offer.
It is a meaningful shift to witness. This group has spent their time at Brewster building skills, navigating challenges, and growing into who they are. Watching them turn that experience into something they can carry forward, a profile, a network, a plan, is what the final stretch of senior year is supposed to look like.
With Commencement less than a month away, the Class of 2026 is ready.
