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Sandia Prep’s Class of 2025 marked a rare milestone: Six students graduated this year with at least one parent who also once walked Prep’s halls.

For Wesley (Wenninger) Hogsett ’00 and her son, Preston Gage ’25, that connection wasn’t just a fun fact -- it was a powerful, full-circle experience.

When Hogsett attended Prep from 1993 to 2000, she remembers it as a place where every student was known. “The school placed a strong emphasis on academics, but it was also a place where creativity and individuality were genuinely encouraged,” she recalls. “I remember the campus feeling safe, open, and welcoming, with teachers who truly cared and made learning feel personal. Sports and activities were inclusive. There was room for everyone to belong. I never felt like just a number at Prep.”

Coming back as a parent was unexpectedly moving. “It’s been great to see how Prep has evolved while still keeping its core values intact. There are new buildings and a wider array of classes to choose from, but the school still feels like Prep: supportive, student-centered, and grounded in a culture of respect and curiosity,” she says.

Some of her most emotional moments as a parent came when she saw Preston stepping into traditions that once shaped her own life. “Seeing Preston's artwork displayed in the 500 Building, watching him play basketball in the gym, watching him present his senior project in the Commons, along with a thousand other little moments, stirred emotions that I didn't necessarily anticipate,” Hogsett says. “Those moments reminded me of the laughter between classes, the nerves before a test, the dances, the trips, and the friendships (many of which I still cherish). They reminded me of all the things that I loved about Prep when I was a student. But this time, I was on the outside looking in, watching Preston create his own version of those moments. There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing your child forge their own path in a place that helped shape who you are. It’s a strange and beautiful blend of pride, nostalgia, and awe.”

Hogsett went on to earn degrees in Psychology and Nursing from UNM, where she is now pursuing a PhD in Nursing. She currently serves as the Assistant Nurse Manager of Inpatient Psychiatry at the Albuquerque VA Medical Center, where she is deeply involved in the VA’s National Workplace Violence Prevention Program. She is also the President of the New Mexico Chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

For Preston, Prep felt familiar from day one. “I went to SummerPrep for several years in elementary school, so it was nice to walk onto campus in sixth grade and already know my way around,” he says.

One of his favorite memories is also one of the funniest. His seventh-grade history teacher turned out to be a fellow Prep alum from the class of 2000 -- and someone who had actually gone to a dance with his mom. “When I brought it up to him, he remembered my mom, and I thought that was unique -- definitely not something everyone at Prep could say about their parents,” Preston says.

Looking back on his own Prep years, Preston feels grateful. “What I got out of my time at Prep was knowledge and friends, both of which I'll cherish forever,” he says. “I couldn't be more grateful for the experience.”

Now, just like his mom, Preston is starting his journey at UNM. He plans to study exercise science or kinesiology with hopes of becoming a physical therapist or physician’s assistant. He also has his sights set on studying abroad in Japan or Switzerland while continuing his training and competition in Taekwondo. “I want to help people improve their athletic abilities and recover from injuries,” he says.

For both Hogsett and her son, Prep is more than just a school -- it’s a bond that spans generations. As Hogsett reflects, the legacy of Prep isn’t just about academics; it’s about the lasting connections and experiences that shape lives.

Here’s to many more “double alumni” families continuing that tradition.