Blue Jay Alumni
historically great
Our Alumni Families
We’re proud that our community includes a little under five decades of alumni! More than one-thousand families have been members of our school. Some families have even had multi-generational attendance!
Our members complete their time at our school well-versed in the many options for elementary school and pursue every kind of elementary school education for their children. Many enroll in their local public school, some request in-district transfers, others choose private school, charter school or home school.
No matter the option they choose, our alumni families guide their children into the next phase of education with confidence and skills and continue to be engaged contributors to their child’s education.
Alumni Families - Contact Us!
We love to stay connected to our alumni students and parents! Whether you graduated from Saint John Preparatory School last year or 40 years ago, we’d love to hear what you’re doing and let you know what’s happening at SJPS. We hope you want to keep in touch with us, too!
Follow us on social media to keep up to date with what’s going on at SJPS. We invite you to share your email address with us so you can become part of our alumni database. Send your email address and/or any news you’d like to share with the Saint John Preparatory School community to saintjohnprek@gmail.com.
Notable Alumni
Professional Athlete
Listen to what A’ja says…
A'ja Wilson, c/o 2002
Wilson, granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Roscoe Wilson, Sr. founder of Saint John Preparatory School, is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and is currently a forward for the Las Vegas ACES women’s national basketball association (WNBA) team.
Wilson, was born to Roscoe and Eva Wilson. She graduated from Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in 2014. She attended the University of South Carolina, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She represented the Gamecocks as a forward in basketball.
Wilson helped lead the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship in 2017, and won the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player award. In 2018, she won a record 3rd straight SEC Player of the Year award, led South Carolina to a record 4th straight SEC Tournament Championship, became the all-time leading scorer in South Carolina women’s basketball history, and was a consensus first-team All-American for the third consecutive season. Wilson swept all National Player of the Year awards (Wade, AP, Honda, USBWA, Wooden, and Naismith) as the best player in Women’s College basketball for 2018.
Wilson is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Owner, Author & Educator
Ashlye Wilkerson, c/o 1988
Wilkerson, is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and is a much sought after speaker, author, and trainer.
Ashlye holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Winthrop University and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Hampton University and currently pursuing a PHD in Education from the University of South Carolina. She is the C.E.O. of Learning Adventures, Inc. and the founder of The Magic of Learning Foundation. The foundation programs include Men Supporting Learning, Tori R.E.A.D.S., True Beauty and The Gift of Giving.
Ashlye has previously released two children’s books, Tori Finds Shapes All Around and Tori Finds Colors All Around. Her newest children’s book is Tori Explores South Carolina, which was adopted by the City of Columbia Together We Can Read Initiative.
Ashlye is a former kindergarten and first grade teacher from Richland School District One public school system in Columbia, South Carolina. She is currently a member of the Board of trustees for Winthrop University and the owner of Wind and Design Columbia and Victory Executive Suites. Ashlye regularly conducts professional development trainings for early childhood teachers and directors.
Ashlye is a recipient of Cambridge Who’s Who Among Professional Women, ASCD Outstanding Young Educator nominee and participated in the International Missions on Education in Australia. She currently serves on the Eau Claire Promise Zone Board , Heyward Foundation Board, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Young Leader of Society member, Columbia Business Monthly Top 35 under 35 award recipient, the founder of the Brookland Baptist Church Deaf, and Hard of Hearing Ministry, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Vice President of Business Development & Government Relations
Mike Adams, c/o 1978
Adams, is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and is currently the Vice President of Business Development & Government Relations of Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC and is recognized in his local and national communities as a visionary, mentor, entrepreneur, family man and servant leader.
As an entrepreneur, Mike has been acknowledged as a “need-to-know-person” in business marketing, direct sales, and idea generation. He provides pro bono consulting for beginning businesspersons and strives to build value-added relationships in the business and social communities. He’s also the co-founder & managing partner of a consulting company (TAGUS) that assists small-med businesses with human capital & supplier performance solutions.
Educated & experienced in the areas of human resources, operations management and engineering, Mike provides senior leadership in helping organizations maximize results while developing a dynamic culture and empowering people.
Mike is very active with civic leadership, holding several local positions that address socio-economic issues, education and humanity. More notably, Mike is a spiritual and devoted family man – blessed with a beautiful wife (Kosha) and two children.
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The Honorable DeAndrea Benjamin, c/o 19**
Benjamin, is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, born in 1972 to Donald and Adrienne Gist. She is married to the Stephen K. Benjamin, Attorney and former Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina. The Benjamins have two daughters.
Judge Benjamin attended public school in Richland County and graduated from Columbia High School in 1990. She enrolled in college at Winthrop University in 1990 and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts. While at Winthrop, she was inducted into the Political Science Hall of Fame and received the Order of the Omega.
Judge Benjamin went on to attend Law School at the University of South Carolina and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1997. While in Law School she served on the Student Government Council and was selected as a Kellogg Child Welfare Fellow. She was admitted to the South Carolina Bar on November 18, 1997, the SC District Court in September 2001, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in November of 2002, and United States Court of Appeals in 2023.
Following law school, Judge Benjamin clerked for the Honorable L. Casey Manning. Upon completing her clerkship, she began her career as a Prosecutor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office. In 2001, she joined her father’s law firm, Gist Law Firm, where she practiced until being elected to the Circuit Court bench on February 2, 2011.
She has served on the Juvenile Parole Board (2001-2004) and as a Municipal Judge for the City of Columbia from July 2004 until April 2011.
Judge Benjamin has been continually active on the bar and in the community. She has served on the SC Bar Board of Governors, SC Bar House of Delegates, SC Bar Young Lawyers Division (Chair 2006-2007), Children’s Law Committee (Chair 2010 –2011), Richland County Bar Association, SC Black Lawyers Association, SC Women Lawyers Association, and Appleseed Legal Justice Board. As a young lawyer, Judge Benjamin, was highly active in the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. She served as District Representative for South Carolina and the Virgin Islands and served on various committees.
Judge Benjamin has served on the Edventure Children’s Museum Board, Sexual Trauma Services Board, Congaree Girl Scouts Board, Arts Council, USC Community Advisory Board, North Main Street Redevelopment Advisory Committee, and SAINT John Preparatory School Foundation Board. She is a member of the Columbia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America.
Judge Benjamin and her family attend Saint John Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
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