When Devon Bower-Prophet arrived at Church Farm School as a ninth-grader, he felt like he was playing catch-up.
Growing up in Philadelphia, he knew he was capable of more academically, but he hadn’t yet been given the opportunity or support to fully realize his potential. The rigorous coursework, structured environment, and expectations at CFS were unlike anything he had experienced before.
“I didn’t know how to study, how to write a scholarly essay, or how to present in front of a class,” Bower-Prophet recalled. “At first, I felt out of place, almost like I was pretending to belong.”
Instead of giving up, he began watching the students around him. He paid attention to how they took notes, managed their time, and participated in class. Slowly, things began to change.
By his sophomore year, he was thriving academically. By junior year, he had advanced into higher-level courses, stepped into leadership roles, and embraced opportunities he never imagined would be available to him.
One of the most impactful experiences came when he was selected for a fully funded study-abroad program in Ecuador.
“Living and learning in a completely different country gave me a new kind of confidence,” he said. “It taught me that the world was much larger than the one I had grown up in and that I could find my place in it.”
Bower-Prophet recently graduated alongside 35 classmates as part of Church Farm School’s Class of 2026, a milestone that represents far more than a diploma.
This fall, he will attend Immaculata University to pursue a nursing degree alongside fellow graduate Ben Ibe of Upper Darby. Together, they are among a class heading to distinguished colleges and universities across the country, including Princeton University, Haverford College, Swarthmore College, the University of Pennsylvania, Northeastern University, Amherst College, Claremont McKenna College, Skidmore College, Union College, Penn State, New York Institute of Technology, and Johnson & Wales University.
Their academic interests are equally diverse, spanning nursing, aerospace engineering, business, hospitality, psychology, international relations, and more.
Bower-Prophet’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when students are given access to opportunity, mentorship, and a community that believes in them.
Founded in 1918, CFS’s mission has long centered on helping young men develop the academic skills, character, and confidence needed to succeed in college and beyond. The goal is not simply to prepare students for graduation day, but to help them discover possibilities they may never have seen for themselves.
Looking back on his four years, Bower-Prophet said CFS’s impact extends far beyond academics.
“The institution didn’t just give me an education,” he said. “It gave me a brotherhood, a work ethic, and a belief in myself that I carry everywhere I go.”
View the full gallery from the Class of 2026 Commencement at Church Farm School.
To learn more about how Church Farm School empowers young men to thrive in the classroom, on campus, and beyond, schedule a visit and experience the difference for yourself.
