Philip Wilkerson and Hillard McMorris’s friendship began long before careers, graduate degrees, and families entered the picture. It started in 2000, when they met as teenagers in a 10th grade all–Black Male Leadership class at Mount Vernon High School—a class intentionally created by educator Mark Holbrook to cultivate leadership, brotherhood, and accountability among young Black men. The class included both 9th and 10th graders, but for Philip and Hillard, it became the foundation of a bond that would span more than 25 years.

That origin story was shared by both Philip Wilkerson and Mark Holbrook during the 2025 Fairfax County Public Schools Alumni Hall of Fame Ceremony, highlighting not only the impact of the program, but the enduring relationships it helped foster. From that classroom forward, Philip and Hillard grew together, even as life took them in different directions.

After high school, their paths diverged geographically but not relationally. Hillard attended Coastal Carolina University, while Philip went on to James Madison University. Despite the distance and different college experiences, their friendship remained steady. After graduating, fate—and shared purpose—brought them back together professionally. In July 2008, both Philip and Hillard began working at Alternative Paths Training School in Alexandria, marking their first jobs after college and another chapter of shared growth.

Their journeys continued to intersect in meaningful ways. Both enrolled in the Counseling graduate program at George Mason University. Philip graduated in 2012 with a concentration in Community Agency Counseling and went on to build a career in higher education. Hillard graduated in 2013 with a concentration in School Counseling, dedicating over a decade to supporting students before eventually transitioning into entrepreneurship. Though their professional paths differed, their values remained aligned.

Today, Hillard lives in Boise, Idaho, and Philip’s life has unfolded along a different geographic and professional trajectory. Yet distance has never weakened their connection. They speak on the phone at least weekly, staying present in each other’s lives through milestones, challenges, and everyday moments. Their relationship has long since moved beyond friendship; they are brothers in every sense of the word. Hillard is the godfather to one of Philip’s children—a testament to the trust, love, and permanence of their bond.

Over 25 years later, what began in a high school classroom has become a lifelong brotherhood. Their story is a reminder that true friendship is not defined by proximity or identical paths, but by shared history, mutual support, and the consistent choice to show up for one another—year after year.