Grace Lu ’22 is thrilled to be continuing her academic and athletic journey at The College of William and Mary. The W+H senior golf star made it official when signing her National Letter of Intent in November and is among several classmates to earn early admission to colleges and universities this year.

“Ever since ninth grade, I knew that I wanted to play college golf. William and Mary really stood out to me because they not only had a great golf program, but they are also really well known for their academics, which is just as important to me,” said Grace, who plans to major in business while competing in Division 1 golf. “When I visited in September, the atmosphere at William and Mary instantly reminded me of W+H, where their student community felt really close-knit. Their student community/atmosphere made me feel comfortable and I felt that I could meet a lot of people and make friends easily.”

Grace is grateful for the many opportunities she’s received during her years at Wardlaw+Hartridge. While she and her teammates have become known and respected as the state’s top girls’ golf team, Grace appreciates many other aspects of the W+H experience.

“When I first came to W+H, I instantly felt welcomed and I was able to meet and create friendships with my classmates,” Grace said. “I am also grateful for the teachers at W+H. They are very welcoming and are open to any questions that students have. They also give students this one on one attention and make you feel that you aren't just another number in their class.”

When she’s not keeping up with her rigorous academic workload or making birdies on the golf course, Grace enjoys volunteering as an important part of the school’s Global Scholars Program. She credits Mrs. Nicole Nolan, Director of Global Scholars and Community Outreach, for introducing many volunteer programs including Interfaith RISE, the community food back and the school’s peer tutoring club.

“Volunteering has definitely shaped who I am today as it has taught me the importance of giving back to my community, helping those around me and strengthening my responsibility and communication skills. There's this added sense of accomplishment through volunteering and the fact that I get to meet new people is always a bonus,” Grace said.

Meet Shankari Theivanayagam ’22, who is excited to continue her academic journey at Emory University after recently earning an early decision acceptance. Shankari hopes to major in either neuroscience or biology with a possible minor in music. She plans to embark on the scientific track with the goal of becoming a medical doctor or a scientific researcher.

Shankari was looking to spend her college years near a big city and found her match during a visit to Atlanta. She fell in love with the city and was attracted to Emory because of its diverse student body. Shankari admitted to being fascinated with Emory ever since the plane carrying the first Ebola patient arrived there.

“Since then, I have learned that the opportunities Emory will provide me in scientific research are infinite. From that perspective, at Emory, I will be able to experience the best of both worlds,” she said.

As a Wardlaw+Hartridge lifer, Shankari has gained the confidence that she’s prepared to face the upcoming difficulties of college and higher education. She credited caring teachers, challenging courses, and extracurricular activities such as tennis and the jazz band as teaching her the importance of managing her time and how to best excel. She also greatly appreciated the opportunity to conduct hands-on research.

“The Advanced Genetics Research course offered not only a unique opportunity for students to work with model organisms, but also the flexibility to explore any mechanisms of organic function. I would like to give a great shoutout to my research teacher, Dr. (Susan) Zusman, for convincing me to join research in the first place and for being an amazing role model throughout my high school journey.”

Whether it’s playing first singles on the tennis team, working in the lab, or playing in the band, Shankari has found many happy places in her W+H years.

“When I am not pounding my feet on the tennis courts, studying Drosophila flies in a research lab, or happily playing on my sax, I also enjoy volunteering as an important member of the school’s Global Scholars Program. I would like to acknowledge Mrs. (Nicole) Nolan for introducing me to a plethora of volunteer programs and opportunities, such as the community food bank and Doorstep Donations.”

Shankari loves the close connections she’s forged with fellow classmates, and hopes to have similar experiences at Emory, where she will “actively engage with people who hold differing views as an essential part of my development, while sharing aspects of my own Sri Lankan, Tamil heritage and identity.”

“The little steps I have learned gradually at Wardlaw+Hartridge have opened a plethora of opportunities for me,” Shankari said. “Whether I become a medical doctor, a research scientist, or a public health specialist, I’m excited to embark on this exciting journey.”

Shreya Dharayan ’22 was looking for big things in a big city and found her match with an early decision acceptance to New York University. She intends to study biology on the pre-med track with a goal of becoming a physician.

“I knew I wanted to go to college in the city from the get-go, and New York City is a bustling place where I can always find something to do and explore new things and meet new people,” Shreya said. “NYU is a place filled with countless opportunities, and their Study Abroad program appealed to me as I love to travel, meet new people, and attain new skills through hands-on experiences. I also love how NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences gives me the opportunity to explore my career choices and provides me with ample time to consider my field of interest.”

Shreya has made the most of her W+H experience, finding new interests and passions throughout her many years at the school. She’s embraced the idea of trying new things in athletics and the arts and is now a very competitive, dedicated runner and is excited to appear in the upcoming musical production of Grease.

While she’s looking forward to the big city experience at NYU, Shreya has gained a deep appreciation for the small, close-knit, supportive community at W+H. She’s built strong relationships with teachers and peers and also credited the W+H college counseling program with providing superb guidance during the application process.

“The college counseling program provided me with the framework of selecting schools which were the right fit for me,” Shreya said. “Their emphasis on choosing the best college for each individual is very virtuous and important, because they truly want you to go somewhere where you will be happy.”

Shreya is poised to make a smooth transition from W+H to NYU. She’s heading to the Big Apple with confidence and an open mind.

“I hope to engage in insightful conversations and experiences that broaden my mind through the education I receive and the people I meet,” she said. “I want to continue my passions and hobbies, such as running and dancing, and hope to find new ones with my classmates at NYU.”

Meet Nicole Sandrik-Arzadi ’22, who is enrolling at The George Washington University as a Political Communication major in the fall. A bright young woman with career aspirations in the fields of politics and journalism, Nicole has found an outstanding location to pursue her dreams.

“Being located in our nation’s capital will absolutely prove to be helpful in securing internships and potentially future employment,” Nicole said. “I also want to be part of a lively community whose work will leave a substantial impact far beyond the classroom, and GW students are truly change-makers.”

Nicole made an impact in the W+H community in her four years of Upper School. She greatly values her opportunity to edit and produce publications including The Beacon and yearbook, which earned her accolades with the Lewis B. Timberlake Award at the Senior Dinner. She cited her Capstone thesis as an incredibly positive experience and hopes to continue working in publications at GW. 

“W+H provides its students the ability to understand global issues within a safe and caring environment.  From traveling to El Paso, Texas as a freshman to study immigration to interviewing legal professionals on false imprisonment for my Capstone thesis, the experiences I had at Wardlaw will forever shape who I am as a person and what I value,” said Nicole, who also received the James O’Halloran Global Scholar Award and the Parents’ Association Award for significant contributions to the extracurricular life of the school.

Nicole is grateful for the expertise, guidance and support provided by Ms. Sarah Honan, her college counselor at W+H. They connected and bonded throughout the application process, especially once it was confirmed Nicole would be attending Ms. Honan’s alma mater. 

“I also want to thank every incredible teacher I’ve had at W+H, but an extra special thank-you to Ms. Rooney, Dr. Lutz, Ms. Haddam, and Ms. Durham for being my support system and such formative teachers in the way I think.  Also, thank you to Mr. Brandl for believing in me and providing guidance on The Beacon and beyond,” she said.

Meet Jenelle Valera ’22, who is thrilled to be continuing her academic and athletic career at Bryant University. Jenelle, one of the state’s finest golfers, made it official when she signed her National Letter of Intent in January.

“I knew I wanted to go to a school where I could thrive,” said Jenelle, who plans to major in digital marketing with a minor in communications. “I chose Bryant because I knew it would give me the opportunity to pursue a career that I’ll love, allow me to commit to golf but also my academics, expand on my interests, and feel comfortable with my most authentic self but also come out of my comfort zone.”

Jenelle was impressed with the academic and athletic facilities at Bryant and is excited to join the university’s inaugural women’s golf team. She’s looking forward to building similar bonds with her college teammates to the W+H team that she called a “second family.”

She’s also grateful for the guidance, wisdom and understanding provided by her W+H teachers.

“The amount of support I get from the W+H teachers is going to help me in college because now I feel comfortable participating in class or reaching out to teachers for help,” she said. “The teachers are always willing to help you, encouraging you to voice your opinions and provide one-on-one time because they truly want you to succeed.”

Jenelle has evolved into more than a standout golfer during her W+H years. She has emerged as a volunteer and a leader.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities here at Wardlaw+Hartridge because the school has provided me with the skills to make an impact in and outside of the classroom,” said Jenelle, who is assistant editor of the Beacon student newspaper. “I’m thankful to be a part of the Plainfield After School Program since my freshman year because I have met amazing kids, and it gives me the chance to take action on my love for teaching others. Also being co-captain of the girls' golf team has improved my leadership skills, where I can be a person who my teammates can go to for help on or off the golf course.”

Meet Masoma Zaidi ’22, who is excited to be enrolling at New York University after earning an early decision acceptance. Masoma has not yet decided on a major but plans to focus on the liberal studies core program.

Masoma is looking forward to exploring what she called one of the “most culturally robust cities in the world” during her college years. New York City offers so many possibilities and is close to home, which made NYU her top choice. Masoma feels well prepared her for the next phase of her academic journey and confident that NYU will set her up for future success.

“At Wardlaw+Hartridge, I have always been encouraged to share my ideas by peers and teachers and have learned how to advocate for myself,” she said. “I have also spent my high school years taking academically challenging courses in various subjects that have taught me to expand my knowledge and the way I think. Though I have gotten used to a tight-knit community at W+H, I am confident that such aspects of my experience here will help me in college. Above all, I know that I have the support of my high school teachers even when I am in college.”

Masoma embraced the opportunity to try new things in her W+H years. She has a great appreciation for the school’s Global Scholars Program, which allowed her to become involved with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, to tutor refugee children through Interfaith RISE, and also to take the Capstone course which provided an opportunity to conduct her own research.

“Interacting with different people through these opportunities has helped me learn how to work with all types of people,” Masoma said.

Meet Rose Kassam ’22, who is excited to be enrolling in Boston University’s College of Communications. Although her specific major is undecided, Rose knows she wants to study communications.

“While many universities have that major under their college of arts and sciences, BU has an entire college with separate faculty, resources, and funding for communication studies and its concentrations,” Rose explained. “The student life and resources made the university stand out to me. A W+H faculty member recommended me to apply for a summer program at BU my freshman year and I was able to take two courses taught by professors and live on campus. I absolutely loved the experience of taking advantage of BU’s campus that is right in the heart of Boston. Every time I visited the school, I loved it more and more.”

Rose credits the W+H college counseling team of Ms. Sarah Honan and Mr. Chris Teare with creating a welcoming atmosphere that alleviated the anxiety many seniors were feeling. Their doors were always open to talk about anything, whether it was figuring out a college list or just working to get to know a student on a personal level. 

A Wardlaw+Hartridge lifer, Rose is graduating feeling confident about managing life in college having taken financial and life skill classes. In addition, W+H provided many leadership opportunities for her: President of Spoken Word Club since sophomore year, peer tutor, Co-Leader of Peer Tutoring Committee, Cheerleading Varsity Captain and Arts Editor of the Beacon.

“I was given the chance to thrive as a leader in various different environments, which will help me be prepared for different environments in college. In addition, I feel I was academically prepared. I was able to take various courses of interest and able to thrive with the help of W+H faculty,” she said.

Rose also gained a global perspective of the world through programs like the Global Scholars Program, which offered various courses that expose students to real world issues and dynamics without that filter. In addition, W+H provided many hands-on experiences in and out of the classroom which gave exposure to different types of learning. Some of Rose’s favorites include service trips (beach clean-ups, volunteering at the food bank), online seminars and virtual discussions surrounding the political climate in Europe (Russia, Ukraine), and refugee/elementary school tutoring. 

“I was able to learn and explore various interests – theater (musical and plays since freshman year), writing (Spoken Word, the Beacon), volunteering (tutoring),” Rose said. “I’ve grown up at W+H so it is very bittersweet to be graduating, but I know I’ll always have a home here.”

Meet Nikolette Aponte ’22, who earned an early decision acceptance to Skidmore College. Nikolette had visited many colleges over the years, including when her older sister was looking at schools, and she described Skidmore as “the nicest atmosphere and the most welcoming college.”

A four-year varsity goalkeeper for the W+H girls’ soccer team, Nikolette attended a soccer camp at Skidmore last summer and felt right at home. She was impressed with the coaches and the environment and said Skidmore felt like it was meant to be.

“My experience with my current enrollment at W+H made such a major impact on my decision,” said Nikolette, who has not selected a major but plans to study biology. “I choose my college because it was small. After all, the teacher-student ratio is just what I admire the most. I love the fact that there is so much individual attention and to have the ability to have a great education.”

Nikolette acknowledged the many difficulties posed by the pandemic the past two years. She greatly appreciates how the W+H community has been supportive and understanding in a world of changes.

“They have made every day enjoyable and most of all worth continuing my education with them,” she said. “I am proud to be a future alumna of W+H.”

She also credited Ms. Sarah Honan, Co-Director of College Counseling, with being extremely supportive and involved in every step of the process: “She was there to guide me through this life-changing experience.”

Nikolette also had a message for her peers who are about to embark on the college application process: “I would just like to let everyone know to stay humble and enjoy the process. Life is too short and you have to make the most of it.”

Meet Garry Zhu ’22, who earned an early decision acceptance to Emory University, where he plans to major in economics and statistics.

Garry was looking for a school with “a rigorous academic atmosphere and a relaxed living environment.” He’s confident that Emory is the perfect fit.

As a bonus, Garry believes Emory’s location in Atlanta will benefit him and provide abundant opportunities in his field.

Garry, an international student who has navigated some challenging times during the pandemic, credits W+H with helping him develop many important skills.

“Wardlaw+Hartridge has provided me with a diverse learning environment, enabling me to interact with different kinds of people,” he said. “W+H also taught me how to manage my time effectively. I was able to balance my academic and extracurricular activities, which is a vital skill in college.”

He also expressed gratitude for the support he received from the W+H College Counseling Office.

“I’m truly grateful to Mr. (Chris) Teare for helping with my college application,” Garry said. “He is very patient, responsible, and caring, and he helped me a lot with my essays and also provided insightful suggestions.”