Class of 2022 - By the Numbers

June 2, 2022

Waterford School instills qualities of critical thought, curiosity, responsibility, and integrity as it helps students lay a foundation for college and beyond as they prepare to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Congratulations to the Class of 2022 for their accomplishments and extraordinary efforts as scholars, artists and athletes!

Perhaps more important now than ever is the liberal arts curriculum and interactive learning environment that they have experienced at Waterford. These students will take their skills of analysis, their deep and broad knowledge of many disciplines, and their communication,reading, writing, and discussion skills into their lives as critical thinkers, scientists,humanitarians, artists, future teachers and leaders.

This class is not only prepared to excel in college but also to pursue lives of meaning and purpose in an ever-changing world that needs citizens who question and dig deeper. Students credit their love of learning to the extraordinary breadth and depth of the Waterford college preparatory curriculum and programs, and the talented faculty who provide opportunities for each student to find and pursue their individual passions. The personal interest and attention given by the faculty helped each student succeed across a broad and demanding liberal arts curriculum.

Class of 2022 celebrating after their Alumni Induction lunch

Waterford’s College Counseling Office guides and supports students as they consider an exciting variety of undergraduate options. Recognizing that this transition is important both for students and their families, Waterford college counselors work individually with students and parents ensuring that each student will have college choices that align with their interests, needs, and will ultimately be the right fit for each student. 

Acceptance rates far above national averages place the Waterford Class of 2022 among the top students in the country. The colleges and universities that the Class of 2022 will be attending show how much hard work has gone into their time at Waterford and how carefully each student sought institutions of quality across the country.  Students in Waterford’s senior class will attend colleges that are suited to cultivate their passions and will continue to challenge them to succeed and excel in all of their future endeavors.

In an admissions climate where many selective colleges are seeing increasing numbers of applications and thus lower admission rates, Waterford students continue to do well in admissions. A number of factors contribute to their success, but an important factor is that colleges know they are academically well-prepared, reflected in many parts of the application. The integrity and rigor of our academic program is seen and understood, and the preparation Waterford graduates have shown on their campuses in the past are important factors, as well as the self-reflection and writing abilities our students show in the application process. The strength and depth of the Waterford Class of 2022 was reflected in the quality and diversity of the students’ acceptances: our 81 students were accepted at 146 different colleges and universities. Students work one-on-one with our counselors to discover and gain admission to colleges where they will thrive.

Sari RauscherDirector of College Counseling

Waterford’s emphasis on excellence fosters a culture of intellectual growth present in every member of the student population. By being a part of a community that shares a love for knowledge, I believe Waterford will prepare me as I apply the values I have learned next year in college.

Lalith SureshSwarthmore College Class of 2026

Laileth heads to Swarthmore this fall. While at Waterford he was a fierce on the tennis court, winning multiple state titles and earning national rankings, but also  was capable of compassion and support for the marginalized, urging us all to do and be better. Lalith learned, painted, and wrote in order to understand and illuminate the challenges we all face together. As co-President of community service, he created opportunities for us all to move toward that better world he also helped us see.

Lalith Suresh ’22, Swarthmore College ’26

My Waterford experience was significant in preparing me for my transition to college. After entering an entirely new community as a freshman, being accepted so quickly and with such warmth gave me confidence in my ability to find community wherever I would take my next steps. The Waterford faculty and curriculum provided a balanced educational experience that allowed me to explore my interests and shaped me into a well rounded student but also most importantly, a well-rounded person.

Gia RinellaYale University, Class of 2026
Gia Rinella ’22, Yale Universiity ’26

Gia Rinella is a Cum Laude Society scholar and Dance department prize winner at Waterford. She was also a leader in debate and Ethics Bowl, worked with Sandy City Youth Court on restorative justice programs, and used proceeds from her own custom clothing business to provide resources to underserved communities. Ever humble, she looks ahead to the more that must be done, and will begin at Yale in the fall.

It is no secret that Waterford pushes us academically, however, I can confidently say that I have been pushed in every aspect of my life to be the best that I can be. From coaches that helped me excel in sports, to art and music teachers who would not let me give up if I was performing at any level that I wasn’t satisfied with. All of the faculty encouraged me to find the balance between pushing my own limits and understanding what I am truly capable of. I have no doubt that the opportunities provided to me at Waterford have prepared me for the next step in college and life as I continue to acquire knowledge in as many ways as I can.

Caroline LotuleleiBYU Class of 2026

Caroline Lotulelei will head to Brigham Young University in the fall. While at Waterford, she embodied a life of meaning and purpose. She made others feel noticed, welcome, and appreciated, simply by taking an interest in their lives. Animated by service, she organized and executed a memorable fundraiser for Tongan tsunami relief, sang with the Troubadours, shared insight in the classroom, or lead to victory on the courts and playing fields.

Caroline Lotulelei ’22, Brigham Young University ’26

The college counseling team at Waterford helped me every step of the way—from writing recommendation letters, spending hours going over essay drafts, helping me get in contact with admissions officers, and even offering to meet after I submitted all my applications as decisions came out. I’m super grateful to Ms. Miyashima for always being supportive and encouraging throughout the long college application process. I was pretty sure from the start that I wanted to go to a smaller liberal arts college similar to Waterford, that had a strong pre-med and political science program. Davidson fit all my criteria, but it wasn’t even on my radar until Ms. Miyashima suggested I apply because they offered a few larger merit-based scholarships (finding a college that fit my needs financially was also important to me). I was offered the Belk Scholarship—covering tuition as well as room and board all four years—which made Davidson even more appealing. I decided to fly out, and I really liked the campus, the academics, and the people I met there so I decided to commit!

Neve RauscherDavidson College, Class of 2026
Neve Rauscher ’22, Davidson College, Class of 2026

Neve personifies excellence, one of Waterford’s core values. She was a student body officer and Cum Laude Society scholar, and she challenged herself with the hardest courses, and thrived through talent and hard work. Neve is also an exquisite dancer and sculptor. Always ready for new experiences, she has endless curiosity and drive that will serve her well at Davidson and beyond.

Waterford has not only prepared me academically for the rigor of college, but it has also prepared me socially as well. Because of Waterford, I know how to create good relationships with my teachers and professors, I know how to ask for help, and I know how to apply myself in challenging situations in order to succeed. Due to the small class sizes at Waterford, I have learned how important it is to create good relationships with teachers and now, entering into a freshman class of around 8,000, I know how important it is to create and maintain the same relationships with my professors. Waterford has also helped me to learn how to go out of my comfort zone by giving me the opportunities to be a leader and being encouraged by my classmates and teachers all around me to do things that make me uncomfortable, but that have made me grow as a person. I know that this is something I will have to continue to do throughout my college career and have a good foundation to do so coming out of Waterford.

Ruby LawUniversity of Arizona, Class of 2026

Ruby Law is talented, resilient, and committed, and ready to head to University of Arizona this fall. At Waterford, she was an accomplished violinist, playing in two quartets and the orchestra, a student ambassador and captain of the robotics team. Her engineer’s mind makes her an outstanding problem-solver across disciplines. Over the summer, she interned in a neuro-robotics prosthetics lab, an experience that gave her a vision of what engineering might make possible in the future.

Ruby Law ’22,University of Arizona, Class of 2026

Being a part of such a wonderful community opened my eyes to the beauty of languages, history, and art. My friends and teachers showed me how vibrant, diverse and kind our world can be and taught me to appreciate everything and everyone. They made my Waterford experience so life-changing and memorable! I am excited to study at the U next year, and because it is so close, I won’t have to miss any soccer games or Mr. Tanner’s plays!

Neve RauscherDavidson College, Class of 2026
Mateusz Stepien ’22, Universiity of Utah ’26

Mateusz is the winner of the department prize for World Languages, he is adept at memorizing and performing poems, and loves acting on the Black Box stage. A genuinely enthusiastic learner, he lights up in the presence of big ideas and thoughtful conversation. Co-founder of the computer science club, he enjoys solving problems through code. Running cross country fits with his belief in the capacity for individual growth. He genuinely cares for other people, and wants to share his sources of joy.


Waterford Class of 2022

College Acceptance & Matriculation List*

*Matriculation in bold

  • Adelphi University
  • Angelo State University
  • Arizona State University
    (Main Campus)
  • Babson College
  • Bard College
  • Bates College
  • Belmont University
  • Berry College
  • Boston College
  • Boston University
  • Bowdoin College
  • Brandeis University
  • Brigham Young University (4)
  • Brigham Young University (Idaho) 
  • Bucknell University
  • California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo)
  • California State Polytechnic University (Pomona)
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Chapman University
  • Chatham University
  • Clark University
  • Colby College
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Colorado State University
    (Fort Collins)
  • Connecticut College
  • Cornell College
  • Dartmouth College 
  • Davidson College
  • Drew University
  • Drexel University
  • Duke University (2)
  • Elon University
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach)
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott)
  • Emerson College
  • Fordham University
  • George Washington University
  • Georgetown University
  • Georgetown University Qatar
  • Gonzaga University
  • Harvard University
  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges
  • Indiana University
  • Ithaca College
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Maryville College
  • Middle Tennessee State University
  • Middlebury College
  • New York University
  • NYU-Tisch School of the Arts (2)
  • Northeastern University 
  • Occidental College
  • Oregon State University
  • Parsons Paris at The New School
  • Parsons School of Design at The New School
  • Penn State University
    (University Park)
  • Pratt Institute
  • Purdue University (Main Campus)
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Rhode Island School of Design
  • Rhodes College
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
  • Salt Lake Community College
  • San Diego State University
  • San Francisco State University
  • Santa Clara University
  • Sarah Lawrence College
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Scripps College
  • Seattle University
  • Sewanee: The University of the South
  • Skidmore College
  • Snow College
  • Southern Utah University
  • Southern Virginia University
  • Stanford University
  • Stevens Institute of Technology
  • Stony Brook University
  • SUNY at Albany
  • Swarthmore College (2)
  • Syracuse University
  • Temple University, Japan Campus
  • Texas Christian University
  • The College of William and Mary
  • The Ohio State University
    (Main Campus)
  • The University of Montana
  • The University of Tennessee
    (Knoxville)
  • The University of Texas at Dallas
  • Trinity College
  • Trinity University
  • Tufts University
  • University of Arizona
  • University of California (Berkeley)
  • University of California (Davis)
  • University of California (Irvine) (2)
  • University of California
    (Los Angeles)
  • University of California (Merced)
  • University of California (Riverside)
  • University of California
    (San Diego)
  • University of California
    (Santa Barbara)
  • University of California
    (Santa Cruz)
  • University of Colorado
    (Colorado Springs)
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Denver
  • University of Idaho
  • University of Illinois at Chicago
  • University of Illinois at
    Urbana-Champaign
  • University of Iowa
  • University of Maryland
    (College Park)
  • University of Massachusetts
  • University of Memphis
  • University of Miami​​​​​​
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
    (Twin Cities)
  • University of Nevada (Las Vegas)
  • University of New Hampshire
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • University of Oklahoma
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Portland
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of Redlands
  • University of Rochester
  • University of San Diego
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Southern California
  • University of Utah (19)
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Virginia (2)
  • University of Washington
  • University of Wisconsin Madison
  • University of Wyoming
  • Utah State University
  • Utah Valley University
  • Villanova University
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Washington & Jefferson College
  • Washington and Lee University
  • Wellesley College
  • Wesleyan University
  • Westminster College
  • Whitman College
  • Willamette University
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Yale University