Woodlands Academy seniors celebrate their college commitments

From the east coast to the west, down south, here in the Midwest and even across the globe, the Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart Class of 2026 is heading off to top colleges and universities this fall.

Included among them are prestigious institutions of higher learning, such as Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Amherst College and Georgetown University.

Members of Woodlands Academy’s Class of 2026 also have committed to attending institutions from those nearby — such as Lake Forest College, University of Illinois Chicago, Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University — to ones as far away as the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), University of Connecticut, Wake Forest University, Northeastern University, University of Alabama, Southern Methodist University and College of the Holy Cross.

Several in-between destinations for Woodlands Academy seniors this fall include the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePauw University and Grinnell College.

Woodlands Academy seniors who had made their college choices by May 1, the traditional college decision day across the country, were encouraged to wear some of their college-themed clothing to school that day. Faculty and staff were asked to wear their alma mater’s gear to show their support for those students.

In all, 166 college admission applications submitted by Woodlands’ 26 seniors were accepted by U.S. and European institutions and the Class of 2026 was offered more than $3 million in scholarships.

“The Woodlands Class of 2026 has a bright future ahead of them,” Woodlands Academy Director of College Counseling Brendan Bond said. “The diverse and excellent group of colleges and universities they will attend in the fall reflects the hard work and growth they’ve shown during their time at Woodlands, along with the support from our wonderful faculty and staff and our students’ families. I am proud of the Class of 2026. They have been a transformational class during their four years at Woodlands. Personally, they have taught me a lot and are ready to succeed in college and beyond.”

Woodlands Academy’s comprehensive College Counseling program is an important reason why Woodlands has a robust college-preparatory culture. Woodlands’ students are accepted into colleges and universities across the country and the world, offering them the opportunity to grow as scholars and individuals. The program features Woodlands’ unique College Skills class in which the college counselor works with students through the college process during their junior and senior years in a classroom setting. It is a prime example of how Woodlands Academy provides the personalized support students and parents need in the ever-evolving college process.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent, day-and-boarding, college-preparatory school for young women of all faiths in grades nine through 12. Founded in Chicago in 1858 and located in Lake Forest since 1904, Woodlands is part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries on six continents. To learn more, visit woodlandsacademy.org.