Commencement

Academics

Emma Willard School's curriculum allows girls to focus their future aspirations, and equips them with the interdisciplinary knowledge competitive colleges are looking for.

Our academic program offers more than 140 courses, including Advanced Placement options, where girls engage in discourse that brings context to high-level concepts and understanding of the world we live in. Personalized study programs enable girls to dive deep into a topic or field of their choosing, and gain hands-on experience.

School Life

Education at Emma isn’t limited to the classroom—it’s woven into the fabric of our community. With girls from around the world and across the United States, and faculty and staff with a wide breadth of life experiences, you will broaden your perspective the moment you walk onto campus.

Bonds created between Emma Girls in the residence and dining halls, while practicing for an athletics match or arts performance, at one of our many cherished traditions, and all the little moments in between, define many girls’ Emma experience.

Alumnae

Wherever life takes you, the Emma sisterhood is there. Community connectedness is a longstanding Emma Willard School tradition carried on by our alumnae. Our vast alumnae network of over 8,000 unique, intelligent women spans the world, and includes Olympians, top-level politicians, high-profile CEOs and acclaimed architects.

Giving

Empower a girl, change the world.

An education is one of the most powerful gifts you can give a girl. When you give to Emma, you honor our fearless founder’s legacy, and allow Emma Willard School to offer incomparable educational experiences for tomorrow’s leaders, and in many cases, make their time here possible.

Academics

School Life

Class of 2022 Headlines

List of 20 news stories.

The 208th Commencement of Emma Willard School
6/7/2022
By Melissia Mason

The 208th Commencement exercises were filled with joyful moments after four years of tumultuous changes, both globally and in our individual lives. The Emma Willard School community—students, families, faculty, staff, and alumnae—came together to celebrate the Class of 2022 at the completion of their high school journey.
Commencement Awards
6/7/2022
In a continuation of the tradition of recognizing exemplary academic success, service, and dedication to Emma Willard School as evidenced on Awards Night, two additional honors are presented during the Commencement ceremony: James Adkins Baxter and Clementine Miller Tangeman awards were presented at Commencement on Sunday, June 5.
Words of Wisdom for the Class of 2022
6/6/2022
By Melissia Mason

After four years of incredible trials and triumphs, the Emma Willard School Class of 2022 came together with fellow students, faculty, staff, and families to celebrate the tradition of Baccalaureate on Saturday, June 4.
Celebrating the Class of 2022
6/3/2022
Luke Meyers

This weekend, we will celebrate the Emma Willard School Class of 2022 at our 208th Commencement exercises. These students are described by teachers and peers as "compassionate," "inspiring," and "resilient" and were the last of the current classes to experience a "normal" year at Emma Willard before COVID-19. However, determined not to be defined by the pandemic, the Class of 2022 is distinguished for its resolve to live out the full Emma experience, support fellow students, and sustain our great traditions, all despite unprecedented challenges and change.

We applaud you, seniors, and proudly welcome you as Emma Willard alumnae this weekend. Congratulations to all our graduates!
Spring 2022 Athletes Honored
6/1/2022
By Sandra Santana

Spring at Emma Willard School is always a marvelously busy time. Between Signature celebrations, end of year recitals/concerts, and Commencement preparation, there’s no shortage of commemorative moments. Last week, we added another celebration to the mix as we acknowledged the accomplishments of our 118 Spring athletes and coaching staff. Read on to learn more about the award winners from our Spring ’22 Crew, Lacrosse, Softball, and Track and Field teams!
Celebrating Student Excellence
5/31/2022

Honoring our founder’s vision, Emma Willard School proudly fosters in each young woman a love of learning, the habits of an intellectual life, and the character, moral strength, and qualities of leadership to serve and shape her world. In accordance with this vision, we annually honor students who show outstanding qualities in these areas.
Spring Showcase Highlights Curiosity and Accomplishment
5/27/2022
By Melissia Mason

In another moment of return to normalcy, we were excited to welcome families back to campus to celebrate their Emma students’ accomplishments through the annual Spring Showcase. Emma Artists and Signature scholars aggregated a years’ worth of work (in some cases more) to present to the Emma Willard School community.
One of 360: Grace P. '22
5/24/2022
By Sandra Santana

As the academic year nears its final days, our One of 360 series bids farewell to our Senior class with the help of Grace P. ’22. Hear from Grace about the infinite creativity behind mathematics, connecting with Emma alum through Revels, and her pup, Loki!
Weekend Festivities: Apollo and Prom
5/17/2022
Kaitlin Resler

Spring on Mount Ida is in full-swing, and with that come the various events, traditions, and celebrations as we start to think about wrapping up the 2021-2022 school year! Though the weekend began with the official launch of Infinite Horizon: The Campaign for Emma Willard School, it wasn’t the only fun on the horizon.
Musical May Day
4/29/2022
By Melissia Mason

The Emma Willard School community gathered on this brisk, sunny Friday for the traditional May Day festivities, orchestrated by the Class of 2022.
An Emma Story: Alexandra Schmidt and Tina Q. '22
4/22/2022
Alexandra Schmidt

I was walking through Weaver last month when I encountered Tianning Tina Q. '22, who said, “Oh good, I’ve been looking for you.”
“Really? Having me as your math teacher for 3 years wasn’t enough? I am complimented!”
After having taught Tina her sophomore, junior, and senior years, we have a long and friendly relationship; a certain informality does creep in.
“I have an unusual question. Are you able to read and write Yiddish?”
Honors Convocation: Can We Save the World in Time?
4/22/2022
Emma Willard School honored the academic excellence and exemplary citizenship of students, as well as extraordinary faculty service at Honors Convocation during Spring Family Connections on Friday, April 15. Families were invited to visit the campus, in-person and virtually, to attend classes, Morning Reports and more.
Awards Season: Arts, Computing, Mathematics
4/20/2022
Kaitlin Resler

This spring, it’s apparent that awards season is upon us! We are honored to be represented by exceptional student work in the visual arts, computer science and mathematics. Five students were accepted into the High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition, and 16 participated in the Media Arts Festival. Five computer science students won Regional Awards for Aspirations in Computing, the highest number of students from Emma to win thus far! Six Emma Willard School students were recently recognized in the top five female students in the American Mathematics Competition.
Better to Give Than to Receive?
3/8/2022
By Melissia Mason

The Emma Willard School Theatre department was excited to open Kiggins Auditorium up to students, employees, and families for their winter production of The Giver.
Jessica Z. '22 and Manu B. '23 Earn Computer Science Honors
2/22/2022
By Melissia Mason

Two Emma Willard School students have won National Honorable Mention Awards for the 2022 National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing Awards. Jessica Z. ’22 and Manu B. ’23 were two of 400 selected from more than 3,500 amazing, talented young computer scientists to receive the honorable mention distinction.
Art in Three Dimensions
2/8/2022
Emma Willard School is proud to announce that the work of six students has been chosen for display at the 23rd annual Art in Three Dimensions juried high school exhibition. Over 220 works were submitted, 79 were selected for display in this year's show; seven pieces from Emma’s six artists were among those chosen.
Open Air: Sofia P. ’22 and The Wellie Podcast
2/4/2022
Kaitlin Resler

In September 2020, the first episode of “Open Air,” a podcast hosted by Emma Willard School senior Sofia P. ’22, dropped on Spotify. Described as “a place where students, faculty, and staff can learn and share information regarding health and wellness through fun and honest conversations,” there are now over 30 episodes available covering a range of topics. Read on to hear from Sofia about her journey creating and hosting the podcast over the last two years.
Revels Returns to the Stage
12/22/2021
By Melissia Mason

The Class of 2022 returned Revels to a live performance this December, after last year’s foray into film-making presented in the spring. Under the guidance of new Theatre Director Faith Lawson, the class put their own magical touch on the 107-year-old tradition.
Chilling with the Mental Health Ambassadors
12/17/2021
By Sandra Santana

As we bid farewell to Mount Ida for the holidays, we are reminded of how hectic the season can be. Between traveling, gatherings, and the excitement of reuniting with loved ones, it may feel hard to keep up with classmates. After a semester of hard work and busy schedules, it may feel even harder to slow down to rest. While the definition of chill may look different to each of us, the Mental Health Ambassadors offer up some solutions.
Works in Progress: Scientific Curiosity
12/10/2021
Ava S. ’22

During our all-school Morning Reports, we have the opportunity for community members to give inspirational speeches during a segment called Works in Progress. These talks vary in theme from silly to serious and all points in between. Regardless of the topic, our community members are adept at discovering profound inspiration in all aspects of life. In this speech, Ava S. ’22 shares her reflections on scientific curiosity and the study of the human mind.