Not Your Average Student: Why Early Action Worked for Avery Tupper

Avery Tupper was anything but a typical high school student. By the time he graduated in 2018 from Burrillville High in Harrisville, Rhode Island, he had been a three-sport athlete, playing hockey and lacrosse, and running cross-country track. He was also involved with DECA, an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs during high school and college — and he’ll continue his involvement with DECA at JWU.

Why JWU?

Avery knew early on that he wanted to go to Johnson & Wales University. His mother, Mary-Lou (Pilarz) Tupper ’88, is a graduate of JWU and started talking to him about the university when he was in seventh grade. He had also seen the Providence Campus and been inside many of the buildings for DECA conferences.

When Avery heard about JWU’s new Early Action admissions program, he decided to make the leap to apply before the program’s November 1 deadline.

“I chose Early Action because I knew I didn’t want to apply to any other schools,” Tupper says. “So, I saved myself the time and went with Early Action.”

"When I applied, I knew it was the school for me,"

Avery found out he was accepted to JWU before Thanksgiving.

What made JWU Avery’s first and only choice?

“When I applied, I knew it was the school for me … it has a great business program, it was close enough so I could commute to school every day, and, at the same time, JWU gave me a substantial scholarship.”

Avery began his first term as a marketing major in early September at the Providence Campus.