UPrep Community Mourns the Loss of Beloved Alumnus and Lacrosse Star, Cooper Woolston
The University Preparatory Academy (UPrep) community in Seattle is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Cooper Woolston, a cherished alumnus and former lacrosse standout, whose untimely passing has left a profound void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. News of Cooper’s death has sent shockwaves through the UPrep family—students, faculty, alumni, and coaches alike—each grappling with the loss of a young man remembered not only for his athletic talent but also for his remarkable character, kindness, and the light he brought into the lives of others.
Cooper graduated from UPrep as a standout athlete and a respected member of his class. He was known not just for his prowess on the lacrosse field—where he played with unmatched passion, skill, and sportsmanship—but also for the warmth he extended to teammates, classmates, and faculty. Coaches recall Cooper as the kind of player who led by example, who played for the love of the game and his team, and who inspired others with his unwavering commitment to excellence and camaraderie.
In the classroom, Cooper was equally admired. Teachers describe him as a thoughtful and engaged student—curious, creative, and full of potential. His natural intelligence was matched by a quiet humility and a genuine interest in the world around him. He was the kind of student who made others feel seen and heard, who could lift spirits with a joke or a smile, and who left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to share time and space with him.
Off the field and outside of school, Cooper brought the same light-hearted, generous energy into his friendships and family life. Friends remember him as loyal, kind-hearted, and endlessly supportive—the person who always had your back, who could make you laugh when you needed it most, and who knew how to bring people together. Whether it was during team road trips, late-night study sessions, or casual hangouts, Cooper was a constant source of joy and connection.
For many in the UPrep community, the grief is still raw and incomprehensible. The school has opened its doors and hearts, offering grief counseling and gathering spaces for students, alumni, and staff to come together in remembrance. Vigils, memory walls, and team tributes have begun to take shape as the community finds ways to honor Cooper’s life and legacy.
“Cooper was one of those rare individuals who had a quiet strength about him,” one former teacher shared. “He led with heart. He was deeply empathetic. He made others better—on the field, in the classroom, and just as people. His absence is felt in ways that words can’t fully capture.”
In the days ahead, UPrep will continue to celebrate Cooper’s memory through shared stories, acts of kindness, and moments of reflection. Plans are also being made to establish a scholarship or athletic fund in his honor, a lasting tribute to a life that touched so many and was taken far too soon.
As we hold Cooper’s family, friends, and loved ones in our thoughts, we remember a young man who lived with purpose, who gave generously of himself, and whose spirit will forever be part of the fabric of the UPrep community.
Cooper Woolston’s legacy will live on—in the echo of cheers on the lacrosse field, in the laughter of friends sharing a memory, and in the quiet moments when we remember what it means to live with heart.
He will be dearly missed and never forgotten.