July 18, 2025

In Case You Missed It....

It was so great to see everyone who attended the Region 3 Cookout last weekend!

Important Dates and Deadlines

Students and parents are encouraged to utilize our online student portal to navigate the orientation and registration process. Password: NSO2028

REMINDER: Submitting all required health and housing forms by August 1 will enter you in the July raffle!

Emma Wilson Parker

Coordinator of Student Leadership and Service

Mrs. Emma Wilson Parker joined IMSA in 2023, starting with the Outreach and Summer Programs team before transitioning to Student Life in 2023. She now serves as the Coordinator for the LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) Program, Service Learning, Leadership Development, Orientation, and Welcome Week events. She also co-advises Student Council (StudCo). Passionate about helping students explore their goals in leadership and service, Mrs. Emma supports students in making an impact within the IMSA community and beyond.

Mrs. Emma's favorite event of the year is the Student Leadership Exchange (SLX), an academic-style conference where LEAD students present their research and ideas, grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), to external experts for feedback and continued growth.

A lifelong Aurora resident, Mrs. Emma loves forest green, all kinds of music, and when students stop by her office to say hello. She’s thrilled to welcome the Class of 2028 to IMSA!

All IMSA students are required to complete 200 service hours over the course of their three years at the Academy. While this number may seem high at first, most students go well beyond the requirement. Students can begin earning hours the summer before their sophomore year—that means you can start right now!

There are many ways to earn service hours both on and off campus. On campus, students can gain internal service hours by serving as Peer Tutors, Resident Student Leaders (RSLs), LEAD facilitators, or by supporting faculty and staff with various initiatives. Regular off-campus service trips also provide opportunities to earn hours.

Since students work toward their 200-hour requirement over three years, it’s important to keep an accurate record of completed hours. IMSA uses a system called HelperHelper to log and verify service hours with site supervisors and IMSA staff. We highly recommend starting this requirement during sophomore year and logging hours promptly to ensure they’re approved and counted toward graduation.

Instructions on how to download the HelperHelper app, along with more helpful information about service learning at IMSA, can be found on the service learning webpage.

If you have questions about service learning at IMSA, make sure to attend the virtual event with Ms. Emma Parker Wilson on July 22 or email her at ewilson1@imsa.edu.

Sophomores in the LEAD Program recently showcased their year-long research projects, each centered on addressing a specific challenge from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)—a global call to end poverty, protect the planet, and promote peace and prosperity for all by 2030. Throughout the year, students work in teams to identify a pressing issue, conduct in-depth research, and develop a potential solution. They then present their findings to faculty, staff, and local professionals working in related fields. This capstone experience not only encourages students to think critically and propose real-world solutions but also helps them develop key skills in research, public speaking, and defending their ideas with evidence.

SLX culminates in the Hollister Lecture, featuring a keynote address from an individual who addresses one of the UN SDGs in their work. This year's event featured Julia Stamberger from IMSA's Class of 1992. Julia Stamberger is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Planting Hope Company, a Chicago-based food innovation company known for its sustainable, plant-based brands. Her address shared insights into creating a successful business that positively impacts others.

July Brain Teaser

Consider the 4 by 4 grid shown. How many rectangles (in total) can be drawn on this grid if each vertex must be on a dot in the grid?

Email your answer to admissions@imsa.edu. Please also include your first and last name in the submission.

Where will your IMSA Odyssey take you?

Notice of Nondiscrimination: IMSA prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator