March 24, 2026

Intersession offers a unique opportunity to design engaging, hands-on learning experiences that inspire exploration beyond the classroom. Staff, alumni, and parents can share their expertise in their fields or passions with students during these immersive, experiential learning experiences.

Next year, there are four Intersession blocks available to offer these immersive experiences:

• October 12–16 (Fall Break)
• January 4–8
• March 29–April 2 (Spring Break)
• May 24–28.

On-site Intersession courses are offered during the January and May blocks and follow two formats: Core and Explore. Students will choose either one full-day Core course or one morning Core course paired with one Explore course.

You can find more details and the proposal forms in the Intersession 2026-27 Proposal Guidelines.

The deadline for submitting your proposal is Monday, March 30, at 11:59 p.m.

The IMSA Fund is offering a Summer Curiosity Grant to support student exploration beyond the academic year. Students may apply for $250–$1,000, based on demonstrated financial need, to help cover registration fees for summer enrichment opportunities. Programs do not need to be affiliated with IMSA.

Applications are due April 3. Priority will be given to students waitlisted for SRELO and those returning next year. Approved students must complete registration and submit receipts by June 15, 2026.

We invite all IMSA students, parents, faculty, and staff to take a few minutes to complete this survey regarding dining services at IMSA. Your input will help improve menu offerings, service, special events, and the pop-up experiences that keep dining on campus fresh and engaging.

It only takes five to ten minutes, responses are confidential, and your feedback directly shapes the IMSA dining experience.

The thank-you cards, filled with messages of gratitude from members of our community, were delivered to Governor Pritzker and Deputy Governor Torres.

Ethan Hunt ’26, Mofe Suleiman ’26, and Marina Hernandez ’26 stopped by Governor Pritzker’s office while in Springfield for the House Appropriations Hearing (read more about their visit below). Dr. Glazer and Ms. Armstrong delivered the thank-you card to Deputy Governor Torres in Chicago.



Both leaders have been integral in advocating for IMSA’s capital funding for new residence halls. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their messages of thanks!

Calling parents and guardians of current IMSA sophomores and juniors! Parent and guardian involvement on the PAC Executive Board is essential to sustaining and growing our programs at IMSA to help support the student experience. Please consider getting involved!

Complete this candidate form by March 31 to nominate yourself for one of the positions on the PAC Executive Board (one-year term).

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer

More information on positions and responsibilities can be found in PAC's Mission & Bylaws.

Important Dates

• Nomination period ends March 31, 2026
• New board announced in May 2026
• Officers with expiring terms start to transition May-June 2026
• New officers assume positions July 1, 2026

Last Friday, IMSA students Ethan Hunt '26, Mofe Suleiman '26, and Marina Hernandez '26 joined me in Springfield to share their IMSA experience with members of the House Appropriations Committee for Higher Education. I talked about our budget requests and IMSA's progress, as it relates to our Vision 2033, and the students reflected on how IMSA has shaped their growth and pathways of opportunity. 

We also hand-delivered good news about IMSA students' research to the offices of elected officials. We want them to know, regardless of where they serve in Illinois, IMSA has an important impact on their community through the people, their work, and our programs. In addition, we provided information about our SRELO program and AI Credential, which provide priority access to scholars from communities we are currently not serving. Whether it's in Aurora, at our Hubs, or online, we truly aim to elevate IMSA everywhere.

Join the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) for an open conversation about anything DEI related. Learn about what the team does at IMSA, discuss current policies, or just stop by to chat with the team.

Dr. Adrienne Coleman

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Rodrigo Sanchez

DEI Associate

Oscar Vazquez

RC Intern

Due to changes in ACT/Pre-ACT testing protocols from ACT, the spring testing dates have been adjusted. Each class will be split up into two testing groups.

• ACT for all Juniors - April 1
• Students with last names starting with A through K will test in the morning.
• Students with last names starting with L through Z will test in the afternoon.

• Pre-ACT for all Sophomores - April 22
• Students with last names starting with A through K will test in the morning.
• Students with last names starting with L through Z will test in the afternoon.

Student Spotlight

SIR Students Take Their Research to the World’s Largest Physics Conference

Ten students in IMSA’s Student Inquiry and Research (SIR) program presented their original research at the American Physical Society Global Physics Summit in Denver last week, presenting alongside leading researchers at the largest gathering of physicists in the world.

Karthik Prasad '26 presented his work with Dr. Anderson Trimm on "Global Form of Flavor Symmetry Groups in Twisted A_2N Class S Theories". 

Vivienne Uenuma '26 and Daniel Limosnero '26, both working with Dr. Peter Dong, presented "Search for Dark Photons Decaying to Lepton Jets at CMS" and "Search for a Doubly Charged Higgs Decaying to Leptons at CMS". 

Additionally, seniors Ari Bajaj, Jack Davis, Blake Hennings, Brooke Hobbs, Jacob Plotnick, Shiv Rai, and Izen Wong presented two posters, "Unbinned Likelihood Fits for Setting Limits on a Search for a Doubly Charged Higgs Boson" and "Improving Sensitivity with a Boosted Decision Tree in a Search for Dark Photons Decaying to Lepton Jets at CMS." 

Their research contributes to efforts to better understand the forces that shape our universe. Through inquiry and scientific discovery, IMSA students are gaining the skills to drive the future of innovation and exploration!

IMSA Junior Wins 2026 PowerPitch.AI Competition



The 2026 PowerPitch.AI competition brought together participants from six Northern Illinois high schools. After two rounds of judging, IMSA junior Nitya Jayasankar took first place with Pitch Perfect, a musician’s practice app that provides precise AI-based feedback on multiple musical metrics. Congratulations, Nitya!

Staff Spotlight

Peer Tutors will be available in IN2 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on the following dates to help with a wide range of subjects.

• Tuesday, April 21
• Tuesday, April 28
• Tuesday, May 12

Group Workout Classes

I Days at 3:00 p.m.

Fridays during S&E

Multipurpose Room

Sweat your stress out during the group fitness class led by Counselor Alex Pratt. Classes include cardio, weight training, and core exercises. Beginners welcome!

Email apratt@imsa.edu with questions.

A limited number of 2 Queen Bed Suites are available for Friday, May 22, at a discounted rate of $159 per night plus taxes and fees. To reserve a room, please click the link below to access the hotel reservation page.

The deadline to book within the IMSA room block is April 22, 2026. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability. 

Senior Photos Needed!

Please submit your senior’s photos for the celebration slideshow. We are requesting six JPEG photos: #1 Baby, #2 Elementary School, #3 Middle School, #4 Early High School, #5 Family, and #6 Senior Year.

Please email photos to 2026photos@imsapac.org by March 21.

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.