April 28, 2026

Make sure to click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of this email so you don't miss any important details in this extended edition.

Final examinations are scheduled for May 19 and May 20, 2026; however, not all students will have exams. Please confirm with your student whether they have finals and the date of their last exam. Students without final exams may move out beginning Monday, May 18, 2026, after 4:30 p.m.

Students in the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 must vacate their residence hall within 24 hours of their final exam. All sophomores and juniors must complete their move-out by 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Students may begin taking personal belongings home at this time, leaving only essential items needed to complete the remainder of the school year. All students are required to schedule their official move-out date and time with their Resident Counselor (RC).

Students in the Class of 2026 may also begin taking belongings home in advance. On Saturday, May 23, 2026, residence halls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to accommodate final move-outs. All students must be fully moved out by 12:00 p.m. (noon).

The schedule for the final week of the academic semester has been added to the calendar page of the website. For questions about the schedule, please contact the Principal's Office.

Student Leadership Exchange

Wednesday, April 29

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

IMSA Campus

Attendance for all sophomores is mandatory.

To maintain the event's academic professionalism, please wear business-professional attire.

Residence Halls will be accessible during the lunch break.

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX) is an annual event where IMSA’s Class of 2028 concludes their year in the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program by presenting projects developed in elective modules. Modeled after an academic conference, SLX gives students the opportunity to share their work on leadership and global social issues with peers, faculty, and visiting experts.

The event also features the Hollister Lecture, a long-standing series honoring former faculty member Dr. Bernard Hollister. This year’s speaker is IMSA alumnus Aaditya Tolappa ’12.

We’ve recently seen an increase in tick activity near the campus pond, affectionately referred to as No Pond. Out of caution and to prioritize student health and safety, we designate the grassy area surrounding the Pond as off-limits for the remainder of the academic year.

Students should avoid the area and perform regular tick checks after spending time outdoors. Thank you for helping us keep our community safe.

AP Exams are scheduled for Monday, May 04, 2026 - Friday, May 15, 2026. Parent/Guardian approval is required for any Mental Health Days (MHDs) for students who are taking AP exams on that day. 

• If students need to take an MHD on their AP Exam day, parents/guardians must email the Coordinator of School Counseling at jpanchal@imsa.edu to confirm. 
• If a student takes an MHD, they will not be allowed to take their AP Exam. There are no make-up days for AP Exams. 
• Please make sure students are aware of how many MHDs are still available, as they can only take 5 MHDs per year. 

If you have any further questions about AP Exams, please contact IMSA's Registrar, Shari Katich-Rogers, at skrogers@imsa.edu.

Applications for the 2026-2027 travel study programs are now open! There are TEN trips on offer throughout next year, with destinations including the Galapagos, Rome, San Francisco, Scotland and Ireland, and everywhere in between. You can read more about each trip and the IMSA Faculty and Staff who will be chaperoning them in the 2026-27 Travel Study Catalog.

Students interested in Travel Study should complete the application form by Friday, May 8 at 11:59 p.m. Decisions will be announced by Monday, May 18.

Mrs. Molenhouse, IMSA's longest-serving CAC, will be presenting on truths and myths in college admissions. The presentation will be focused on general truths and myths about college admission, as well as IMSA-specific truths and myths. Find out what she has learned during her 14 years at IMSA, and what she wants you to know as you begin your college admission journey!

Upcoming Study Sessions

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 28 - TONIGHT!
• Tuesday, May 12

Starved Rock Trip

Only 3 spots left!

Sunday, May 3, 2026

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Starved Rock State Park

Dr. Glazer will be taking a group of students on a hiking trip to Starved Rock State Park. Please sign up by April 29, 2026, if you are interested in attending. Spots are filling up quickly!

The school counseling department presents the Senior Transition Education (STEP) Program to help seniors prepare for life after IMSA. Seniors who do not attend will not be eligible to go to Six Flags Great America.

The event will include an alumni panel, a financial wellness workshop, and special swag for all the seniors! Seniors will also receive the letter they wrote in Navigation when they were sophomores.

IMSA’s Multicultural Fest will feature the Hip Hop Arts and Culture Fest, led by Culture Creator Michael Reyes (ReyesPoetry). Attendees can enjoy live performances, a Battle of the DJs, creative workshops, a spoken word showcase, live graffiti art, a portrait station, and a food truck. More than an event, this festival highlights the educational power of hip hop as a form of storytelling, a platform for social dialogue, and a creative discipline that connects music, poetry, art, and technology.

The IMSA Black Alumni Association (BAA) and Black Student Union (BSU) warmly invite students, families, faculty, and staff to join us in celebrating our graduating seniors at this year’s Black Graduation Celebration. This special event honors the achievements, resilience, and contributions of our Black students throughout their time at IMSA, while also recognizing the bright paths they are about to pursue.

The celebration will feature inspiring remarks from both student speakers and a staff speaker. Guests can also look forward to a delicious dinner and a meaningful evening of community, reflection, and recognition.

This event is open to all members of the IMSA community, and we encourage everyone to come out in support of our seniors as they reach this important milestone.

Please RSVP below to help BSU and BAA prepare for food and seating.

IMSA Latine Alumni and Alma Latina are elated to invite you to the Latine Congratulatory Celebration honoring the class of 2026's achievements at IMSA! We look forward to welcoming IMSA Faculty, staff, families, students, and alumni to gather en comunidad to celebrate the passions, achievements, and dedication of our Latine Students during their time at IMSA. 

During this event, we will hear from Alumni and honor our students by presenting them with their graduation stoles. Dinner will be served. 

Links to access the formal event and the live stream will be shared via email by Tuesday, May 12th.

This event is open to all members of the IMSA community. We kindly ask that you RSVP below in order to plan appropriately for seating and food.

Advancing the Human Condition

IMSA's mission statement is to "ignite and nurture creative, ethical and scientific minds to advance the human condition." If we focus on that last part, we want our students to become aware of problems that impact people across the world and contribute towards improving them. One approach is for students to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and then propose ideas on how these issues can be addressed through innovation and action. 

On Wednesday, we will host the Student Leadership Exchange, where 10th graders present their pitches related to the UNSDGs. We want our students to realize that during their first year at IMSA, they can become difference-makers, and it starts with their curiosity. Students will make their pitch to an expert panel of judges and their classmates. Then, they will receive questions and feedback. If they are inspired to continue their proposal, students are able to pursue a related SIR or internship project, or participate in our entrepreneurship club (TALENT) during 11th and/or 12th grades.

This meeting's special guest will be Ms. Amy Keck, Academic Support Coordinator, who will be available to discuss academic support at IMSA.

Passcode: 0MuiDE

The IMSA Parent Association Council is seeking volunteers to host Regional Picnics this summer! We are currently seeking parent volunteers to lead coordination for picnics in these regions: 

• Region 2 - Area codes 614, 615, 616, 617
• Region 4 - Area codes 623, 625, 626, 627 



These picnics provide meaningful ways for incoming students and their families to meet upper-class students and feel welcomed to the IMSA community! 

A budget of approximately $150 from the PAC will be available for each regional picnic, covering the cost of things like a picnic shelter rental, basic items like ice, soda, and some food, etc. 

Picnics are to be hosted during the first two weekends of August 2026 to avoid conflicting with the Excel Program for incoming sophomores. 

If you are willing to host a picnic in early August in your region, please reach out to Natalie Knight at VP@imsapac.org to discuss next steps!  

Juniors Naga Tanyasri Jonnadula and Kavya Shah were recently named national finalists in the Toshiba ExploraVision National Science Competition for their innovative product proposal, AuraLens. AuraLens is a cutting-edge contact lens designed to detect changes in eye movement and provide early warnings for ocular migraines.

As part of their recognition, they presented their work to a representative from Toshiba and received award certificates. Their project was one of just five in the nation selected as a national finalist, with the top two teams advancing to present in Washington, D.C.

Cassandra Marvitz '27 has been selected for the U.S. Air Force Aim High Flight Academy, a highly competitive, all-expenses-paid aviation scholarship open to students nationwide.

During the three-week program, Cassie will complete up to 15 hours of flight training with FAA-certified instructors, along with ground school, flight simulator experience, and mentorship from active-duty United States Air Force aviators.

Her selection reflects both her dedication and discipline in the field of aviation. For Cassie, the sky is not the limit, but only the start of the journey!

The Titans Make a Strong Debut

The IMSA Track and Field team competed in its first meet of the year, making a strong debut and securing second place in the boys and girls categories against tough competition.

We congratulate the team and coaches for a great start to the season!

Dr. Kristi Kelly

Executive Director of Campus Experience

Earlier this month, we welcomed Dr. Kristi Kelly to our Student Affairs Team. Dr. Kelly serves as the Executive Director of Campus Experience, where she oversees Athletics and Co-curriculars, Residence Life, and Student Activities.

Prior to joining the IMSA community, Dr. Kelly worked in education (non-profit and higher ed), as well as corporate environments, serving as an inclusion champion and student affairs practitioner. Some of the roles she has held include Senior Director, Vice President for Diversity and Associate Provost for Student Engagement. She’s excited to bring a collaborative, student-centered, and culture of care approach to IMSA. When she’s away from work, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones and traveling. 

Stop by her office (A105A) near the Admissions Department to say hello!

IMSA Students Visit the State Senate

Over spring break, Vivian Ludwig '26, Josiah Tyus '26, and Cassandra Marvitz '27 joined Dr. Evan Glazer in Springfield to testify before the Senate Education Appropriations Committee.

Standing alongside school leadership, these students shared powerful, personal stories about their experiences at IMSA, and what it has meant to learn, live, and grow in a residential academic community designed to challenge and support them. Their voices helped bring to life what data alone cannot capture: the daily impact of IMSA on students’ lives and futures.

Students stop to chat with Rep. LaShawn K. Ford.

College Day 2026

College Day 2026 was a tremendous success, creating a meaningful experience for our students as they explored new possibilities in their college searches. We look forward to seeing where their paths lead and all they will accomplish in the years ahead. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success!

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.

Student Council elections have been postponed until August 2026, at the beginning of the next school year.

As we approach one of the busiest times of the academic year, this decision was made to allow students to focus on a successful end of the academic year and support a smoother transition into the summer months. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to hosting elections in the fall.

If you need a housing accommodation for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the online Accommodation Request form and upload the required documentation. If the request is approved, our Housing team will send you a confirmation email.

As a reminder, all requests for accommodations, whether academic or housing, should be made through the Request for Accommodations form. The form is linked below, and also available on the IMSA website.

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.