April 1, 2025

Over the spring break, the Facilities team conducted routine room inspections as part of the regular maintenance schedule. In the coming days, you may notice maintenance staff addressing various repairs and upkeep items, even if a work order was not submitted. These proactive efforts help ensure that our spaces remain safe and well-maintained for everyone.

If you have any questions or notice any additional concerns, please don’t hesitate to submit a work order or reach out to the Facilities team.

Are you working on an exciting AI research project or developing an AI-based startup idea? The IMSA AI Innovation Grant is here to help bring your vision to life!

This grant is designed to support student-driven AI initiatives in the following areas:

1. AI Research
2. AI Start-Up Business Idea
3. AI Learning Opportunity

Selected projects may receive up to $750 to support their innovation efforts.

To apply for a grant, please follow these steps:

1. Submit the grant application on this form by April 2, 2025, to support project efforts between April 5, 2025, and May 29, 2025. 
2. Grant recipients are expected to spend the funds no later than May 29, 2025. No grant funds will carry over after that date. Grant recipients are also expected to share a summary of their work.

Submit questions to Ms. Tami Armstrong at tarmstrong@imsa.edu.

As a reminder, the following updates have been made to the administration of the ACT and PreACT:

• Both the PreACT Secure and ACT with Writing will now be administered as paper exams that will not require laptops or laptop components.
• The date of the PreACT Secure will not change and is still scheduled for Wednesday morning on April 9, 2025.
• ACT requires that the ACT with Writing paper exams be administered on the first day of the testing window. As a result, the ACT with Writing will now take place on the morning of Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

The halls reopen from the extended weekend on Monday, April 21, at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday will be an I-Day, with the week following an IBCD schedule.

The Class of 2025 has a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks! Here is a handout of important dates and graduation information to stay organized.

Students with a Mod 6 class will remain in their classroom during the Support & Engagement Period (S&E) to complete the survey. Students without a Mod 6 class will report to the auditorium by 1:50 p.m. to take the survey in a proctored environment.



The Challenge Success Survey asks students to give their perspectives on a variety of areas related to their school lives, such as homework, extracurricular activities, free time, sleep, physical health, stress related to school and academics.

The results of the Challenge Success survey have led to institutional changes at IMSA. A few recent examples include the addition of Fall Break to the academic calendar and the creation of the Support & Engagement (S&E) period.

Seniors must attend the meeting with the CACs for a college application and results check-in. At this meeting, the CACs will:



• Review upcoming senior events
• Confirm your Naviance results are updated
• Discuss how to plan for May 1, also known as National College Decision Day, College Signing Day, and Post-Secondary Decision Day
• Go over post-secondary decision steps and upcoming deadlines
• Answer your questions about admission decisions, offers, and any other topics you'd like to discuss

Please come prepared:

• Update your Naviance account before the meeting
• Contact your CAC if you need us to remove any colleges you didn’t apply to

Congratulations to Poojak Patel '26 and Sonit Sahoo '27! Their winning apps from the Congressional App Challenge have earned them the honor of presenting at the House of Code – Lightning Talks on April 8 and 9, 2025.

The Congressional App Challenge, organized by the U.S. House of Representatives, is a prestigious nationwide competition that encourages students to develop their coding skills by creating innovative apps.

Congratulations to Devarsh Shah '25 on being selected as one of just 10 students nationwide to represent Illinois in the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Cohort at the 2025 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Leadership Forum!

Devarsh traveled to Washington, D.C., where he presented his innovative solutions to combat the opioid crisis in West Garfield Park—Chicago’s most affected neighborhood. He also collaborated directly with the offices of Illinois Senators Richard J. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, advocating for Naloxone accessibility, community-led education, and policy reforms to address rising overdose rates.

This summer, he will continue his advocacy on a national stage, presenting his work at a conference in Nashville. Way to go, Devarsh!

Being an IMSA Impact Maker is not limited to the walls of IMSA. Many of our faculty and staff are making an impact in their research fields, bringing their knowledge and expertise to those around the world.

Dr. Patrick Buck, history faculty, recently presented his research, "Nationalist China's Confucian Entanglements in South Vietnam During the Cold War," at the annual Association for Asian Studies Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Katie Berger recently published an article in the February edition of Teaching for a Higher Potential titled “Fostering a Classroom Culture of Care: How Teachers Can Impact Student Well-Being.” Read her work here.

To nominate an IMSA Impact Maker for an upcoming Titan Tuesday, email officeofpublicaffairs@imsa.edu.

Members of IMSA's Medical Society will present their findings based on research done under the mentorship of generous IMSA Alumni medical professionals. Members will share their experience and host an open Q&A session with the audience. Attendees can look forward to presentations in areas of neuroscience, cardiology, and pediatrics. Guests (including parents) are welcome to attend in person or virtually. Light refreshments will be served. 

Thursday, April 3, 2025

5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

IN2 and the Auditorium

Big ideas start small. That’s the essence of this year’s TEDxYouth@IMSA event, with our theme: Ripple.

This year’s lineup features four inspiring speakers ready to challenge perspectives and spark impactful conversations:

1. Dr. Shawn Bailey - “Neon River: Rethinking Chicago Environmental History and Personhood in the Age of Humans”
2. Dr. Evan Glazer - “How to Help Others Enjoy What You Love”
3. Luke Yin - “The Art of Starting Small”
4. Tanvi Boddupalli - “Beyond the Mirror: Do Looks Matter?”

Get ready for engaging talks, exciting discussions, and an event with activities, food, and more! Space is limited, so RSVP now to reserve your seat. If you have any questions, please reach out to the TEDx co-coordinators, Arnav Patel

or Aarna Patel.

Join us as we explore how the smallest sparks of inspiration can create waves of change.

Day of Silence began in the mid-1990s when two college students launched the initiative. Since then, it has grown to engage hundreds of thousands of students annually. Each April, participants remain silent throughout the school day to raise awareness, concluding with Breaking the Silence rallies highlighting ways to make schools and communities more inclusive.

The School Counseling team has partnered with SPECTRUM to organize this year's Day of Silence. Participating students will sign up in advance, and teachers will be informed of their participation.

On the morning of the event, students can pick up bracelets and informational cards from the student life office. Throughout the day, they may show or hand their cards to staff and faculty as needed. The event will conclude with Breaking the Silence at 4:30 p.m. at the 05 Slabs.

IMSAloquium is an annual public celebration in which over 275 students from the Student Inquiry and Research, Business Internship, and Independent Studies Programs present their completed and ongoing research.

Bethany E. Perez White, Ph.D., will give this year’s keynote address. Dr. Perez White is a professor from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and is the Associate Director of Skin Tissue Engineering and Morphology (STEM) Core.

Visit the IMSAloquium web page for more information.

Evaluators Needed

Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) seeks evaluators for this year's Student Leadership Exchange (SLX). Evaluators will evaluate student projects in social entrepreneurship, activism, and data journalism in correspondence with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Evaluators can either evaluate in person or virtually (however, we would prefer in person). Please send this form to anyone who might be interested in this opportunity!

Casa De La Raza Support

Alma Latina is seeking parent support for their upcoming cultural show, Casa De La Raza, on April 11, 2025. Parents who are looking to volunteer or donate can sign up using the links below.

Our desire is for the IMSA experience to be transformative for our students by transcending educational boundaries through inquiry and innovation. Pursuing this impact requires different approaches because students experience IMSA in different ways due to different interests, identities and life circumstances. 

While these differences exist, it's important for students to develop a sense of belonging and appreciation for their opportunity, as well as a deeper understanding of our beliefs. There should be a common bond and pride in being part of IMSA.

That sense of community can be fractured when there is conflict, either among students, or between students and adults. Examples include disagreement over our calendar, disputes over which student organizations are approved, or the length of cultural shows, just to name a few examples. In my opinion, conflict is natural because we feel the impact of decisions differently, and it's important to recognize that hearing different perspectives will likely lead to better outcomes.

Another conflict our students experienced is the disrespectful rhetoric in the DEI survey issued two months ago. We've spent a good amount of time trying to understand the nature of the conflict and actions that can improve student culture. This plan outlines our intentions for the remainder of the school year, as well as considerations for next year. I appreciate any feedback you might have about which of these strategies may be helpful for a stronger culture at IMSA. The next time we issue a survey regarding student climate, we certainly look forward to more thoughtful feedback that leans towards how the IMSA experience can be transformative to suit varying interests, identities and life circumstances.

IMSA is excited to offer a dual credit opportunity in partnership with SIUE School of Business. The course will provide a foundational knowledge of entrepreneurship skills for students interested in pursuing business or entrepreneurial ventures. Students can participate in this summer course online or in person.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the form below. Responses are due April 15.

The National Community Service Award opportunity from the United Nations Association has been released! Students can create an account, enter their service hours, and be recognized for their hard work and dedication to their community. All community service activities between June 1, 2024 and April 15, 2025 count for this award. Physical award packets will be mailed to IMSA in May.

IMSA is pleased to offer a wide range of opportunities for students of all ages to explore STEM topics over the summer. Discover our summer programs designed to ignite curiosity and learning.

ComEd invites 10th and 11th grade students to apply to their summer STEM Academies. ComEd STEM Academies are free, week-long programs for current students interested in STEM who live in Northern Illinois. Students will learn from ComEd/Exelon professionals, explore renewable energy, and connect with like-minded peers. 

Please note, IMSA is sharing these camps on behalf of ComEd. IMSA staff is not involved in the planning or application process of these camps. Students should apply using the links posted below.

The deadline to apply is April 1, 2025

If you ever need to refer back to a previous Titan Tuesday, visit the Titan Tuesday Archive.

April 9 - IMSAloquium Practice and PreACT

April 17 - IMSAlquium

April 17-21 - Extended Break

April 22 - ACT with Writing

April 26 - College Day

April 30 - SLX and Hollister Lecture

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.