March 11, 2025

There will be no Titan Tuesday next week due to Spring Break. Make sure to click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of this email so you don't miss anything!

• All students must complete a thorough room inspection and their wing/hall cleaning assignment.
• Students must schedule a check out time with their RC before departing for break.
• If students are leaving campus with anyone who is not a parent or designated adult, parents/guardians must call the RC office to give permission. This includes the ATC Shuttle, carpool, family friend, grandparent, etc.
• Please make all necessary medication arrangements with the Health Office. 

ATC Shuttles

The listed times indicate when the shuttle will depart from IMSA. Students should arrive a few minutes early and ensure they have parent/guardian permission to take the train home for break.

Students returning to campus by train after break should take the train that aligns with the arrival times listed below. The shuttle will wait at the Aurora Transportation Center for 15 minutes after the train arrives before departing for campus.

Sunday, March 23, 2025 ATC Pickup Times

• 6:01 p.m.
• 7:01 p.m.

Medications Over Break

If your student has medication in the Health Office, please let the office know if you need a supply of their prescription medication(s) for Spring Break. You can reach the health office at nurse@imsa.edu. Please include the day you will be picking up your student.

Parents/guardians should pick up medication in the Health Office before 3:00 p.m. or in the Hall RC office after 3:00 p.m. Students riding the downstate bus will be given their medications as they board the bus. Please return all medication bottles that are sent home, as we re-use them to send medication to the halls on nights and weekends.

When sending refills back to campus, please complete the medication receipt form and turn it in with the refill. If your student goes home frequently, please remember to keep a supply of medications at home. 

Join this week's conversation to discuss federal policy changes and their impact on IMSA, facilitated by Dr. Glazer.

Thursday, March 13. 2025

S&E Period

AC Pit

The Illinois Department of Public Health requirement for Meningococcal Vaccine is as follows:  

Any child entering the 12^th grade shall show proof of having received two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine prior to entering the 12^th grade. The first dose shall have been received on or after the 11^th birthday, and the second dose shall have been received on or after the 16^th birthday, at least eight weeks after the first dose. If the first dose is administered when the child is 16 years of age or older, only one dose is required.  If your child is NOT 16 before the start of school, you will have one month after their birthday to submit this documentation. 

Please arrange for the administration of this vaccine with your primary health care provider. Once your student has received this vaccine, please submit the documentation to the health office as soon as possible via email (nurse@imsa.edu) or fax (630-907-5938). You may use this form to submit documentation. 

If you missed the Girls Soccer Meeting, it is not too late to join. Any students who have an interest in the game, regardless of talent level, are welcomed to sign up. If you are interested in joining the team, please sign up using the link below. Contact Coach Hernandez or Coach Gombar if you have any questions..

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

MIT Engineers Without Borders Competition

The MIT Engineers Without Borders Competition announced the following winners:

Tashi Shah '26 and Vishnu Vijay '26 (Team)  

Finalist 

1st Runner-Up (United States- National)

1st Runner Up (North America)

Tashi Shah '26 (Individual)

1st Runner-Up (United States- National)

1st Runner Up (North America)

Vishnu Vijay '26 (Individual)

Honor Winner (United States)

This competition encourages students to develop innovative engineering solutions for real-world global issues, particularly in underserved communities. Congratulations, Tashi and Vishnu!

Scholastic Bowl Takes the Regional Title

Scholastic Bowl is dominating the Little 10 conference this season! The team will compete at the Little 10 Conference Tournament on March 13th as the #1 seed with a 10-0 record after winning their regional competition.

Congratulations and best of luck to the team members: Adi Pashupati ‘25, Arya Biss ‘26, Cinna Davis ‘27, Dhruv Ravinuthala ‘27, Eric Barajas ‘27, Hari Ananthakrishnan ‘27, Jack Davis ‘26, Jade Go ‘26, Tony Han ‘26, and Valentina Duque ‘26!

Science Olympiad Advances to State

IMSA's Science Olympiad took first place at Harper Community College’s Regional Science Olympiad Tournament. This win qualified them for the state competition!

Congratulations to the following students who will go on to compete at state: 

• Aahana Das ‘25 and Aarushi Das ‘25, Anatomy
• Jonathan Handjojo ‘26 and Vidhan Jain ‘27, Bungee Drop
• Avery Lau ‘27 and Hariharan Ananthakrishnan ‘27, Dynamic Planet
• Aarushi Das ‘25 and Avery Lau ‘27, Entomology
• Dylan Xianto ‘25, Ian Chung ‘25, and Vivienne Uenuma ‘26, Experimental Design
• Dylan Xianto ’25 and Joshua Mu ‘25, Forensics
• Hariharan Ananthakrishnan ‘27 and Katherine Jiang ‘26, Geologic Mapping
• Aahana Das ‘25 and Atharv Kanchi ‘27, Microbe

FTC Robotics Shines at State

Congratulations to IMSA's FTC Robotics team, the TITANS, for an exceptional showing at the Illinois State Championship at Elgin Community College this past weekend! The team won the Division Finalist Award for their strong performance in the Solomon Division Playoffs and received an invitation to FIRST's Premier Events, an exclusive invitational event celebrating top-performing teams. Congratulations, and all the best to the team for future competitions!

The VEX Robotics team, 1755K Kinetic, had an outstanding performance at the state competition, finishing as finalists and earning a coveted spot at the VEX Worlds Competition. Only 800 teams from around the world receive this honor. They are now preparing for their trip to Dallas, Texas to compete on the world stage.

Congratulations to the team following team members: Yash Yardi ‘25, Krish Konda ‘25, Rakshan Chandrasekhar ‘26, Aryan Mansingh ‘26, Shiv N. Rai ‘26, and Jonathan Handjojo ‘26.

Student Spotlight

Sohum Mehta '26 has achieved national recognition for his research in cognitive science! After winning 3rd place in the Oral Presentation at the Illinois Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), he became a National JSHS Finalist. This earned him a scholarship and an invitation to the 2025 National Symposia in Virginia, where he will present among the top 245 JSHS students from over 8,000 applicants.

His research, "A Novel Analysis to Understanding Lexical Frequency in Cross-Modal Processing," explores how the human mind retrieves words differently when looking at pictures versus reading words. This study adds insight into how the brain processes language in a way that can inspire future advances and improvements in artificial intelligence.

Congratulations to Joe Mastrocola, HR Generalist, who was recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education with the Award of Excellence in the Educational Service Personnel category. Mr. Mastrocola began his career at IMSA in 2013, where he served as a Resident Counselor and then an Area Coordinator in Residential Life. Mr. Mastrocola has worked as an HR Generalist for the last six years, where he assists with staff hiring and recruitment.

Thank you for being an IMSA Impact Maker, Mr. Mastrocola!

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

Sophomores and juniors should note the location changes for upcoming Course Selection Meetings with the CACs. Attendance at the designated meeting and the Elective Mini-Fair is essential to the course selection process.

Elective Mini-Fair

For Sophomores & Juniors

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

2:00 p.m.

Main & West Gyms

After students meet with their CACs, they are expected to attend the Elective Mini-Fair. The Elective Mini-Fair is an excellent opportunity to explore course options and connect with faculty to help you make informed decisions.

The generosity of blood donors can mean the difference between life and death for patients in need. One donation can help up to three patients, making your contribution more impactful than you might realize.

Who Can Donate?

• Donating blood is easy, safe, and open to those who meet the basic health requirements. Generally, blood donors must:
• Be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent)
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Be in good health

The process usually takes less than an hour, and the actual blood draw lasts only about 10 minutes. Be a hero. Donate blood today!

In recognition of Women's History Month, please join the IRC for the Women's History Month Read-In featuring Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills. Dr. Rivera-Mills serves as the 14th president of Aurora University. She is also the first Latina to hold this position.

Curious about the latest AI tech? Join the AI Center for a hands-on AI Bytes series where you’ll explore cutting-edge tools and emerging technologies. Whether you're new to AI or looking to deepen your skills, these sessions will give you a chance to learn and experiment. All sessions are held in the AI Center (near the math study area) during S&E (2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.):

March 25 – AI Ethics Series with Dr. Rettberg (Ethical Use of AI Tools and Tech)

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. 

Please contact Amelia Szeto at aszeto@imsa.edu if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

TEDxYouth@IMSA

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.

IMSA's Information Resource Center is offering a tutoring program for students in 1st - 5th grade. If you know of students seeking additional support along their academic journey, please share this flyer with them. Spots are limited, so please use the QR code on the flyer to register.

During the Spring legislative session, IMSA makes several trips to Springfield to meet with legislators. This past week, Jose Lazcano '25 and Tyler Rush '26 joined me and university officials at a press conference led by the House Higher Education Appropriations Chair, La Shawn Ford. Jose and Tyler jumped right in to make some remarks about the positive impact DEI programming has had on their development and success at IMSA. The main goal of the press conference was to illustrate the importance of continued funding to higher education for students around the State of Illinois, particularly those who struggle to afford it.

Later this spring, we will bring groups of students to testify in front of the House and Senate appropriations committees. While I discuss IMSA's needs, they will share their IMSA experience in ways that demonstrate their development and access to unique opportunities. During those visits, students will also have the opportunity to meet their legislators from their hometown district, emphasizing that IMSA belongs to everyone across the state.

Establishing healthy boundaries

It can often be difficult trying to balance relationships and commitments in our lives. Sometimes, we can stretch ourselves too thin and neglect to honor our needs. Boundaries are important because they allow us to take care of ourselves and maintain healthy and supportive relationships. Here are some helpful tips to help establish healthy boundaries in your life:

• Trust your gut - If something does not feel right to you, it probably isn’t. It is important to stay true to who you are.
• Recognize how others may be feeling - Stop and think about how someone else may be feeling. This can be difficult, but empathy can help you know how to respond in a given situation.
• Identify behaviors you do not like - Identifying behaviors that are uncomfortable for you, and being able to voice your concerns or avoid them is important in establishing boundaries.
• It is okay to say no - Sometimes, it can be difficult to say "no." We may feel guilty or like we are letting someone down. However, saying "no" can protect you and your well-being in certain situations. 

Please review the attendance reminders below. If these guidelines are not followed, any absences will be marked as "unexcused." More information on attendance procedures can be found in the student handbook.

• While students are on campus, parents/guardians can not call a student off for any health reason. Students must go see the nurse. Only the health office can excuse students for health reasons while students are staying on campus.
• If students leave campus for ANY reason (illness, college visit, or doctor's appointment) parents/guardians must call the attendance office to obtain an excused absence.
• All college visits must be pre-approved by a student's CAC.
• Any pre-arranged absence that exceeds 3 academic days must have special pre-approval from Dr. White.

Parents and guardians can reach the Attendance Office at (630) 907-5029.

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.

Spring Break College Visits

Last week's survey (found in Dr. Glazer's Titan Tuesday column) revealed an interest in visiting colleges in the area.

During Spring Break, IMSA will provide transportation to visit the following colleges:

• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and Carthage College - March 17
• Northwestern University - March 20

The trips will depart from campus and return on the same day. Students must complete the following form by today if they would like to attend. Parents/guardians must approve student attendance.

MSA and Lexington have put together a food service system for students fasting during Ramadan. If your student is fasting, please make sure they complete this form.

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

March 15 - Halls close at 12:00 p.m.

March 15 - 22 - Spring Break

March 23 - Halls open at 3:00 p.m.

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.