University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

We're so excited for Lab alumna Salli Richardson-Whitfield '85 on becoming the first Black Female Director Emmy Nominated for a drama Series.

Also be sure to watch this interview from BlackFilmandTV.com https://youtu.be/kunhJH1cboo?si=Zp4sap85vIJuA_qf

Exclusive: Salli Richardson-Whitfield on being the 1st Black Female Director Emmy Nominated For A Drama Series — BlackFilmandTV.com Richardson-Whitfield received the 2024 nomination for the episode "BEAT L.A.," which is on the second season of the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, which she also executive produced.

As we begin to wrap up one of the final weeks before schools starts, we're officially 11 days away from the first day of school for Lab's 2024-25 Academic Year. We're so excited to welcome students back into our schools! Help us start the year off with a maroon-filled, spirited first day by sending your "Labbie" to school decked in maroon, gray, or white or with your favorite Lab gear.

See you soon!

With strong personal motivation and up to three years of support from the HHMI Gilliam Fellows Program, Lab alumna and MIT graduate student Mingus Rae Zoller '16 will probe mysteries of Alzheimer’s and its possible treatment. Read more about her amazing work here: https://picower.mit.edu/news/fellowship-supports-students-work-advance-alzheimers-research-and-equity
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Fellowship supports student’s work to advance Alzheimer’s research and equity With strong personal motivation and up to three years of support from the HHMI Gilliam Fellows Program, graduate student Mingus Rae Zoller will probe mysteries of Alzheimer’s and its possible treatment.

Yesterday's specimen collection by our marine biologists was a success at Marine Biological Laboratory in Woodshole, MA.

Congratulations to rising seventh grader Edith Zhou Huffman who will be awarded an Honorable Mention in the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest for her short film "Magicicada."

A Magicicada is a rare event when two groups of periodical cicadas emerge at the same time. In her 7.5-minute film “Magicicada,” Edith follows the emergence of both the 17-year and 13-year cicadas in Illinois in May 2024, interviewing science teacher Tiffanie Turner. We learn more about these unique and special cicadas and about their important roles in our diverse ecosystem. Excellent work, Edith!

Yesterday, U-High's marine biology summer field researchers arrived safely in Woodshole, MA and stopped across Eel Pond to take this picture with the laboratory in the background across the water. The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery – exploring fundamental biology, understanding biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago.

Student journalists from the University of Chicago Laboratory High School will be representing Lab at this year's Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week. As part of the program, they will have the opportunity to tour Chicago Public Media and meet with editors and reporters, according to a news release. Students will receive feedback on their pieces by Chicago Sun-Times editors and have the chance to interview journalists at WBEZ and the Sun-Times. -High Midway

Alumni from 1962 to 2017 gathered in Atlanta on Sunday, August 19 to share their Lab stories including dances, plays, attending Alumni Weekend, and memories of some of their favorite teachers. Some of them remembered the same teachers even though they graduated decades apart!

U-High Baseball '24 grad Mason List was selected to play in the 47th Annual Illinois Coaches Association All-Star Game in Bloomington, Illinois last week. List showed well with multiple hits in the double header, playing RF and CF. Congratulations to Mason on the great honor. Bates College

Today is the last day to support this year’s Fund for Lab. Make your gift before 11:59 p.m. CT today to count yourself among Lab’s 2023–24 giving community. Click here to make your gift: https://bit.ly/4cvhRr4

Don’t miss your chance to honor this year’s faculty and students. Make a gift by June 30, 2024, to the Fund for Lab to show your support for this cherished community. Every gift counts. Click here to give: https://bit.ly/4cvhRr4

Many thanks to everyone who came to the Black Alumni Family Reunion at Lab! And special thanks to ninth-grader Colin Williams who was the evening's DJ.

Former Laboratory Schools student and University of Chicago professor David B. Rowley, geologist, is remembered for overturning conventional wisdom about Earth's surface evolution. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Vxp9E2

Our seniors’ post-Lab journey has begun—but the 2023–24 Fund for Lab is still in session. Just ten days remain to support our students and faculty, who have come together to accomplish so much this year. Click here to make your gift: https://bit.ly/4cvhRr4

Attention Alumni! The Black Alumni Family Reunion is just around the corner—Join us for an evening of food, fun, and friendship next Saturday, June 22!

Class of 2024 graduation photos are now available on Flickr! https://bit.ly/Classof2024Grads

Science Department chemistry teacher Kevin Nihill recently announced that each year, the American Chemical Society sponsors a scholarship exam for students who are enrolled in a first-year chemistry course. Each school can nominate two students. This year, Lab's own Ray Han took the first place award and two associated scholarships. Further, Lab students Victor Chen and Cruise Lickerman were recognized with honorable mentions. Congratulations to these three excellent students for this notable accomplishment!

: Lab is proud to announce that several our U-High students will present at National History Day next week in Washington D.C. Led by our one and only Dr. Cindy Jurison, (Dr. J as she is lovingly referred), of the top four nationally placed projects, three were designed by Lab students.

Below is a list of all our student projects that placed in the National History Day Illinois state finals in Springfield last month:

1st Place, Gold Medalist and National Qualifier, Individual Performance: "Teddy Roosevelt: Steward of the People: by Ayush Mishra;

1st Place, Gold Medalist and National Qualifier, Group Performance: "A Turning Point for Women in State Government" by Lucie Bhatoey-Bertrand and Helena Emerton, Miriam A. Ferguson and Nellie Tayloe Ross.

1st Place, Gold Medalist and National Qualifier, Individual Website: "News of the Boston Massacre: Breaking News or Fake News?" by David Smith

1st Place, Gold Medalist and National Qualifier, Group Website: "Operation Sunrise: The Sunset of US and RVN Cooperation in Vietnam" by Kayla He, Asher Huner, Nathan Li, and Alexander Maxcy

1st Place Gold Medalist and National Qualifier, Group Documentary: "The Motown Sound: Transcending Racial Barriers in American Music" by Mihir Epel, Andrew Ji, Alexander Saratovsky and "The Life and Writing of Ida B. Wells: The Turning Point in the American Anti-Lynching Movement" by Lydia Frost, Millicent Sterling Norton, Teja Rana, and Lisa Tao,

Four students, working as a documentary team, placed 2nd in the State of Illinois, received the Blue Ribbon, and were chosen 1st-place alternates to NHD: Jaya Alenghat, Maggie Bai, Edden Bartom, Maxine Hurst for "The First Earth Day of 1970: the Overlooked Turning Point in Environmental Protection"

Mia Lipson was named a State Finalist in the Research Paper category, Blue Ribbon and State of Illinois Finalist, Research Paper “The Personal Was the Political: Successive Administrations’ Hairpin Turning Points in U.S. Foreign Policy Toward Saint Domingue During the Haitian Revolution.”

Stay tuned next week as we highlight our students premiere in D.C.

It’s Commencement Day at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and we’re all smiles! Congratulations Class of 2024!!

A cicada sculpture was installed on Kenwood Mall in the branches of the northernmost tree on the playground. Initiated by tenth grader Adam Tapper, who was assisted in the decoration by Capri Cooper and Hannah Bueno de Mesquita, the sculpture is part of a citywide effort by Formstone Castle Collective called Cicada Parade-a. They've placed plaster cicadas in the hands of artists throughout Chicago for this public art emergence of cicadas.

And so it begins… Today, we hosted our annual Senior Luncheon, held every year prior to graduation commencement rehearsal. It was filled with laughter, nostalgia, awards, and hopes for the future. Tomorrow they march and officially become Lab’s graduating Class of 2024. Today, however, they took time to celebrate with friends, faculty, and administrators four years that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Lab's fifth graders recently planted a new tree in the Blaine courtyard. Led by fifth-grade science teacher Jeff Maharry, they researched trees that would thrive in our climate, voted, and then—with lots of love and care—planted a new sugar maple. Surely these fifth graders leave a legacy that will be enjoyed for many generations to come.

For those who were able to make it to Alumni weekend—THANK YOU—we loved having you back! For those who were unable to attend this year, we hope you will make it next year! Please enjoy the pictures: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBrDt6

And the winners of this year's Zena Sutherland Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature presented last week are:
Best Text - Big by Vashti Harrison
Best Illustration - Tokyo Night Parade written by J. P. Takahashi with art by Minako Tomigahara
Best Overall - Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo

The Zena Sutherland Awards for Excellence in Children’s Literature have been given yearly since 1995. Many thanks to the amazing Sutherland Committee (sixth graders) who determined this year's nominees. And to the third, fourth, and fifth graders who spent winter and spring quarters reading and discussing and deliberating each of the books independently in order to make an informed decision when it came time to vote. Read about the process here: https://bit.ly/41XtEtE

Reminder: high school graduation is on Thursday! For family and friends who are unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed beginning at 2 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3x0ovql

Lab is proud to announce that Karim Sulayman, a Class of 1994 alumnus, will deliver the commencement address at the University High School graduation this coming Thursday, June 6. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3VkEMjk

Reminder for Grade 8 families and friends. We're so proud of our Middle School graduates!

Lab's fashion designers from the U-High Fine Arts class Sew Called, taught by Ana Romero, exhibited their excellent and creative art works on the Secret Garden catwalk yesterday.

The Laboratory Schools Class of 2024 has left the building! Today our entire school community gathered to commemorate our graduating seniors with our cherished Senior Clap Out tradition. Seniors were cheered on by faculty, staff, and students as they took their final walk as students through the hallowed halls of our school.