September 26, 2023

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of a member of our IMSA family, Agnieszka Michalak, beloved German faculty since 2003. The love of all who knew her will keep her memory in our hearts forever. We invite members of our community to share a memory of Frau Agnieszka Michalak or a message to her family on our virtual memorial board.

As we grieve this loss, we want to remind our students that counseling services are available in Student Life. Parents can refer their students for support by emailing counseling@imsa.edu.

Due to the high number of events on campus this weekend, Campus Security is taking increased measures to keep the building secure. Fob access between the gym area and Main Building will be shut off on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Any student wishing to access the cafeteria or other part of the academic building must use Door #1 (Main Entrance). Students wishing to access the gym area can only enter through Door #13. Students and Staff will be unable to utilize the doors near the auditorium to go back and forth. This will decrease the likelihood of unwanted visitors entering the academic building and allow security to monitor visitors to the academic building.

Visitors who attend any of the events on campus should park in the West lot and will only have access to the building through door #13. Parents needing to access the main academic building should check in with security and have their Parent ID with them at all times. Thank you for your assistance in keeping the campus safe and secure.

Good News

Girl's Golf

Congratulations to Kaylee Hwang '25 who broke two IMSA Girl's Golf records, including the best 18-hole score and best 9-hole score at the Earlville Invitational earlier this week. Kaylee's score of 77 broke IMSA's previous record of 78, set by Elise Douglas in 2013, and was an astonishing 22 strokes lower than the second-place score. Kaylee also broke IMSA's 9-hole girl's record with a score of 37, including three birdies, surpassing Douglas's 38 from 2013.

National Merit Semifinalists

Congratulations to the following seniors who were named National Merit Semifinalists:

Sreevardhan Atyam

Bikrant Bhattacharyya

Ishan Buyyanapragada

Sindhu Chalasani

Anirudh Chari

Marguerite DimMarco

Srihari Gurugubelli

Albert Han

Madhav Hota

Anisha Kolambe

Justina Kostiv

Marcus Kuon

Zuyu Liu

George Lu

Aldo Magana

Claire O'Brien-Dull

Gavin O'Malley

Maitreyi Pandey

JaeJun Park

Rohan Patkar

Aashima Singh Sisodia

Pranet Swain

Rithik Thekiniath

Vignesh Tiruvannamalai

Stephen Walsh

Annabelle Zhang

Titan To Go is a resource for students to discreetly order basic toiletries when they cannot replace them before a trip home. Students may select from the following items:



• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Toothpaste and Toothbrushes 
• Dental Floss 
• Deodorant 
• Menstrual products
• Hand soap 
• Body lotion 
• Facial tissues
• Lip balm  
• Contact lens cases

Requests are confidential and can be made by clicking on the button above. Requests received by 8:00 a.m. will be processed daily, Monday through Friday. You will pick up your items in a Smart Locker once you receive a notification that your package has been scanned in.

For more information, contact Michelle Bemis, Volunteer Coordinator for Titan To Go at mbemis@imsa.edu.

Resource Workshops

Faculty and staff will host weekly informational sessions on Thursdays to benefit the IMSA Community! Unless otherwise noted, these workshops will occur on Thursdays during the Support and Engagement Period.

Mark your calendar for the next session:

" What is Academic Research? "

Hosted by the IRC

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Support and Engagement Period)

Ac Pit

Learn how to use the internet to find what you are looking for for academic papers and projects.

We like to say that IMSA exists because we transform students' lives by transcending boundaries in education through inquiry and innovation. Without question, our alumni state over and over again that their experience at IMSA set them along a new path. Initially, most alumni say that they came to IMSA to be challenged in new ways, and they were seeking like-minded peers who craved the depth of intellectual discourse and unique opportunities. However, they consistently say they stayed because of the community. Both the people and events create a culture of igniting, nurturing, and developing as a whole person.

This past week, we enjoyed our homecoming festivities. Students were engaged in spirited competitions and activities in appreciation of their community. It's a wonderful way to introduce our newest members of the Class of 2026 to a sense of why community is important at IMSA. Here are a few pictures from the pep rally this past Friday to illustrate the bonding experience. Keep an eye out for additional community events in our Titan Tuesday newsletters.

If you have thoughts on this topic, or wish that I address another, please don't hesitate to reach me at eglazer@imsa.edu.

Dr. Glazer will not be present for math tutoring on Monday. Please reach out for an appointment if you would like math help.

Monday, October 2, 2023

4:30 p.m.

IRC (Library)

Please join us for our first Read-In of the year recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month. What is a Read-In, you ask? Great question! A Read-In is an event where members of the IMSA community get together to recognize and highlight literature from underrepresented authors and artists. You, too, can share a poem or an excerpt from a reading if you'd like.  

This year, we have Spoken Word Artist Michael Reyes sharing original pieces! 

VNA Health Care will be on campus Wednesday, October 25 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Friday, October 27 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. to administer flu shots for students and any staff members who do not have health insurance through IMSA.

Staff members on IMSA's health insurance plan should wait for more information about the flu shots set up through HR.

Versiti Blood Bank issued an emergency appeal due to a critical blood shortage, and our community stepped up to the challenge!

On behalf of Versiti Blood Bank, we would like to thank our community for a successful blood drive on Wednesday, September 20. The goal was to collect 20 units of blood. We had 36 appointments and two walk-in donors. Seventeen of these were students who had never donated before.  We collected 18 units of whole blood and two units of double red cell units, for a total of 22 units. 

Save the date for the next blood drive on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. 

Remember, students who are 16 years old must have a signed parent/guardian consent. 

Please see Nurse Angie for the form or if you have questions about donating blood. 

We would like to see more first-time donors at the blood drive. 

Have you heard about the CNA Course Nurse Angie is teaching? If you want to join this pilot program and learn about the participation requirements, please attend the informational meeting next Thursday during the Support and Engagement Period.

Do you have a passion for math? Do you want to challenge yourself by going to fun events such as Human Calculator, Clash of the Smart People, or Integration Bee? Do you want to give back to your community and middle schoolers by volunteering for the Junior High Math Contest?

Make sure to apply to become a member of Mu Alpha Theta. As a part of this organization, you will have access to scholarships and volunteer opportunities while learning more about math with your peers at fun events. If you have any questions, please email Aashima Sisodia (asisodia@imsa.edu). Applications are due October 6,2023 by 11:59 p.m. We hope to see your application! 

We are now accepting proposals for an innovation grant opportunity for students interested in artificial intelligence. Recipients will receive resources to focus on learning, experimenting, developing, testing applications/tools, exploring ethical implications, and educational outreach efforts in artificial intelligence. 

Applications are due October 6, 2023. All grant recipients will be expected to produce a professional artifact and/or outreach activity that can be shared with audiences within and/or beyond IMSA. 

Monthly Sophomore Parent

Virtual Meeting

September 27, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Nicole Aranas, Sophomore Parent Representative, will hold the inaugural PAC meeting for sophomore parents. If you have a particular question, issue, or topic of concern, please share it ahead of time to sophomore@imsapac.org

Google dial-in option: ‪(267) 553-6308 PIN: ‪462 955 146#

Monthly Senior Parent

Virtual Meeting

September 28, 2023

8:00 p.m.

Piyush Swain, Senior Parent Representative, will hold the inaugural PAC meeting for senior parents. Email questions to seniorrep@imsapac.org.

Zoom dial-in option: (312) 626-6799, 9633546418#

Culture Show Volunteers Needed

The Indian Student Association (ISA) has asked the Parents Association Council to support the upcoming Jalsa celebration (formerly called Diwali) at IMSA on September 29 and 30. Learn more.

The Student Show is on Friday, September 29, and features a potluck following the show to showcase foods from the culture. All parents are invited to attend the Parent Show on Saturday, September 30, from 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. There is no potluck following the Parent Show.

Class of 2026

Your next LEAD elective module will take place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Please bring a laptop, notebook, and writing utensils to every LEAD session. Please read through the 2023-24 LEAD Syllabus before Wednesday to review the attendance policy and upcoming modules. If you need an excused absence, email LEAD Program Coordinator, Ms. Emma Wilson, by Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Class of 2024

Please remember to be vigilant about logging your service learning hours and meeting the 200-hour service learning hour requirement. Emails indicating current service hour breakdowns are coming soon. If you have received an email from Ms. Emma Wilson regarding concern about your hours, please schedule a meeting or email as soon as possible!

Questions or concerns? Contact LEAD Program Coordinator Ms. Emma Wilson.

Student Spotlight

This week, the Student Spotlight is focused on a student who goes above and beyond serving their community, embodying IMSA's mission to advance the human condition. Byrd Gilissen '23 demonstrates a deep passion for serving others and a genuine commitment to fostering a culture of giving back through volunteerism and service learning within the IMSA community, and external communities in the State of Illinois. Byrd gives back to the IMSA community as a Writing Center Tutor, IMSA Student Productions member, STEMbassador (formally ALLIES), SEAMS/Promise tutor, Resident Student Leader, and Orientation Leader.

Byrd also volunteers with the Marengo Park District, offering support for recent events like the Sweetheart Dance, Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Summer with the Arts, and Day in the Park. Other locations Byrd has worked with include the Fox Valley Folklore Society, Willow Creek Community Church, and SPARK. As a first-semester senior, Byrd has already well-surpassed the graduation requirement of 200 hours and continues to remain committed to these various organizations. You will likely spot Byrd behind the camera, providing photo and video content for publications like Titan Tuesday and IMSA's social media.

Please complete the Spotlight Submission Form if you have been recently recognized in your field, celebrated for your academic or professional achievements, or are working on a project you'd like to share. If you have any questions, please contact Alex Johnson at ajohnson2@imsa.edu.

Parenting gifted students is filled with many unique challenges. The Illinois Association of Gifted Children (IAGC) is hosting a Parent Conference to provide resources for supporting gifted and twice-exceptional students. If you are interested, please see the attached flyer with more information on topics and registration.

The Fall 2023 Final Exam Schedule is now available. Final exams must be taken during the assigned time slots. If a student has two or more exams during the same time slot, please contact the Principal’s Office at prinoffc@imsa.edu. If a student has three or more exams on the same day, the student has the option to send a request to the Principal’s Office to take one or more of the exams on a different date.

Note that changes to this schedule may occur prior to December 18. Double-check the schedule the week prior to finals.

On behalf of IMSA's Principal's Office, we invite you to submit proposals for IMSA's 2024 Intersession. The full Intersession Proposal Guidelines and Proposal Forms can be found on IMSA's Intersession page.  

Intersession proposals are welcomed from current and former IMSA faculty and staff, current and former IMSA Board members, current and former IMSA parents, alumni, and other professional/academic IMSA partners, so feel free to share this information with anyone who may be interested! Please note that current IMSA students may participate as Additional Facilitators in a session but may not be the Primary Facilitator who submits the proposal.

The deadline to submit a proposal is

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Paul Gaszak at pgaszak@imsa.edu. 

Mark Your Calendars! 

October 6 - First Quarter Ends

October 7 - Halls Close at 1:00 p.m.

October 7 - 14 - Fall Break

October 15 - Halls Open at 3:00 p.m.

October 20 - Leon Lederman & Alumni Awards Assembly

October 22 - Admissions Preview Day