October 22, 2024

Titan Tuesdays are packed with valuable information. Depending on your email settings, you may need to click "Display Images" to see the full content of Titan Tuesday. If you ever need to refer back to a previous edition, you can find all the information in our Titan Tuesday Archive.

Coca-Cola Scholars

Three IMSA Seniors were named Coca-Cola Scholarship Semi-Finalists from over 100,000 nationwide applicants based on their academic excellence, leadership, and service to their communities. This prestigious designation is only awarded to about 1% of applicants. Finalists for this award can win up to $20,000 in college scholarships. Congratulations to the following students:

Jaden Blankenship '25

Shashi Salavath '25

Devarsh Shah '25

Girl's Tennis

Congratulations to the Girl's Tennis Team for winning the sectional championship for the first time in school history! Srimedha Veerathu '27 took first place in singles, while Josie Kim '25 and Jiya Vyas '27 won first place in doubles. Congratulations to the following team members for their accomplishments this season:

• Srimedha Veerathu '27
• Rachel Qi '25
• Josie Kim '25
• Jiya Vyas '27
• Anya Parikh '26
• Michelle Fanjoy '26

We wish the team the best of luck this Thursday as they enter the IHSA State Finals. 

While MySchoolBucks works to resolve the connection issue with PowerSchool, families looking to pay fees can log in directly to MySchoolBucks.com instead of using the PowerSchool portal.

Our ITS Team has compiled directions for the process here. Thank you for your patience as we work with the two systems to resolve the issue.

We are excited to unveil fresh new spaces where students can enjoy the outdoors! A new pickleball court and an outdoor patio outside the West Gym are officially open for student use. Both areas are equipped with lighting, allowing students to continue enjoying these outdoor spaces into the evening hours.

Thank you to our Facilities Team for their work repurposing this area into usable space for our students!

Did you watch the Alumni Awards Assembly? Did you see the three very cool co-hosts? Ellen, Aditya, and Haley are the board members of the Student Committee for IMSA's Advancement (SCIA). SCIA strengthens IMSA's relationship with legislators and alumni by attending and planning networking events, leading guest tours, and advocating for IMSA.

We are looking for students who are passionate about making IMSA better and interested in learning more about SCIA. Here is the link to an interest form.

If you have questions, please reach out to members of the SCIA Executive Board: Ellen Hsuan (ehsuan@imsa.edu), Aditya Tiwari (atiwari@imsa.edu), or Haley Shah (hshah@imsa.edu)

Earn a chance to win a $50 Uber Eats gift card (or other merch and food prizes) by submitting a two-minute video to the IMSA AI Design Challenge!

In this challenge, you will:

• Identify a problem that you have noticed or experienced
• Describe and research how AI Technology can be used to solve this problem
• Present your solution in the form of a two-minute video presentation that describes the problem and your AI solution

Learn more about the contest and view a written example here.

Submissions are due October 22 by 11:59 p.m.

PAC is seeking food donations for two upcoming student events. If you are interested and able to donate, please sign up using the links below.

Soul of the Motherland

Monday, November 18, 2024

6:00 p.m.

BSU is seeking food donations from parents to help make Soul of the Motherland a success. If you are able to contribute, please sign up using the button below.

Food can be dropped off at the front security desk anytime on Monday, November 18. Please inform security that your donation is for BSU's Soul of the Motherland. If you have questions, please reach out to Tyler Rush or Benicet Konan.

Thank you for your support in helping us create a wonderful event for the students!

The Great Dumpling Gathering

Thursday, October 24, 2024

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Asian Students in America Club (ASIA) is currently seeking donations for their dumpling event.

Parents are welcome to donate whatever is most convenient, but store-bought chicken or vegetable dumplings (like this one) are preferred over beef dumplings. All donated dumplings must be frozen and uncooked as ASIA will cook them the day of. Parents can have their student drop off their dumplings to1503.

Contact Lily Zhang or Jessica Jiang with questions. Thank you for your support!

Fall Break at the end of the quarter gives students the opportunity to recharge and reset. For some students, it's a chance to visit colleges and/or work on college apps. Regardless of what your IMSA student did over the break, I hope it was meaningful to support their needs, and I hope you enjoyed your time with them.

While students were away, IMSA staff were busy pulling together grade reports, writing recommendation letters, and planning the second quarter. In addition, they were also networking with each other. This past Thursday, we held an Inspire and Ignite symposium for colleagues to share their latest work with one another, offer input on our direction, and connect across departments. Through our presentations and discussions, we developed a deeper appreciation for our students' needs and what we are trying to accomplish together. For your reference, here is the program booklet so you can learn more about what we discussed. For me, it was an inspiration to hear about the new ideas we are testing and the impact we are aspiring to have on our students and our future.

The Senior Class Club is pleased to announce the annual Senior Auction. The club is currently seeking contributions for the auction catalog. This event presents an excellent opportunity to share a skill or hobby, offer a holiday gift or service, and connect with the school community, all while supporting the Class Club's fundraising efforts for the senior prom. Many auction items would also make ideal holiday gifts.

Example donations include:

• Physical gifts (food items, handmade crafts, gift baskets, gift cards, etc.)
• Virtual gifts (coupons, e-gift cards, etc.)
• Buying a meal (for an individual, wing dinners, a group of 4)
• Paying for a trip (tickets to a show/game/concert, entertainment attractions)
• Offering lessons (Musical instruments, cooking, knitting, coding, tutoring, etc.)

For those interested in donating, please complete this Google Form by November 18, 2024. Please specify who you are, what you plan to donate, and the quantity of the items or the number of students you are willing to provide for. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact a member of the Senior Class Club or reach out to Ms. Chloe.

Race Talks is an opportunity for all IMSA students to discuss the current racial climate at IMSA. The conversation will be facilitated by Marcus Sibley, a social justice activist and spoken word Artist. Dinner will be provided.

Marcus Sibley is an activist and speaker from Newark, New Jersey, who aims to address environmental and social justice issues through various mediums, including poetry and music. He serves as the New York Metro Director of Conservation Partnerships at the National Wildlife Federation and holds multiple leadership roles in justice-related organizations, advocating for equity and climate justice both nationally and internationally.

Bring IMSA closer together with mutual understanding and respect!

Thursday, October 24, 2024

• Bucknell University (PA) in A110
• Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences (OH) in A116
• Oklahoma State University (OK) A114
• U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (MS) in A112
• University of Rochester (NY) in A113

Sophomore LEAD Elective Module

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

*Note that this is an extended module, so please plan accordingly.*

Sophomores should bring their laptops, a notebook, and a writing utensil to every LEAD session. Please review the syllabus for your elective by Wednesday to familiarize yourself with the attendance policy and upcoming modules. Attendance is mandatory. Any absences should be reported via email to LEAD Program Coordinator Emma Wilson Parker by Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Class of 2025

Please remember to be vigilant in logging your service learning hours into Helper Helper and then following up to make sure they are fully approved. As a reminder, students who do not complete the graduation requirement for service learning, as stated here, will not receive their final transcripts until they have done so. All hours must be submitted and fully approved (present in PowerSchool).

Ankit Walishetti '25 and Andrew Wong '25 presented at the 2024 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Healthcare Innovations Point-of-Care Technologies Conference this past September. Their paper, "Evaluating Home-Based EEG Systems for Public Health Telemonitoring," explores how well electroencephalogram (EEG) systems work when used at home. These devices help doctors see what’s happening in a person's brain and can help track health conditions like epilepsy. Accurate and easy-to-use EEG systems can be used to monitor many people's brain health from their homes. Their research is set for publication through IEEE. 

IMSA Impact Makers

Experiential Learning

Congratulations to Dr. Anita White, Dean of Student Support and Equity, for receiving the Outstanding Leader in Experiential Education: K-12 award at the Society for Experiential Education Conference. She was recognized for her leadership in organizing the Summer Research and Experiential Learning Program (SRELO) for IMSA students.

OnCon Icon Awards

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was named a Top 50 DEI team in the nation by The OnCon Icon Awards earlier today. The OnCon Icon Awards are peer-voted honors, that celebrate individuals and teams who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and significant contributions within their organizations.

Congratulations to Dr. Adrienne Coleman, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Mr. Rodrigo Sanchez, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Associate, for their work bringing diversity equity, and inclusion learning opportunities to IMSA.

Group Fitness Classes

There are now two weekly group fitness opportunities for staff and students! No registration is required. Just show up with workout clothes, shoes, and water. If you have any questions, email Counselor/Group Fitness Instructor Alex Pratt at apratt@imsa.edu.

Weight Training

Mondays

1:55 p.m. - 2:35 p.m. (S&E Period)

Multipurpose Room

Group Fitness Class

Wednesdays or I-Days

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Multipurpose Room

Mark Your Calendars! 

October 28 - Mental Health Week Assembly (Special Schedule)

October 28 - November 1 - Mental Health Week

November 5 - Election Day (The Academy is closed, but the halls remain open.)

November 9 - Admissions Preview Day

November 11 - Veterans Day Assembly (Special Schedule)

Click below to view the complete 12-month calendar, along with other helpful information about various bell schedules. Please refer to these calendars for important dates and special class schedules throughout the year.

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.