The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
THE MAROON SEA. The Class of 2026 floods Rockefeller Chapel on June 11 for the 122nd University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Commencement. Students held fans. Rockefeller Chapel was overrun with heat during the ceremony.
At graduation, speakers, performers commemorate 148 students in the Class 2026
After a busy year, the staff will take a break from publishing over the summer.
Midway will be taking a break during the summer
CONGRATULATORY CLAPS. Looking up at awards announcements projected during the awards assembly, seniors Summer Pinc, Peyton Palmer and Lydia Gilbert clap together. The assembly, during a special schedule on the morning of June 4, ended with seniors hanging out in Scammon Garden and eating popsicles.
Gallery: End-of-year celebrations
The new photojournalism leaders are Bryce Kenny and Simon Vaang, editors-in-chief. The new U-Highlights leaders are Sadie Ellis and Kayla Monterola, editors-in-chief
New editors chosen for 2026-27 U-Highlights and photojournalism teams
SENIOR SEND-OFF. On June 4, seniors saw their 2026 U-Highlights yearbooks for the first time in Café Lab at the senior breakfast. Before the awards assembly, they had the chance to sign each other's books.
Signing Day: U-Highlights yearbooks distributed to student body
Andrew Miller, Lab’s current assistant director of student services, will take on the new role at the high school as dean of student success starting July 1
Andrew Miller hired as dean of student success
Submissions for the Beloved Community T-shirt contest are due on May 20.
Beloved Community T-shirt submissions are open
Sadie Ellis and Declan Smith have been selected for the Illinois All-State Journalism Team for outstanding journalistic work.
Two U-High juniors selected for Illinois All-State Journalism Team
Viren de Jeu, Noah Gunning and Simon Vaang each were recognized for national awards from the Jostens Photo Contest; Both Noah and Simon won additional awards from the Walsworth Photo Contest.
Three photojournalists, adviser receive national recognition
The Shakespeare Slam team poses with various objects. The team won city-wide runners-up on April 27, performing a rendition of Hamlet.
Shakespeare Slam team wins citywide runner-up
Dating Decline
Dating Decline
To Love America
To Love America
AI's Quiet Coup
AI’s Quiet Coup
A social media trend based around nostalgia for the year 2016, revealed a desire for life to feel more carefree.
2026 is out, 2016 is in
Serving Up Skinny
Serving Up Skinny
Opinion Editor Sinziana Lazar argues that Lab has the unique opportunity to adapt education for the age of AI.
To solve AI cheating, the way school works has to change
The Editorial Board urges students to reevaluate the impact of the clubs they may lead or have founded, and to ensure these clubs prioritize a true passion instead of just being for a resume.
Prioritize passion, not your resume
The Editorial Board argues that student expression should not be limited by the neutrality policy, and instead, spaces for expression should be expanded.
Increase spaces for student-controlled expression
Sports Editor Gabriel Wang argues that student-athletes should be given the choice whether to attend P.E.
Student athletes should be able to choose to attend P.E.
Managing Editor Lucy Shirrell argues that mental health education should teach what struggles feel like, not just how to detect them in others.
Discuss what mental health struggles can feel like not just look like
HOME AWAY FROM HOME. Over the summer, junior Samara Grossman is a camp counselor at Hidden Valley, a camp in Maine that focuses on arts and the outdoors. Being a camper was her favorite experience and she wants to share her passion for camp with younger campers.
Students return to overnight camp as leaders
To promote a screen-free summer, the Midway compiled three adventures in the Chicago area for students to take.
Screen-Free Summer
INSPIRED EDUCATING. English teacher Carrie Koenen stands with projects her students made over the years. Ms. Koenen has always been drawn to the world of literary analysis and encourages students to read for pleasure.
End of a Chapter: English teacher Carrie Koenen will retire after 22 years of instilling love for literature
EARLY EDUCATION. Kathleen Iatarola, a second grade assistant teacher, will retire after teaching at Lab for 23 years.
Kathleen Iatarola, early childhood educator, retires
Click, Check, Concentrate. A student in Shauna Anderson’s third period Accelerated Algebra class keeps a bingo board open on their screen while following as another student solves a problem on the whiteboard. The student-created game, based on Ms. Anderson’s commonly used phrases and habits have become a daily part of the class, encouraging students to stay attentive and engaged during lessons.
Bingo board boosts attention, sense of community in math class
SKY ROOM SIGHTS. Guests look out the windows in the Sky Room on the museum’s top floor, where Stephen Colbert interviewed Mr. Obama for the May 5 episode of “The Late Show.” The Sky Room was added to the Obama Center to physically and symbolically connect guests to surrounding South Side neighborhoods, the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan.
Gallery: Peek inside the Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center, opening June 19, honors the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama. The center will include multiple facilities, including a gym, a library and a museum.
Home for Change: 44 facts about the Obama Center opening
RESTOCKING RESOURCES. Amanda Anderson, a vendor at the Gorman Farm Fresh Produce stand fills in their selection of fresh herbs at the 61st Street Farmers Market on April 11. Their stand has had a presence at the market for 12 years and was outside at the market’s last indoor day of the season, as the weather permitted. Molly Gorman, one of the stand’s owners, said about Link Match, “What’s important as part of the community is to be able to make some of our product more affordable so that everyone has a chance to benefit.”
Fresh food for all: 61st Street Farmers Market offers accessible produce to community
Vox Pop: Student expectations of the Obama Center
Vox Pop: Student expectations of the Obama Center
A DIFFERENT KIND OF TURF. The U-High baseball team tends to a community garden in Woodlawn run by the volunteer organization Blacks In Green. Blacks In Green uses these community gardens alongside other sustainability projects like a geothermal heating pilot program to help reverse Chicago’s historical environmental injustice.
A sustainable Chicago
Squire! The YouTube logo of “Royal Court” is displayed at the introduction of every interview, where celebrities and cultural icons answer both ridiculous and serious questions about their lives, careers and passions. The show started in 2023, with country artist Orville Peck as the first guest. “I wanted to provide a talk show setting that rejects tradition & instead plays to my strengths and puts the guest at ease in a silly and carefree environment,” Brittany Broski wrote in the description of “Royal Courts” first episode.
‘Royal Court’ brings humor to interviews through unconventional format
Painted Possibilities: A notebook displaying the question “What is AI?” sits beside watercolor paints as “The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist” examines society’s mixed emotions surrounding artificial intelligence. Directed by Daniel Roher and released in March 2026, the documentary discussed the rapid growth of AI technology and the concerns tied to its influence on humanity’s future. “There are an insane number of challenges ahead of us but if we can get past them, we can unlock a future beyond our wildest imagination,” one interviewee said in the film.
Documentary provides powerful, dangerous reality of artificial intelligence
CAPTION: GAME ON. NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dribbles the basketball in action as the cover athlete in the “NBA 2K26,” the 27th edition of “NBA 2K” published by 2K games. Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player Award winner and 2025 champion. “Every kid who grows up playing basketball pictures themselves on the cover of ‘NBA 2K’ — it’s a dream come true moment, especially following an NBA Championship,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
With advanced motion technology, ‘NBA 2K26,’ basketball-based video game, offers more immersive gameplay
With the Puerto Rican flag flying, Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggatón exhibit explores self-expression through art.
Through dance, new MCA exhibit showcases Caribbean cultural identity
THE BIG PICTURE. Using inspiration from his grandparents careers, Alex Hunter began his photography in ninth grade. Alex’s speciality is sports photography, including occasionally taking photos for the Chicago White Sox.
Picture Perfect: Through his camera lens, Alex Hunter discovers self-expression, success
Third baseman Elliot Poston slides to a base during an away varsity baseball game against Francis W. Parker School on May 1. Elliot walked and scored a run. The U-High Maroons won 7-4.
Baseball wrap up: team loss at sectional final
During the 800-meter run on May 1, senior Sean Niro fights for a second place finish with a time of 2:10.28. Discussing Sean, junior Connor Lane said, “He has had a super, super big track season, made a lot of improvement.”
Track and field wrap up: both teams place third at sectionals, finish seasons at state
Yelling in celebration, sophomore Christopher Williams and junior Arjun Sawhney react after winning a point during a varsity tennis match against Lake Forest Academy on April 28. The pair qualified for state even though they were partners for the first time this year. “It was a very new feeling to play with one another,” Arjun said. “I think these matches where we started to feel out how to best play with each other were helpful.”
Boys tennis season wrap-up: In first 2A season, team ties for 14th at state
Varsity baseball coach Luke Zavala cheers for sophomore Jason Cross as he runs between bases in a baseball game against Lincoln Park High School.
Sophomore Jason Cross finds community through extracurricular baseball
During the regional semi-final match against Nazareth Academy on May 19, seniors Devyn Moubayed and Leyla Yates jump to head the ball off a corner kick. U-High lost 2-0 to end the season.
Girls soccer season wrap-up: Loss at regional semifinals caps first 2A season
HIDDEN RISKS. Common over-the-counter medicines and supplements, including antacids, naproxen, melatonin and acetaminophen, can be harmful if dosing instructions aren't carefully followed.
Pills, pain, precaution: Over-the-counter medicine poses hidden risks, can cause harmful effects
Dermatologist Lathilda Reddy thinks that even with sunscreen, there is no way of tanning that is healthy.
Q&A: Dermatologist shares summer skin safety tips
TWISTED TOPIC. Despite the topic being generally viewed as taboo, Dr. Agarwal and students alike encourage people to prioritize health over feelings of awkwardness when discussing testicular torsion. Testicular torsion is the twisting of the spermatic cord which cuts off blood supply to the scrotum and is a condition that often requires immediate surgery, Dr. Agarwal said.
A Painful Subject
WARPED WELLNESS. In an effort to lead a healthier lifestyle, many turn to trendy products. However, some of these goods come with questionable promises.
Trendy or true: four health trends explained
Seniors Cyrus Black and Alex Diamond train in the fitness center for their upcoming triathlon in Oahu, Hawaii, on May 17. Training has forced Cyrus and Alex to think carefully about their habits.
Triathlon training supports healthy habits
SENIOR SEND-OFF. On June 4, seniors saw their 2026 U-Highlights yearbooks for the first time in Café Lab at the senior breakfast. Before the awards assembly, they had the chance to sign each other's books.
Signing Day: U-Highlights yearbooks distributed to student body
OPENING ACT. “The SpongeBob Musical” cast sings the musical’s opening number, “Bikini Bottom Day.” The musical was performed May 15-16, and was held in Sherry Lansing Theater. Sofia Ybarra, who played SpongeBob, said, “It was definitely the hardest role I’ve ever had, both in terms of the physical demands and the acting ones as well. Not only did I have to learn how to be a cartoon character with my voice and emotions, I also had to learn to embody one. On top of that, I was responsible for keeping the energy of the whole cast up and engaged. I wouldn’t have traded the role or the experience for the world, though.” Photo by Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle
Gallery: ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ journeys to save Bikini Bottom
Video vox pop: What students want from Student Council
Video vox pop: What students want from Student Council
Cherry blossoms in full bloom in Jackson Park.
Video: Jackson Park cherry blossoms mark beginning of spring
Science teacher Daniel Calleri inspects and sorts through the old honeycombs making sure to clear out any spider webs and a naturally made adhesive called propolis. Because honeybee colonies don’t tend to survive over the Chicago winter, Dr. Calleri has to prepare the hives anew every year.
Audio: As spring approaches, apiary starts to buzz with life
CONGRATULATORY CLAPS. Looking up at awards announcements projected during the awards assembly, seniors Summer Pinc, Peyton Palmer and Lydia Gilbert clap together. The assembly, during a special schedule on the morning of June 4, ended with seniors hanging out in Scammon Garden and eating popsicles.
Gallery: End-of-year celebrations
SKY ROOM SIGHTS. Guests look out the windows in the Sky Room on the museum’s top floor, where Stephen Colbert interviewed Mr. Obama for the May 5 episode of “The Late Show.” The Sky Room was added to the Obama Center to physically and symbolically connect guests to surrounding South Side neighborhoods, the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan.
Gallery: Peek inside the Obama Presidential Center
OPENING ACT. “The SpongeBob Musical” cast sings the musical’s opening number, “Bikini Bottom Day.” The musical was performed May 15-16, and was held in Sherry Lansing Theater. Sofia Ybarra, who played SpongeBob, said, “It was definitely the hardest role I’ve ever had, both in terms of the physical demands and the acting ones as well. Not only did I have to learn how to be a cartoon character with my voice and emotions, I also had to learn to embody one. On top of that, I was responsible for keeping the energy of the whole cast up and engaged. I wouldn’t have traded the role or the experience for the world, though.” Photo by Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle
Gallery: ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ journeys to save Bikini Bottom
STRONG STRIDES. Sprinting through a crowd of runners, junior Mikey Skolarus competes in a cross country meet Sept. 14. Mikey said the warm weather increased the challenge of the race. “It was a tough run, the sun was extremely hot. I really just wanted to finish and forget about the time,” he said. “I just wanted to stop running and lay in the grass.”
Gallery: Game Faces
Zanee Barnes poses in a vintage photobooth in the Strip Club in Wicker Park.
Gallery: Walking through Wicker
Connections: April 30, 2025
Connections: April 30, 2025
Connections: March 31, 2025
Connections: March 31, 2025
Connections: Feb. 25, 2025
Connections: Feb. 25, 2025
Connections Feb. 18, 2025
Connections Feb. 18, 2025
The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
Categories:

Midway wins fourth consecutive Pacemaker, takes 47 state awards

Karina Hans, Assistant Editor
May 1, 2026
Xander Feigenbaum
The U-High Midway was awarded the Online Pacemaker Award for the fourth year in a row. Additionally, several journalists received state awards for their work.

The U-High Midway has again been named one of the top student news publications in Illinois and the nation. 

The Midway is one of 16 high schools to win an Online Pacemaker Award, while the staff and individual journalists won 47 awards in a state contest, including best overall publication and best hybrid publication.

This is the Midway’s fifth Online Pacemaker overall and fourth in a row. The award from the National Scholastic Press Association recognizes general excellence in online journalism.

For the Illinois Journalism Education Association Newspaper and Digital News Media Contest, the Midway competed in Division 2, schools with enrollment of 600-1,299 students.

Senior Light Dohrn, an editor-in-chief, said the awards show the team’s excellence, and that their joy and pride are as good as the award itself. 

“I think what makes the Midway so special as a U-High extracurricular is the extent to which it encourages unconditional joy at the success of the other people and the success of the team,” she said. “I think we clearly see that with awards granted to our overall publication, so Pacemakers obviously are a huge one. The joy and the celebration that we feel, and the pride that we feel to be part of this team, feels like an award in itself.”

Sophomore Chloé Tyndall won multiple IJEA awards, including best feature story and second place news story. She was proud of her awards and said that what made them stand out was the variety of perspectives she brought to light through her writing. 

“I think what made my stories stand out was just the fact that I talked to many sources for them,” Chloé said. “For my paleontology story, after my initial interview with the person that I was given a tip on, I was able to find more people that were involved in this and create a more rounded story.”

A full list of the awards is below:

Best Overall Publication

Best Hybrid Publication

Alternative Storytelling

First: Vol. 101, Issue 8, Features Page 16: Wingin’ It, Ari Novak, Chloé Tyndall, Laya Flowers

Second: Vol. 100, Issue 10, City Life Page 12: Food al Fresco, Lila Coyne, Lucy Shirrell, Naomi Benton, Edward Park, Ilana Umanskiy

Audio Journalism

First: Audio: As Barnes & Noble opens in Hyde Park, locals say they’ll support indie shops, Leila Koss, March 6, 2026

Honorable Mention: Ideological Roundtable: Students appreciate discourse at Lab, teachers’ opinions, Lila Coyne, Light Dohrn, Jan. 15, 2026

Centerspread Story Package

First:  Serving Up Skinny, Light Dohrn, Ari Novak, Cecily Bensmaia, Kabir Joshi, Nadia Washington, Nola Baldassare, Tyra DeWeese, Dec. 19, 2025

Third: Seismic Shifts, Sohana Schneider, Lila Coyne, Sinziana Lazar, Tyra DeWeese, Declan Smith, Ari Novak, Oct. 23, 2025

Design

First: Vol 101, Issue 7, Jan. 22, 2026

Second: Vol. 101, Issue 8, Feb. 19, 2026

Editorial

First: Stand up against ICE raids, Orlie Weitzman, Oct. 23, 2025

Third: Give teachers freedom of expression too, Lila Coyne, Dec. 17, 2025

Editorial Cartoon

Second: Phone ban policy, Claire Dong, Nov. 3, 2025

Third: ICE raids, Tyra DeWeese, Oct. 23, 2025

Feature Story

First: Students explore paleontology through Fossil Lab, Chloé Tyndall, Oct. 24, 2025

Second: Margin to Mainstream: Gen Z slang uses terms from minority dialects, Ellie Rosenberg, Oct. 17, 2025

Front-Page Design

Second: Vol. 101, Issue 2, Page 1, Declan Smith, Sept. 25, 2025

Honorable Mention: Vol. 101, Issue 8, Page 1, Declan Smith, Feb. 19, 2026

Headline

First: Wingin’ It, Ari Novak, Feb. 19, 2026

Second: Power, Profit and Pee, Orlie Weitzman, May 8, 2025

Illustration

First: Margin to Mainstream, Tyra DeWeese, Oct. 17, 2025

Second: New study finds gossip supports social connection, Claire Dong, Jan. 9, 2026

Infographic

Third: 5 key events that turned Chicago into a comedy Mecca, Nola Baldassare, Dec. 18, 2025

Multimedia Story Package

Third: Clubs organize response to increased immigration enforcement activity, Naomi Benton, Nadia Washington, Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, Oct. 8, 2026

Honorable Mention: Lab community participates in one of the largest ‘No Kings’ protests, Declan Smith, Sohana Schneider, Ari Novak, Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, Calder Wong, Simon Vaang, Delaney Connell

News Story

Second: English department’s Grammarly ban begins, Chloé Tyndall, Jan. 13, 2026

Third: Parents, faculty dismayed with lack of administrative action, Light Dohrn, Sohana Schneider, Nov. 3, 2025

Personality Profile

Third: Balancing Act: Senior Satya Dominguez-Hultgren adds whimsy to aerial dancing through clowning, Lila Coyne, Sept. 26, 2025

Honorable Mention: Creative Composing: Student musician finds new passion through writing original music, Lucy Shirrell, Dec. 15, 2025

Photo Gallery or Photo Slideshow — minimum 6 images

First: Gallery: Moments of Intensity, Staff, June 2, 2025

Second: Gallery: Seniors break from school at getaway, Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, Lucy Shirrell, Feb. 6, 2026

Photo, News or Feature

First: Chemical concentration (Moment of intensity) Simon Vaang, June 2, 2025

Second: No Kings: Bike Hike (third image), Calder Wong, Oct. 21, 2025

Photo, Sports

First: Boys basketball, Bryce Kenny, Jan. 13, 2026

Second: Boys basketball season wrapup (third in gallery), Noah Gunning, March 5, 2026

Photo Story

First: Vol. 101, Issue 8, Page 7, 24 Hours of Art, Lila Coyne, Maya Gauhar, Simon Vaang, Davis Dyson, Sacha Twemlow, Delaney Connell, Estelle Levinson, Feb. 19, 2026

Second: Vol. 101, Issue 8, Page 13, Winter Sports: Putting in the work, Caroline Skelly, Nola Baldassare, Bryce Kenny, Estelle Levinson, Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, Asha Reynolds-Stewart, Noah Gunning, Feb. 19, 2026

Review

First: ‘Frankenstein’ film innovates, illustrates novel’s vision, Light Dohrn, Nov. 13, 2025

Second: New film ‘Hamnet’ delivers forceful, unsubtle tragedy, Lila Coyne, Dec. 11, 2025

Single-Page Story Package

Third: Vol. 101, Issue 8, Page 16: Features: Wingin’ It, Ari Novak, Chloé Tyndall, Laya Flowers

Honorable Mention: Vol. 101, Issue 7, Page 10: Features: Chill of Victory, Sohana Schneider, Tyra DeWeese, Orlie Weitzman, Karina Hans, Jan. 22, 2026

Social Media

Second: Instagram, staff

Sports Commentary

Honorable Mention: Betting threatens to overwhelm sports, Kabir Joshi, Feb. 11, 2026

Sports Feature Story

Third: Quieting the Competition: After an injury, Nanak Ofori-Mante returns stronger as a leader, player on the court, Naomi Benton, Jan. 21, 2026

Sports News Story

Second: Krish Khanna, Juliana Walker selected for IHSA Academic All-State Team, Caroline Skelly, March 28, 2025

Honorable Mention: At Lab, girls basketball participation is on the decline, Sohana Schneider, Dec. 16, 2025

Video Story

Second: Volleyball teams fundraise for breast cancer research, Caroline Skelly, Calder Wong, Oct. 21, 2025

Third: Video: Life at ‘The Reg’ — For U-High students, UChicago’s library offers calm, focused environment for work, Nadia Washington, Light Dohrn, Jan. 23, 2026

Website

First: uhighmidway.com

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THE MAROON SEA. The Class of 2026 floods Rockefeller Chapel on June 11 for the 122nd University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Commencement. Students held fans. Rockefeller Chapel was overrun with heat during the ceremony.
At graduation, speakers, performers commemorate 148 students in the Class 2026
After a busy year, the staff will take a break from publishing over the summer.
Midway will be taking a break during the summer
CONGRATULATORY CLAPS. Looking up at awards announcements projected during the awards assembly, seniors Summer Pinc, Peyton Palmer and Lydia Gilbert clap together. The assembly, during a special schedule on the morning of June 4, ended with seniors hanging out in Scammon Garden and eating popsicles.
Gallery: End-of-year celebrations
The new photojournalism leaders are Bryce Kenny and Simon Vaang, editors-in-chief. The new U-Highlights leaders are Sadie Ellis and Kayla Monterola, editors-in-chief
New editors chosen for 2026-27 U-Highlights and photojournalism teams
SENIOR SEND-OFF. On June 4, seniors saw their 2026 U-Highlights yearbooks for the first time in Café Lab at the senior breakfast. Before the awards assembly, they had the chance to sign each other's books.
Signing Day: U-Highlights yearbooks distributed to student body
Senior Jonah Austen accepts the Brent Cawelti Award from principal Martin Woods. The award honors two seniors who have made considerable progress during their high school years.
Awards assembly honors students, clubs