News

Lab alumnus, Supreme Court Justice passes away

Nikhil Patel, Editor-in-Chief
July 17, 2019

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has died at age 99. He graduated from U-High in 1937, and was president of the senior class.

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U-High Midway (@uhighmidway) • Instagram photos and videos

After a busy year, the staff will take a break from publishing over the summer.

Midway will be taking a break during the summer

Ari Novak, Declan Smith, and Lila Coyne • June 10, 2026

Dear readers, This year, the Midway has strived for consistent and ethical reporting along with complete coverage to produce a paper that represents the student body accurately....

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

Karina Hans, Ellie Rosenberg, and Lila Coyne • June 11, 2026

As thunder echoed outside and guests fanned themselves in the muggy air of Rockefeller Chapel, 148 students in the Class of 2026 received their diplomas on June 11. Graduation...

New editors chosen for 2026-27 U-Highlights and photojournalism teams
June 8, 2026
Chloé Tyndall, Sports Editor
New editors have been chosen for both the photojournalism and U-Highlights teams for the 2026-27 school year. The new photojournalism leaders are Bryce Kenny and Simon...
Signing Day: U-Highlights yearbooks distributed to student body
June 8, 2026
Ellie Rosenberg, Features Editor, Noah Gunning, and Photographer
On June 4, the 2026 U-Highlights yearbook made it to the Senior Class. U-Highlights team members, who spent the year working on the book during fifth period, got to see...
Gallery: Peek inside the Obama Presidential Center
June 5, 2026
Nola Baldassare and Cecily Bensmaia
The Obama Presidential Center is opening June 19 after close to five years of construction. The center grounds include a museum, a forum, multiple eateries, a public library...
Dating Decline
June 4, 2026
Dating may be seen as the quintessential high school ritual. Movies from “Grease” to “She’s the Man” have chronicled those associated rites of passage: prom, first...
Home for Change: 44 facts about the Obama Center opening
June 4, 2026
Nola Baldassare, Assistant Editor
After nearly five years of construction, the Obama Presidential Center is set to open its facilities to the public this month. Unlike other presidential libraries, the OPC...
Prioritize passion, not your resume
June 3, 2026
Editorial Board
This fall, Dean of Students Ana Campos unveiled a new club policy that involved the creation of a set of standards to meet for a club to be recognized in one of three tiers....
Screen-Free Summer
June 3, 2026
Husain Asif, Salma El Bissati, Reed Francez, Leila Koss, and Audrey Yin
A 2023 study from the National Library of Medicine found that excessive screen time is detrimental to a child’s development. Now that summer is here, reduce these negative...

News

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

Audrey Yin, Reporter • June 5, 2026

Editor's note: Audrey Yin was assigned in advance to cover the spring awards assembly, where she was also announced as winner of the Phoenix Award for her grade. Her reporting was unaffected by this honor. Students, faculty,...

During 7th period on June 2, senior Audrey Tian presents her may project on her trip to Japan.

May project gives space for cultural education, exploration

Leila Koss, Reporter • June 2, 2026

From May 11-29, seniors spent time exploring personal interests through their May Project. Whether building a miniature model of their house or teaching drums in Pakistan, the project gave seniors time away from schoolwork...

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Opinion

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

Editorial Board • May 29, 2026

Since 2022, students have gathered each June in the Blaine Courtyard to raise a pride flag on the school flagpole. The practice of raising a pride flag to recognize LGBTQ+...

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.

Gabriel Wang, Sports Editor • May 20, 2026

U-High requires three years of physical education for graduation while emphasizing the importance of balancing academics, athletics and extracurricular commitments to cultivate...

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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

Audrey Yin, Reporter • June 8, 2026

Artificial intelligence: humanity’s greatest breakthrough or its greatest threat? “The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist” confronts that unsettling question head-on by asking serious questions...

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Photo Galleries

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

Cecily Bensmaia, City Life Editor • May 20, 2026

This year’s spring musical, “The SpongeBob Musical,” tells the story of SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends as they race to save their hometown of Bikini Bottom from...

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

Naomi Benton, Managing Editor • April 7, 2026

Student athletes at U-High have long balanced the demands of rigorous academics with the intensity of sports. After long, strenuous school days, they step onto the field,...

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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

Husain Asif, Lila Coyne • June 2, 2026

The boys and girls track and field teams each finished their seasons at the state championships — May 28-30 for boys and May 21-23 for girls — after multiple runners earned first or second at the...

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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

Nadia Washington, Deputy Managing Editor • May 28, 2026

After staying up late at a friend’s house in mid-May, junior Theo Lach came to school with a pounding headache. To provide some relief, he took some Advil and his headache went away shortly after. For...

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