The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
Searching for solutions: Student looks at the AI overview while searching for how to find the derivative of a function on one of the Library’s computers. Many students rely on the overview as well as other AI tools for quick solutions to math problems and inquiries.
Teachers find AI Overview a shortcut for research
From hope to hesitancy, students reacted in many different ways to the election of a new pope.
Vox Pop: Students excited, nervous about new pope
W. Ian Lipkin who graduated U-High in 1970, was awarded the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Lipkin has over 40 years of work in his field.
Immunologist W. Ian Lipkin, Class of 1970, given the Distinguished Alumni Award
Daniel Chang, the 2025-26 all-school president-elect, hopes to make Student Council more efficient.
As president, Chang to prioritize functionality
Daniel Chang was elected all-school president for the 2025-26 school year.
Chang, Quiles to lead 2025-26 Student Council
From May 5-9, sophomores Aya El Bissati and Jairy Felix led a children's book drive, which raised over 120 books.
Book drive supports children’s literacy in underserved communities
On April 26 at Illinois State University, the Math Team won a state competition. Additionally, multiple teams and individuals won first place in individual competitions.
Math team wins state contest after scoring mishap
Senior Taariq Ahmed has been selected as Student Journalist of the Year by Youth Journalism International.
Midway editor named Student Journalist of the Year in global competition
Light Dohrn, the Midway's arts & entertainment editor, and Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, who is on the U-Highlights staff and was on the photojournalism team last year, were selected for the Illinois Journalism Education Association's All-State Journalism Team.
For third consecutive year, two U-High journalists named to All-State team
Midway journalists and photojournalists received various awards from the Illinois Journalism Education Association, including Best Overall Publication and Best Hybrid Publication.
U-High journalists, photojournalists receive state awards
The shadows of policy & power
The shadows of policy & power
Driven to serve: Alumni pursue careers in public service
Driven to serve: Alumni pursue careers in public service
Addicted to the Algorithm
Addicted to the Algorithm
10 x 10: Midway 100
10 x 10: Midway 100
Vice presidential candidate and previous educator Tim Walz addresses his supportive crowd at the 2024 DNC.
With former educator Walz on ticket, schools take spotlight
Audience Engagement Editor Abhay Chandran argues that books should choose a meaningful ending instead of an easy ending.
Write endings that have meaning instead of an easy outcome
The Editorial Board argues that Lab is losing the characteristics and limiting student activities which define student life and make the highschool experience fun.
Lab is losing what makes it fun
Assistant Editor Lila Coyne argues that in a period of petty political arguments, students should engage in collaborative disagreement.
Embrace collaborative disagreement to improve discussion
The Editorial Board argues that elected students must follow through on the promises that they make during campaigning.
Hold your Student Council accountable
Assistant Editor Orlie Weitzman argues that diversity from multilingualism needs to be embraced instead of demonized.
America must celebrate its multilingual roots
During Lab A, ninth graders Lauren Wilson and Alondra Reyes visit middle school faculty member Thomas Toney to talk about the latest water polo match that Alondra participated in. Lauren and Alondra often go together to visit Mr. Toney and talk to him about school or about personal things together. “We come back from time to time just to keep conversation going about how we’re doing in high school,” Lauren said.
Students maintain bonds with middle school teachers
Sophomore Saanika Dutta sets up an experiment for lower school students on April 6 as apart of Women in Stem's Science Saturday.
WiStem Science Saturday offers mentorship, education
Pressure of the perfect night
Pressure of the perfect night
On a Science Saturday on April 26, Women in Stem co-president Sofia Picciola works with kids on a pepper-and-soap experiment that explains surface tension concepts.
Video: Women in STEM members share passion on Science Saturdays
DINK OR DILL: Senior Asher Huner found a love for pickleball last summer, amid a boom of the fastest-growing sport.
Pickleball provides social time, enjoyable gameplay
Food al Fresco
Food al Fresco
PAWS FOR PASSION. Volunteer Wendy Elstien holds her foster dog, Gilda, as she explains the impact that the rescue has had on her life. Ms. Elstien started fostering Gilda after the loss of her own dog. “You have no idea how much this dog means to me and how much this has changed my life,” she said, “and that's really powerful to me.”
Fetching Hope: Volunteer organization saves vulnerable dogs from abuse
The Public Housing Museum, located at 919 S Ada St., allows visitors to engage with a narrative of public housing that highlights the humanity, resilience and joy of residents. The museum includes a working studio where the stories of public housing residents are recorded and publicly archived; a gift shop owned and operated by current and former public housing residents; gallery and exhibition spaces; a playground; and a recreation room where visitors can enjoy a large collection of records by artists who lived in public housing across the United States.
Public Housing Museum combats stereotypes through storytelling
Students practice lifeguarding skills in Sunny Gymnasium as part of a U-High class. U-High students say lifeguarding provides them with work experience and helps build connections with fellow employees.
Lifeguarding provides students with work experience, camaraderie
A second location of 5 Rabanitos, a Mexican restaurant based in the Pilsen neighborhood, is now open at 1301 E. 53rd St..
Pilsen’s 5 Rabanitos restaurant opens second location in Hyde Park
One hundred years after its publication in 1925, "The Great Gatsby" remains relevant, detailing parallel struggles and responses to our current day.
100 years later, ‘The Great Gatsby’ remains a cautionary tale
FROM SCENE TO SCREEN. Ninth grader René Saussy edits footage for a classmate’s short film using Adobe Premiere. After completing his own short film, he has been helping others edit their films
From Script to Screen: Ninth Graders explore filmmaking one scene at a time
"Sinners," a new movie by the director of "Black Panther," explores themes of ownership and race. It was released on April 17 and is currently available in theaters.
‘Sinners’ brings fresh vision, allegorical confusion
Mia Lane paints on a prop for the upcoming theater production, "Urinetown." U-High theater's set crew has make significant advancements in the complexity of their stage design.
Video: With ‘Urinetown,’ set crew takes new leaps in complexity
Senior Henry Auxenfans began taking violin lessons at 5 years old, and dedicated the next 13 years of his life to it.
Keeping time: Senior Henry Auxenfans finds discipline in violin
Sophomore Suna Choi Hortaçsu competes in an indoor track meet.
Athletic essentials Q&A: Suna Choi Hortaçsu
Jumping into the air, ninth grader Chris Williams delivers a powerful serve during the boys tennis team’s home game against Fenwick on April 24. As of May 5, the varsity had an undefeated record of 11-0 for the season.
Gallery: Pushing Past the Pain
Varsity soccer co-captain Orly Eggener raises her hands for a high five with her teammates. Sports captainship has allowed multiple students to grow both on and off the field.
Audio: Sports captainship allows student athletes to grow leadership skills
Senior Krish Khanna, a varsity tennis co-captain, leads his team with passion and sportsmanship. His love for tennis started at age 6 and continues to shape his high school experience.
Senior Krish Khanna finds purpose through tennis, leadership
Six alumni who once competed as U-High athletes will be inducted into the Lab Athletics Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2025.
Six U-High alumni athletes to be inducted into Lab Athletics Hall of Fame
HIDDEN HARM. Food dyes like tartrazine may deplete zinc, potentially affecting brain function. The European Union bans several dyes still allowed in the U.S., including Red 40 and Yellow 5.
Candy-colored concerns
A student selects various vegetables from the salad bar. Recent changes to the salad bar offerings in Cafe Lab have inspired students to consider healthier lunch options.
Audio: Improvements in healthier lunch options encourage mindful eating
FY FUTURE. Nature’s Fynd yogurts and patties are sold at local grocery stores like Whole Foods and Mariano’s. The company’s dairy-free Fy Yogurt recently won the 2025 NEXTY Award for best new dairy alternative.
From Yellowstone to yogurt, company makes new protein
Senior Noah Hoereth exercises in the fitness center. Recently, students have been using the fitness center for workouts, finding that the physical activity reaps mental rewards.
Audio: Fitness center workouts provide mental health benefits
LAUGH IT OFF. Laughter helps in reducing stress, strengthening your immune system, and bringing people closer together. In fact, you're 30 times more likely to laugh when you're with someone else than when you're alone.
Ha-ha for healthy healing
Mia Lane paints on a prop for the upcoming theater production, "Urinetown." U-High theater's set crew has make significant advancements in the complexity of their stage design.
Video: With ‘Urinetown,’ set crew takes new leaps in complexity
On a Science Saturday on April 26, Women in Stem co-president Sofia Picciola works with kids on a pepper-and-soap experiment that explains surface tension concepts.
Video: Women in STEM members share passion on Science Saturdays
Varsity soccer co-captain Orly Eggener raises her hands for a high five with her teammates. Sports captainship has allowed multiple students to grow both on and off the field.
Audio: Sports captainship allows student athletes to grow leadership skills
Students have been taking initiative outside of class to improve their foreign language skills through conversation clubs and language learning apps like Duolingo.
Audio: Improving language skills helps students learn, improve academically
Ninth-grader Dorothy Jenner has been dancing since she was two years old. She dances various styles, including ballet, hip hop, modern and pop.
Audio: Developing love for dance, ninth grader gains skills and confidence
Jumping into the air, ninth grader Chris Williams delivers a powerful serve during the boys tennis team’s home game against Fenwick on April 24. As of May 5, the varsity had an undefeated record of 11-0 for the season.
Gallery: Pushing Past the Pain
Surrounded by fellow students, junior Sara Park dances at Spring Fling on April 5 in the Sherry Lansing Theater.
Spring Fling enchants, charms with themed decor
In a March 26 tennis practice, ninth grader Alexander Yamini returns a ball in a serving and returning drill. “Practice helps me to improve my skills on the court,” Alexander said. “Every day that I go to practice I feel that I have added to my tennis skill set. People tend to see the final product or the polished skill, but they don’t always recognize the countless hours of struggling with things that didn’t work out during training.”
Gallery: Practice Makes Perfect
In a recurring scene about a student stuck in a time loop, junior Evelyn Halbach, left, relives the same experience of helping senior Taylor Landrey with her homework.
Gallery: Student Experimental Theater
Junior Liz Longnecker completes a Gelli plate print during Period 3.
Gallery: ArtsFest sparks excitement, expression
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
Haley Maharry

Haley Maharry, Reporter

Haley Maharry is a member of the Class of 2024, and serves as a reporter. Her favorite piece she has done is an audio story called “Fencing team members find new opportunity in fencing P.E. elective.” Outside of journalism, Haley listens to horror podcasts and acts in U-High’s theater.

Awards:

2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, multimedia story package (with Jaya Alenghat, Chloë Alexander, Clare McRoberts, Olin Nafziger), Mocktail Mania: Fruity, fizzy drinks offer nonalchoholic, fun beverage option

2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, single-page story package (with Chloë Alexander, Mia Lipson, Haley Maharry), Arts: Hiding honky-tonk

2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, video story, New club provides outlet for musicians, gives back to community

All content by Haley Maharry
Jaya Alenghat, Chloë Alexander and Clare McRoberts will be editors-in-chief for 2024-25.

[Photo] Midway editors selected for 2024-25 school year

Abhay Chandran, Reporter
April 26, 2024
Jaya Alenghat, Chloë Alexander and Clare McRoberts will be editors-in-chief for 2024-25.

Reporter Haley Maharry argues that while PRIDEChicago shouldn't have excluded some schools representing LGBTQ+ students, the organization is taking the right steps to correct their mistakes

PRIDEChicago parade listening to public, striving for inclusivity

Haley Maharry, Reporter
April 25, 2024
Sophomore Maya Livni, ninth grader Rachel Hu and senior Marlena Leuz discuss Latinx Representation in Media in their Social Justice Week workshop.

Social Justice Week activities promote diversity, inclusivity

Haley Maharry, Reporter
April 17, 2024
Ninth grader Taara Sajdeh qualified for the New Balance nationals and competed in March.

Taara Sajdeh sprints to success

Haley Maharry, Reporter
April 11, 2024

Video: Social Justice Week to bring equity themed conversations through workshops, activities

Haley Maharry, Reporter
March 29, 2024
U-High’s mock trial team participated in the state Mock Trial competition on March 16-17 in Springfield where they connected with each other and gained experience.

Mock trial competes at state and gains experience

Haley Maharry, Reporter
March 22, 2024
The girls basketball team ended their season on Feb. 10 in the first round of playoffs against Dyett High School.

Girls basketball ends season in first round of playoffs

Haley Maharry, Reporter
March 14, 2024
Showcasing a sea of colors, sizes and styles, headphones have become an integral part of a student's sense of taste and expression.

Headphones serve as form of expression, beyond practicality

Haley Maharry, Reporter
March 8, 2024
MAKING MUSIC. Improv musician Bethany Pickens continues her family’s traditions. She proudly watches over her parents’ honorary street, Irma and Willie Pickens Way.

Hyde Park History: Bethany Pickens

Haley Maharry, Reporter
February 22, 2024
Mocktails are a fruity and fun nonalchoholic beverage option and a unique activity to do with friends or family. Mocktails have become more and more popular in recent years, as alcohol consumption has declined.

Mocktail Mania: Fruity, fizzy drinks offer nonalchoholic, fun beverage option

Haley Maharry, Reporter
February 20, 2024
Reporter Haley Maharry argues that roles filled by celebrities should instead be given to talented new up and coming talents, not names people will recognize.

Celebrity voice casting is ruining the voice acting industry

Haley Maharry, Reporter
February 8, 2024
Nonprofit organization One Warm Coat works to help host coat drives across the country. Given the current influx of migrants in Chicago, organizations like One Warm Coat have an even larger role in helping those without homes to stay warm.

Coat donation program supports new arrivals in winter

Haley Maharry, Reporter
January 23, 2024
Health-related plans are some of most common New Year's resolutions. In order to maintain them, experts say the key is slow but steady improvement.

Resolutions that stick

Haley Maharry, Reporter
January 17, 2024
One of the fifteen food scrap drop-off sites around Chicago set up by the Department of Streets and Sanitation.

New Chicago composting program strives to keep food scraps out of landfills

Haley Maharry, Reporter
December 13, 2023
From Nov. 1-5, student journalists attended the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Boston, where they explored the city, competed in contests and won numerous awards.

Journalists learn, receive accolades at Boston national convention

Haley Maharry, Reporter
November 7, 2023
The movie adaptation of "Five Nights at Freddy's" pays homage to original game while being enjoyable to new explorers.

Five Nights at Freddy’s stays true to original game

Haley Maharry, Reporter
November 6, 2023

New club provides outlet for musicians, gives back to community

Haley Maharry, Reporter
October 23, 2023
Latinos Unidos is running a clothing drive to support migrants who have recently arrived in Chicago. The donation box is located in the high school lobby.

Latinos Unidos hosts clothing drive to support migrants

Haley Maharry, Reporter
October 19, 2023
On Oct. 11, juniors and sophomores took the PSAT/NMSQT in a new digital format, which utilized Chromebooks and an app called Bluebook.

New digital PSAT format offers simplicity despite delays

Haley Maharry, Reporter
October 18, 2023
This year, new technology has been added to multiple classrooms across the historic campus, and teachers are happy with how the new additions have contributed to their classroom environments.

With new technology, teachers experience ease, accessibility

Haley Maharry, Reporter
October 10, 2023
Affirmative Apprehension

Affirmative Apprehension

Audrey Park, Sahana Unni, Light Dohrn, Haley Maharry, and Milo Platz-Walker
September 27, 2023
Students react with a range of emotions to Lab's new security measures that require more frequent use of student IDs for access and attendance.

Students adjust to new security measures with relief, resentment

Haley Maharry and Edward Park
September 20, 2023
Newly released "Monkey King" stays true to the original story while adding stimulating visual elements.

“The Monkey King:” writing an antihero

Haley Maharry, Reporter
September 18, 2023
Keira Harter and Sonakshi Mutreja will receive scholarships for their performance in an exam hosted by the American Chemical Society for first-year chemistry students.

Sophomores awarded scholarships for high national chemistry exam scores

Haley Maharry, Reporter
June 2, 2023
URBAN ROUTE. From Buckingham Fountain to Grant Park to Michigan Avenue, the NASCAR Chicago drivers will make their way through a track that will include views of Lake Michigan and several other Chicago attractions. The front straightaway and pit road will be housed on South Columbus Drive, running along a two-block stretch that will take the race past Buckingham Fountain.

Pulling up downtown: NASCAR hits Windy City

Haley Maharry, Light Dohrn, Jaya Alenghat, Edward Park, Skye Freeman, Niall Danahey, Kabir Joshi, and David Santiago
May 30, 2023
NASCAR explained: 6 things to know about the organization

NASCAR explained: 6 things to know about the organization

Haley Maharry, Reporter
May 30, 2023
“Belle of the Ball” by Mari Costa focuses on the relationship drama between Belle Hawkins, her crush Regina Moreno, and her crush’s girlfriend Chloe Kitagawa.

Breaking the mold, graphic novel ‘Belle of the Ball’ challenges LGBTQ+ tropes

Haley Maharry, Reporter
May 19, 2023
Reporter Haley Maharry says that as D&D is introduced to a broader audience through these new forms of media, more people will be exposed to positive LGBTQ+ representation.

Popularization of Dungeons & Dragons helps to create more safe spaces for LGBTQ+ community

Haley Maharry, Reporter
May 11, 2023
In the last conference of their season, the Model United Nations team won the best large delegation award at the Northwestern University Conference.

Model United Nations ends season with national award

Haley Maharry, Reporter
April 19, 2023
AI interpolation disrespects the care put into the original animation and is of poorer quality.

Stop AI interpolation: People should listen to animators and authentic animation

Haley Maharry, Reporter
March 23, 2023
In the U-High athletics building, fencing equipment is sorted in an orderly fashion. Students who fence on the U-High team are able to expand their skills through a P.E. elective.

Audio: Fencing team members find new opportunity in fencing P.E. elective.

Haley Maharry, Reporter
March 8, 2023
Student journalists in states not protected by a student press law must gain free press rights in order to promote social change.

Student free press laws are necessary for a healthy student community

Jaya Alenghat, Niall Danahey, Light Dohrn, Haley Maharry, and Edward Park
February 22, 2023
Photographers Patrice Graham and Matt Petres placed in seven categories in total for the advanced division of the Fall Photo Contest sponsored by the Association of Texas Photography Instructors.

Two photojournalists win awards in national contest

Haley Maharry, Reporter
January 23, 2023
Dead birds can often be found outside of Gordon Parks Arts Hall, because sunlight reflecting off the large glass windows confuses them.

Fixing the flight plight: Administration has plan to reduce bird-window collisions

Haley Maharry, Reporter
January 5, 2023

Vox pop.

Jaya Alenghat and Haley Maharry
December 7, 2022
Is it really the most wonderful time of year?

Is it really the most wonderful time of year?

Jaya Alenghat, Krishita Dutta, Haley Maharry, Erich Raumann, and Téa Tamburo
December 7, 2022
Author Anya Kamenetz spoke to Lab parents at a webinar about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on children, discussing her new book, “The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, and Where We Go Now”

New book discusses the pandemic’s impact on youth

Haley Maharry, Reporter
October 21, 2022
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