The Student News Site of University of Chicago Laboratory High School

U-High Midway
After a busy year, the staff with take a break from publishing over the summer.
Midway will be taking a break during the summer
HATS OFF. After turning his tassel to the right side, Henry Auxenfans throws his mortarboard into the air, surrounded by jubilant classmates. Henry was one of 157 students to receive their diplomas during graduation, which lasted from 2-4 p.m. on June 12.
Class of 2025 recognizes 157 graduates in Rockefeller Chapel
SELFIE FIRST. Seniors Courtney McDonald, Kaavya Peddinti, Marcus Wolfe, Helen Kraemer and Amira Williams take a selfie on the dance floor during prom. Courntey ensured to document the night, so that he could look back on the memories in the future. “Prom was an amazing night for me, and I made sure to capture as many moments as I could with the people I care about the most.”
Gallery: Students Celebrate End of Year
Seniors Simon Lane, Krish Khanna, Paola Almeda and Juliana Walker take a photo with Athletics Director Juliana Zavala. They were the four William "Doc" Monilaw Medalists at the awards assembly on June 4.
Awards assembly honors student excellence, helps conclude school year
Director of Schools Tori Jueds, who has worked for Lab for four years, announced her departure from Lab on July 1. Her departure was announced via email on June 4.
Director of Schools Tori Jueds to leave July 1; search for interim will begin
Four students, including sophomore Suna Choi Hortacsu, junior Cruise Lickerman, junior Kai Gregorski and ninth grader Axel Lintz, won awards at the Midwest Chinese Speech Contest.
4 students win awards at Midwest Chinese Speech Contest
After the senior night soccer game, senior Arhan Ganapathi promposed to fellow senior Isolde Wedemeyer. This year's prom will be held on June 7, at Ovation on 2324 W. Fulton St.
Gatsby-themed prom to be held June 7
During the 2024 Labstock, Josiah Sklarsky, who is now a sophomore, performs before an audience. Labstock this year will take place on June 6.
Signup for Labstock opens; performers to be selected for June 6 celebration
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
Take me out to the ball game
Take me out to the ball game
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
New cell phone policy needs revisions
New cell phone policy needs revisions
Sports Editor Caroline Skelly argues that while it is important to prioritize wellbeing, mental health days can cause missed work to pile up, creating more stress.
Mental health days can add stress in unexpected ways
News Editor Declan Smith argues that cursive shouldn't be confined to textbooks, but rather, taught as an artistic skill.
Teach cursive as artistic skill rather than a textbook chore
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 high school experience fun.
Lab is losing what makes it fun
Sophomore Laurel Farmer fixes her hair in the bathroom mirror. A growing number of students dye their hair to express their identity, present themselves and set themselves apart. 
Through colored hair, students find unique ways to express their identities
CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION. Focusing intently, sophomore Caillum Haffner precisely dribbles droplets of sodium hydroxide into an aspirin-ethanol solution. As Caillum watched, he had to tensely await a color change in the solution. “It was actually really stressful doing the lab,” Caillum said. “It was hard because one drop too much of sodium hydroxide could totally ruin the lab, and I’d have to start over.”
Gallery: Moments of Intensity
Rather than buying new merchandise, U-High students choose vintage college apparel for its authenticity, history and retro style.
Worn-in and well-loved: Students embrace vintage college apparel
La Tiendita is a free store in the Washington Park neighborhood that provides clothes, household items and other goods to its shoppers. It is managed by admissions office associate Arcelia Guerrero.
Charity La Tiendita provides aid, support to those in need
Private Stories are a a feature on Snapchat often used by teenagers to document funny moments in their lives and share updates with friends — all with the ability to control how public or private they want these stories to be.
Students turn to Snapchat private stories for real talk, connection
With a new phone policy coming next year, students and faculty were conflicted about its effectiveness.
Vox pop: What makes Farmers markets worth the effort?
Eden Place Farms was founded as an answer to the longstanding food desert in Fuller Park. Farmers markets like the 61st Street Farmers Market help urban farms maintain constant flows of income.
From farm to market
Say “Ah.” Dr. Kat Asbury prepares to take a cat's temperature at one of the bimonthly pop-up clinics run by Hyde Park Cats. These pop-up clinics are held in the houses of Hyde Park volunteers, and allow for fosterers to bring their fosters in for necessary vaccinations, blood tests and wellness checks without incurring the costs of a regular vet visit. “Not everybody knows what to do when they see an animal in distress, and it’s good to get the word out so people know we’re a good resource,” Fran Spaltro, a frequent volunteer for this organization, said.
Comforting Cats: Nonprofit shelters, rescues local felines
Typing carefully as she works on her homework, ninth grader Maeve Krewatch gazes at her screen while sitting in a booth at Te’amo, a popular bubble tea shop that many U-High students enjoy visiting. Maeve is one of many students who enjoys this bubble tea shop as a fun place to study and hang out. “It’s close by, so it’s easy to hang out with friends there after school,” she said. “Overall the atmosphere is really nice.”
Te’amo offers welcoming space for students
Food al Fresco
Food al Fresco
“Shatter Me” is a young adult dystopian-romance series well-known for its compelling writing style, originally published in 2011 — although new books continue to be written.
‘Shatter me’ offers engaging style but leaves dystopian world underdeveloped
Award-winning musical, "Next to Normal," is an expertly executed exploration of mental health issues, specifically bipolar disorder. The musical is available to stream on PBS until June 30 as part of their "Great Performances" series.
Musical ‘Next to Normal’ effectively explores the realities of mental health
“Drop,” a new movie released on April 11, presents its audience with a frightening new reality of AirDrop technology.
‘Drop’ presents generic characters, introspective themes
Tate McRae’s album “So Close to What” was released on Feb. 21. Along with her electronic club beats, the album showcases her impressive range and lyricism with her songs going from topics of betrayal and heartache to love, showing the full variety of what growing up as a young woman is like.
Using pop beats, Tate McRae shows bittersweet realities of growing up in ‘So Close to What’
2002 musical “Kimberly Akimbo” examines themes of adolescence and mortality through the life of Kimberly Levaco, a teenage girl with a degenerative disease. The musical is coming to Chicago’s CIBC Theater June 10-22.
Death, disease & teens: Award-winning musical ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ tells about living urgently
Lunging for the ball, sophomore Arjun Sawhney rallies during a boys tennis match against Brooks College Prep High School on May 2. Arjun and his doubles partner Krish Khanna got second place at state in doubles
Boys tennis wrap up: team wins state
Junior Ty Quiles competes in the high jump event at the ISL championship at Lake Forest Academy.
Track and field wrap up: both teams win sectionals, individual wins at state
Preparing to release the ball, senior Ben Troutman pitches during the team's senior night game against North Shore Country Day School on May 16.
Baseball wrap up: team loss at postseason tournament
Junior co-captain Devyn Moubayed prepares to shoot the ball during a varsity soccer match against St. Laurence on April 3. The Maroons tied 2-2.
Girls soccer season wrap up: Loss at super-sectional final
Sophomore Rachel Hu plays water polo.
Club sports overcome challenges to find success
Although marketed as healthy, experts claim that Vitamin Water contains just as much sugar as a regular soda and includes unnecessary nutrients. “Teens don't need that, adults don't need that. Plain old filtered water is fine. No one is dying of vitamin malnutrition around here,” Dr. Lisa Oldson said.
Help or Hurt: Vitamin Water boosts sugar intake despite healthy claims
The results of 2024 Wellness Survey show that Lab has an overall wellness score of 87, in comparison to the national average of 85. Scores overall have increased in some areas such as enjoyment, while remaining stagnant or worsening in other areas.
Wellness survey shows progress, overall mixed results
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
New cell phone policy needs revisions
New cell phone policy needs revisions
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
SELFIE FIRST. Seniors Courtney McDonald, Kaavya Peddinti, Marcus Wolfe, Helen Kraemer and Amira Williams take a selfie on the dance floor during prom. Courntey ensured to document the night, so that he could look back on the memories in the future. “Prom was an amazing night for me, and I made sure to capture as many moments as I could with the people I care about the most.”
Gallery: Students Celebrate End of Year
CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION. Focusing intently, sophomore Caillum Haffner precisely dribbles droplets of sodium hydroxide into an aspirin-ethanol solution. As Caillum watched, he had to tensely await a color change in the solution. “It was actually really stressful doing the lab,” Caillum said. “It was hard because one drop too much of sodium hydroxide could totally ruin the lab, and I’d have to start over.”
Gallery: Moments of Intensity
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
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
Lila Coyne

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor

Lila Coyne is a member of the Class of 2027 and serves as an assistant editor. She began taking journalism in the 2023-24 school year as a ninth grader. Lila is also a member of the debate team. Outside of school, she enjoys reading and listening to Belle and Sebastian.

All content by Lila Coyne
CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION. Focusing intently, sophomore Caillum Haffner precisely dribbles droplets of sodium hydroxide into an aspirin-ethanol solution. As Caillum watched, he had to tensely await a color change in the solution. “It was actually really stressful doing the lab,” Caillum said. “It was hard because one drop too much of sodium hydroxide could totally ruin the lab, and I’d have to start over.”

Gallery: Moments of Intensity

Lila Coyne, Juliana Daugherty, Ari Novak, Sohana Schneider, Lucy Shirrell, Caroline Skelly, Declan Smith, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Delaney Connell, N.C. Gunning, Bryce Kenny, Devyn Moubayed, Eli Raikhel, Simon Vaang, and Calder Wong
June 2, 2025
A group of ninth graders sit, using their cellphones, on the first floor. A new policy will take place next fall restricting student’s access to their phones during school hours on campus with some exceptions.

Phones to be mostly banned next year

Lila Coyne, Arts & Entertainment Editor
May 29, 2025
After 27 years at U-High, college counselor Patty Kovacs is retiring. Ms. Kovacs and her husband have started an endowment at U-High for non-tuition based needs of juniors and seniors going through the college process.

Patty Kovacs: Beloved college counselor retires after 27 years

Lila Coyne, Arts & Entertainment Editor
May 20, 2025
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

Lila Coyne, Arts & Entertainment Editor
May 19, 2025
French exchange students attend an April 25 sendoff party. While in Chicago, the students visited city landmarks and immersed themselves in U-High.

[Photo] French exchange students explore U-High, Chicago experience

Carmen Nehme, Reporter
May 1, 2025
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

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
May 1, 2025
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

Naomi Benton, Lila Coyne, and Edward Park
April 30, 2025
Driven to serve: Alumni pursue careers in public service

Driven to serve: Alumni pursue careers in public service

Kabir Joshi, Taariq Ahmed, Clare McRoberts, Lila Coyne, Naomi Benton, and Orlie Weitzman
April 10, 2025
Kareem Saleh, 1997: From Paris Accords to AI entrepreneur

Kareem Saleh, 1997: From Paris Accords to AI entrepreneur

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
April 8, 2025
Juniors Vivianna Nieto and Audrey Tian use their phones before their Neuroscience & Behavior class. Committees for cell phone and club policies presented their proposals at a March 5 faculty meeting, sparking discussions on classroom engagement, academic balance and the student experience at U-High.

Phone, clubs policies analyzed

Lila Coyne and Ari Novak
April 7, 2025
Founder and owner of a small baking business, junior Daniel Wu places a batch of his everything cookies, made with mini marshmallows, pretzels, toffee and four kinds of chocolate, into the oven. Despite a stressful high school environment, he and other U-High students have taken their passion for cooking and baking to the next level through social media accounts or small businesses.

Cooking up success: Students turn culinary passion into profit, social media presence

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
March 28, 2025
Slice of the City: Pizza in Chicago

Slice of the City: Pizza in Chicago

Caroline Skelly, Kabir Joshi, Lila Coyne, Orlie Weitzman, Sohana Schneider, Taariq Ahmed, and Naomi Benton
February 19, 2025
At U-High, students are faced with the decision to dress for comfort or style during the harsh Chicago winter weather

Frosty Fashion

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
February 14, 2025
University of Chicago graduate Hannah Nyhart, the co-owner and co-founder of Build Coffee coffee shop and used bookstore, works behind the counter. Despite years of experience running Build Coffee and getting to know the community, Ms. Nyhart has decided to sell the shop.

Hannah Nyhart: Co-founder of Build Coffee cherishes memories she has constructed

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
February 4, 2025
Dean of Students Ana Campos invited students to apply to two committees: one for reevaluating U-High’s current cellphone policy and one for examining how U-High’s clubs are formed and managed. Both will begin to meet within the next two weeks.

Committees formed to assess policies for cell phones and student clubs

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
January 9, 2025
Comedian Matt Rife’s memoir “Your Mom’s Gonna Love Me,” which came out on Dec. 3, is filled with immature writing and a general air of arrogance that prove the book is little more than an attempt to cash in on Mr. Rife’s preexisting fame.

Matt Rife’s ‘Your Mom’s Gonna Love Me’ is an arrogant cash grab

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
January 6, 2025
Before the Dec. 18 high school music concert at Mandel Hall, ninth grader Ari Wong prepares by wetting the reed for his clarinet while laughing and playing around with a friend's violin.

Gallery: U-High winter music concert

Lila Coyne, N.C. Gunning, Nathan Li, and Olin Nafziger
December 20, 2024
Junior James Hubbard builds a robot during a Cache Money practice session. Especially during the competition season, when these sessions are long and frequent, the robotics team receives critical support from a committee of dedicated parents.

Parents boost robotics team with funds and foods

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
December 13, 2024
The 2024 adaptation of Broadway musical "Wicked," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, focused so much on appealing imagery and magical effects that it ended up dulling down its characters and losing the original story's power.

‘Wicked’ delivers spectacle but fails its characters

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
December 4, 2024
This exhibition was created as a tribute to the Johnson Publishing Company, which was founded by John Johnson in 1942. The exhibition is located at the Stony Island Arts Bank.

Exhibition serves as tribute to the Johnson Publishing Company

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
November 14, 2024
The Sustainability and Environmental Action Council, a newly formed group consisting of students and faculty, will address issues like placing more stainless steel bins for recycling and garbage around the school.

To improve sustainability at Lab, new committee unites students, faculty

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
November 6, 2024
Music teacher Bridget Andes puts an instrument into a locker. Music faculty have been coping with an influx of new work after the removal of an important support role due to budget cuts.

Music faculty navigate removal of support role due to budget cuts

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
October 15, 2024
Netflix’s new adaptation of the 2005 dystopian novel “Uglies” disappointed its audience with careless writing and simplistic messages.

‘Uglies’ falls flat with shallow, pandering morals

Lila Coyne, Assistant Editor
September 30, 2024
Cell phones are ubiquitous across the country and serve as a fundamental part of teens' lives. The debate about their usage in school has reached Lab.

Dialing up Debate

Lila Coyne, Taariq Ahmed, Chloe Alexander, Clare McRoberts, Lucy Shirrell, and Declan Smith
September 28, 2024
Coming out in theaters on April 22, “Challengers” blends rivalry, romance and tennis to create a new take on traditional rom-com tropes.

‘Challengers’ defies expectations with blend of rivalry, romance, tennis

Lila Coyne, Reporter
June 3, 2024
Spend your summer exploring the city of Chicago with 12 different festival recommendations.

4 ways to summer soiree

Naomi Benton, Lila Coyne, Sinziana Lazar, Dina Letko, David Li, Ari Novak, Ari Novak, and Mira Reddy
May 30, 2024
Blues! Thomas Ealey performs at the 2008 Chicago Blues Festival, the biggest free blues festival in the world. 2024 will be the Chicago Blues Festival’s 40th year celebrating this genre and Chicago’s role in its conception. From June 6-9, anyone who reserves tickets can attend this free festival in Millennium Park.

Chicago Blues Fest reflects rich history

David Li and Lila Coyne
May 28, 2024
FLYING HIGH. During the 2022 ArtsFest opening ceremony, Dance Team members participated in a trick alongside the Jesse White Tumblers.

Tumblers inspire, change young teen lives

Lila Coyne and David Li
May 28, 2024
Spend your summer exploring the city of Chicago with 12 different festival recommendations.

From music to art, here’s 12 fun festivals for this summer

Naomi Benton, Ari Novak, Mira Reddy, David Li, Lila Coyne, Dina Letko, and Sinziana Lazar
May 28, 2024
“Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin expertly explores shame, purity, and queer desire as it recounts the love affair between two men in 1950s Paris. The novel serves as a cautionary tale, with its tragic ending revealed on the third page.

Depicting queer desire, ‘Giovanni’s Room’ explores shame

Lila Coyne, Reporter
May 27, 2024
FINDING FREEDOM. Dance teacher Jane Sawyer teaches a Modern I class on April 12th, at her everyday studio at the Hyde Park School of Dance. Ms. Sawyer prioritizes her goal of making her students feel free and comfortable in their bodies through her work teaching dance to incarcerated women at Cook County Jail. “If they come and take this dance class, maybe they’ll come away feeling like redemption from other people is not necessary, and they can just give themselves that compassionate forgiveness,” she said.

Offering freedom through dance, teacher works with incarcerated women

Lila Coyne, Reporter
May 20, 2024
As ninth grader Priya Yamada becomes a member of an advanced group of dancers at the Hyde Park School of Dance, she has to examine what it means to grow in ballet outside of pointe.

Audio: U-High dancer explores ballet beyond pointe

Lila Coyne, Reporter
April 11, 2024
On March 2, 13 U-High Students received a superior ranking in an Illinois State vocalist competition.

In district choir competition, all students received a superior

Lila Coyne, Reporter
March 29, 2024
Reporter Lila Coyne argues the U-High administration should adjust policies surrounding student activities, so students who are absent due to academic teams have the same guidelines students who are absent due to athletic competition.

Academic team absences shouldn’t count toward threshold

Lila Coyne, Reporter
March 8, 2024
Junior Ketan Kandula carefully works on a robot during the Greater Pittsburgh Regional from March 1-3, , in which the robotics received the Gracious Professionalism Award for their conduct, but did not qualify for playoffs. 

At competition, robotics team misses playoffs but displays professionalism

Lila Coyne, Reporter
March 5, 2024
A student plays a song from Taylor Swift's rerelease of her album, "1989," her most recent album. Ms. Swift's popularity is largely due to the relatability of her lyrics.

Taylor Swift’s relatable lyrics provide comfort, reassurance to audiences

Lila Coyne, Reporter
January 24, 2024
Global Foods Club meets every Thursday at lunch in Room C-123. The group aims to expose U-High students to foods from other cultures.

In new club, students can experience food from global cultures

Lila Coyne, Reporter
October 31, 2023
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