Chloe Himmel ’04 was recently honored with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Award for Leadership Excellence in 2024 for her outstanding service as Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs at DHS.

Reflecting on her time at Latin, Chloe shared that the school not only provided her with a rigorous academic foundation that set her up for success in college and her professional career but, more importantly, as a late bloomer, it was Latin’s dedicated teachers who recognized her potential and empowered her to develop a strong sense of self. Through their encouragement, she came to recognize her unique strengths and her ability to contribute meaningfully to the world.

Chloe credits Latin’s commitment to experiential learning, through opportunities like debate, student government, and community service, with giving her invaluable firsthand experience in leadership and civic engagement. Her time at Latin not only sharpened her intellectual curiosity but also gave her the confidence to pursue a career in public service.

She fondly remembers Dr. Fript as one of the most influential teachers in her Latin experience. Among her most meaningful memories is delivering a speech to the assembly debating the discriminatory enforcement of the dress code. She also looks back warmly on the Reindeer Games and her involvement in field hockey and soccer, describing her time at Latin as impactful, empowering, and confidence-building.
 

Latin inducted the following students into the School’s chapter of the national Cum Laude Society during a ceremony held on April 30.

Class of 2025
Natalie A.
William B.
Samuel E.
Benjamin G.
Oliver G.
Tatum K.
Michael K.
Luca L.
Anika M.
Daley M.
Quinn M.
Wyatt P.

Class of 2026
Sahana A.
Scarlett G.
Lyla-Rose G.
William H.
Avery H.
Abigail K.
Theodore L.
Ruby L.
Sebastian L.
Lucia M.
Luca N.
Graham S.
Mark T.

This chapter, which was established 70 years ago, honors students who not only excel in the classroom, but also embody the Society’s motto of ARETE (excellence), DIKE (justice), and TIME (honor).

While many of our Upper School students meet the standards and qualifications required for entry into the Cum Laude Society, the national organization strictly limits induction to 20% of a school’s senior class, 10% of whom may be selected toward the end of their junior year.

We want to congratulate the newest members of Latin’s Cum Laude Society on their induction. They truly exemplify the unwavering commitment to scholarly distinction and shared values of excellence, community, and integrity that define our School.

The following athletes from the Chicago Latin Swim Club (CLSC) qualified for the Illinois regional championship meet: Anna K, Kai M., Krishna I., Daniel Z., Lillian W., Kyla B., Maya S., Scarlet M., Mia R., Nate W., Luke W. and Matilda Y.

Anna, Kai, Daniel, Luke and Matilda went on to place in the top eight in many of their individual events at the meet. In addition, Maya and Daniel earned times that qualified them for the state tournament. We want to congratulate all the CLSC swimmers on their postseason success.

Have questions or need more information about CLSC? Please contact head coach Logan Rogers at lrogers@latinschool.org.

We want to congratulate Alexa N. and Teddy L. on winning awards in conjunction with the 2025 Private School Journalism Association (PSJA) Contest. Alexa tool second place in the Sophomore of the Year category, while Teddy took third place in the Designer of the Year category. 

The PSJA Journalism Contest, co-sponsored by Quill and Scroll, honors the best journalism produced by private and independent school students. It is a “portfolio” contest that recognizes and rewards a pattern of excellence over the course of a year. 

Latin’s Middle School Division A Science Olympiad team had a tremendous showing at the state tournament on April 12. The team finished eighth overall, medaled in 10 individual events following top five finishes, and earned top 10 placements in an additional 10 events.

Below is a list of the team's top 10 finishes at state. The team also published a newsletter detailing its experience at the tournament. 

We want to congratulate the team on an incredible finish to its outstanding season. 

• Marika and Ella - second place in Botany (Trial) 
• Aarav and Nathan - second place in Helicopter 
• Ella and Marika - third place in Agricultural Science (Trial) 
• Ryan and Dexter - third place in Optics 
• Dexter and Aarav - fourth place in Microbe Mission 
• Eytan and Harvey - fourth place in Road Scholar  
• Raji and Madison - fifth place in Anatomy & Physiology 
• Juliette and Dexter - fifth place in Entomology 
• Marika, Ella, Harvey and Devan - fifth place in Pentathlon (Trial) 
• Marika and Harvey - fifth place in Remote Sensing (Trial) 
• Grace and Gracyn - sixth place in Crime Busters
• Madison and Raji - sixth place in Disease Detectives 
• Ella and Aarav - sixth place in Geocaching (Trial)
• Jake and Ronen - eighth place in Meteorology 
• Ronen, Eytan and Ryan - ninth place in Codebusters 
• Grace and Gracyn - ninth place in Potions & Poisons 
• Aarav and Devan - 10th place in Air Trajectory 
• Devan, Nathan and Ronen - 10th place in Experimental Design 
• Jake and Dexter - 10th place in Reach for the Stars 
• Nathan and Devan - 10th place in Scrambler 

Jeremy Taulbee from Dave Dinaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles stopped by the Lower School with a few of his friends to give our second, third and fourth graders an up-close look at reptiles and amphibians from around the world.
 

 

Our Roman Ambassadors are Upper School students who lead tours of the building, serve as shadow hosts and attend admissions events! Our Roman Ambassadors answer any questions prospective students and families may have about Latin. Meet a few of our senior leaders!

Juliette

1. What school did you come from?
   I came from Latin–I have been here since JK.

2. What are you involved in at Latin?
   My favorite part of high school has been the diverse extracurricular opportunities I’ve explored at Latin. I have served on Student Government for four years, currently lead the Model Congress club, sing in 59 West A Cappella and have played field hockey, lacrosse and golf. I also serve on the Difficult Dialogues Council and the Roman2Roman Steering Committee, Latin's mentor program.

3. What is your favorite part of being a Roman Ambassador?
   My favorite part of being a Roman Ambassador is how fun and natural it is for me to talk about all things Latin. Whether I’m leading tours, speaking on panels, or having genuine conversations, I love the opportunity to represent a school that has given me so much. It’s incredibly rewarding to share my passion for Latin while also welcoming new students and helping them feel at home.

4. Why is Latin a special place?
   Latin is one of the most magical, welcoming, and supportive environments I’ve ever experienced. The sense of community here is unmatched, with people always ready to help you succeed. In the Upper School, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible teachers who truly know and understand me. The teacher-student relationship at Latin is uniquely special, with teachers and community members genuinely invested in your success.

Danny

1. What school did you come from?
   I came from Bernard Zell.

2. What are you involved in at Latin?
   I am involved in cross-country/track, the Latin School Investment Fund, the Harvard Model Congress and the Student Philanthropy Initiative, to name a few.

3. What is your favorite class at Latin?
   I really enjoyed AP Physics: Mechanics. Not only were my peers and teacher in that class amazing, but I really enjoyed everything we learned about.

4. As a senior, why would you recommend Latin?
   I would recommend Latin because it will provide you with a great community, wonderful opportunities and moments that you will never forget. You get unrivaled attention from your teachers, who truly want you to succeed, alongside peers who are always willing to help and it becomes a definitive formula for success.

Myles

1. What school did you come from?
   Bernard Zell

2. What are you involved in at Latin?
   The Forum, Model UN, JSC, Ultimate Frisbee, Cross Country, and the Roman Ambassadors Program.

3. What is your advice for students applying to 9th grade?
   I would encourage incoming 9th graders to discover all of the great courses Latin offers and to take full advantage of our amazing clubs and sports teams.

4. Why did you choose Latin?
   I chose Latin because of its unique and close-knit community that inspires genuine relationships between students and teachers that go beyond the classroom.

Carla

1. What school did you come from?
   St. Clement 
    
2. What are you involved in at Latin?
   I am one of the heads of Hope Squad, a part of the Difficult Dialogues Council, and Co-leader of We Will Vote Club. I currently play on the ice hockey team and previously played on the soccer team for my 9th and 10th grade years.
    
3. What is your favorite class? 
   I really enjoy my Chicago Politics and American Politics class.
    
4. As a senior why would you recommend Latin?
   I would choose Latin not only because of the incredible academic environment but because of the people. My teachers and classmates are what make the school such an amazing learning environment, along with their connections and dedication, which open up so many incredible opportunities.

Avani

1. What school did you come from?
   British School of Chicago

2. What are you involved in at Latin?
   Roman Ambassadors (senior leader)
   R2R
   Asian Student Alliance
   Young Women of Color
   Model United Nations
   Romans Volleyball
   Intersectional Feminist Alliance
   Marketing Club

3. What is your favorite class at Latin?
   World Religions with Mr. Cruz.

4. As a senior, why would you recommend Latin?
   Latin is foundational not only because of the strong academics, but because it prepares you for the future, teaching essential social skills, and nurturing intellectual curiosity. I feel ready for whatever my future holds for me because Latin has helped me discover more about my identity as well as useful skills like communication, self-advocacy, and drive. I recommend Latin for those who want to build on academic AND social skills and for those who want to explore new interests or delve deeper into existing interests. 

Fowowe

1. What school did you come from?
   Latin Lifer

2. What are you involved in at Latin?
   Roman ambassador
   Bus
   Cyber patriot
   LIFE
   Computer science club
   SAGE
   Debate Club

3. Why did you choose Latin?
   I chose Latin and stayed my whole life because of the lifelong connections you are able to make at Latin. Not only do I have friends from as early as kindergarten but some of my closest friends even came to Latin freshman year.

4. As a senior, why would you recommend Latin?
   I would recommend Latin because I believe it is a school that offers a wide course selection with excellent academics. Latin also has many opportunities to get involved with your high school such as extracurriculars or service learning opportunities. I also think the people at Latin are such a draw to the school. Latin is an incredibly welcoming school that makes you feel at home from day one.

We are excited to announce the start of Latin School of Chicago’s Vegetable Garden located in the Greenwood Garden. The garden is producing nutritious vegetables this summer, which are being harvested and donated to local organizations for those facing food insecurity. This is one way Latin connects with communities in the city and promotes sustainability.

If you are interested in donating your garden-grown vegetables, please email organizer Helen Jeno at hjeno@latinschool.org and drop the veggies off at Latin’s US front desk on Wednesdays during the summer.

Take a look at our photo gallery here.

To learn more about the garden, please read the mission statement below. 

Latin School of Chicago Vegetable Garden Mission
As part of Latin’s mission to integrate our students into Chicago communities and promote sustainability, the Latin School of Chicago Vegetable Garden is dedicated to building enduring relationships with food-insecure communities in Chicago. We are committed to using Latin’s resources to cultivate healthful food and donate it to local organizations serving those in need. Additionally, we strive to foster mutually beneficial partnerships with these organizations to provide students with valuable insights into urban farming and the systemic disparities contributing to food insecurity.

We want to congratulate Alexa N. and Teddy L. on winning awards in conjunction with the 2025 Private School Journalism Association (PSJA) Contest. Alexa tool second place in the Sophomore of the Year category, while Teddy took third place in the Designer of the Year category. 

The PSJA Journalism Contest, co-sponsored by Quill and Scroll, honors the best journalism produced by private and independent school students. It is a “portfolio” contest that recognizes and rewards a pattern of excellence over the course of a year. 

Our talented fourth grade scientists have been exploring the fascinating world of chemistry!

Under the guidance of science teacher Megan Ray and assistant teacher Nathan Reider, students recently embarked on a project to build their own models of elements from the periodic table.

The students started the project by researching five different elements from the periodic table. Afterward, they chose one of those elements to feature in their Bohr atomic model, which demonstrated their understanding of an atom's key components.

Stop by the fifth floor of the Lower School building to check out these creative and informative displays!

 

The following Upper School students won awards in conjunction with the annual McCormick Foundation High School Media Competition hosted by the Scholastic Press Association of Chicago.

• Cece B., Sara C. and Alexa N. - Superior Achievement for Special Coverage
• Ben G. - Superior Achievement for Personality Profile
• Caroline M. - Superior Achievement for Community Story
• Abdon V. - Superior Achievement for Non-Sports Photo
• Forum Staff - Superior Achievement for Overall Website
• Ellie A. - Excellent Achievement for Sports Feature Story
• Lucia M. - Excellent Achievement for Opinion Piece or Column
• Rohin S. - Excellent Achievement for Sports News Story and General Feature Story

We want to congratulate our students on earning these well-deserved awards. 

The 2025 Scholarship Dinner was truly a night to remember. We surpassed our fundraising goal for the evening, raising more than $1.8 million for financial aid. We also brought hundreds of people together to honor and celebrate the strength, resilience, compassion, connectedness, and deep dedication to student success that make Latin and our community truly special. 

We want to congratulate our Development Office and the Scholarship Dinner co-chairs—Haritha and Praveen Dukkipati, Larissa and Craig Silberberg, and Mary and Chris Fifield—on the tremendous success of the event, and thank them for their hard work and unwavering commitment to our school. We also want to thank the event's 400 donors, 14 corporate sponsors and over 90 volunteers for their generous support. 

Click here to view photos from the event.

 

 

 

Senior Wyatt P. earned an Honorable Mention in the Chicago Public Library’s 10th Annual Teen Winter Challenge art competition. Out of more than 220 submissions, Wyatt’s artwork was one of just 25 selected to receive a monetary award, be featured in the library’s print catalog, and be displayed in a special exhibition at the Harold Washington Library Center that will be unveiled at a gala in May.

Please join us in congratulating Wyatt on this outstanding accomplishment!

 

In January, we shared that several of our Upper School students would be representing Latin at the Illinois High School Art Exhibition. We are excited to announce that one of them, Jeremiah W., won “Best in Show” in the Time Arts category for his short film “Cinephile.” The judge who reviewed “Cinephile” and selected it for recognition said this about the film: “A love letter to cinema! This film grabbed me from the start. Good shots highlighting the environment. When the dialogue began after 30+ seconds I was totally focused on what might be the statement of the film. Your script was excellent.” You can check out Jeremiah’s film here.

Congratulations, Jeremiah! We are incredibly proud of you and your accomplishment. 

 

The knowledge and artistic talent of our junior kindergarten students were on full display this week as they exhibited their amazing work in conjunction with the annual JK Art Museum.

The museum is the culmination of an eight-week unit of study that is devoted to learning about art and design. The students study artists of different abilities and cultural backgrounds, explore the techniques and media they utilized to create their work, and discover the impact they had on society and culture. The students then use the information about these artists to produce pieces that reflect or emulate their styles. These pieces are ultimately put on display in the museum, with the junior kindergartners serving as docents for the special guests (e.g., parents/guardians, classmates, faculty and staff, etc.) who come to visit.

Although the unit is focused primarily on art, the teachers also use it to:

• Strengthen the other critical skills being taught in class (e.g., mathematics, literacy, public speaking, fine motor, etc.);
• Build upon the work that is being done in the areas of social and emotional learning; and
• Promote the importance of inclusivity and personal expression.

We want to compliment our students on the quality of their incredible work, and congratulate them on the success of the museum. We also want to thank our junior kindergarten teachers for all they do to nurture the creativity of our students and support their learning.

To view more photos from the art museum, click here.

The Middle School’s production of "Disney High School Musical JR" was a huge success. We are so proud of our talented seventh and eighth grade cast and crew for their hard work and dedication in bringing this production to life.

Congratulations, Romans—bravo!

 

The following athletes from the Chicago Latin Swim Club (CLSC) qualified for the Illinois regional championship meet: Anna K, Kai M., Krishna I., Daniel Z., Lillian W., Kyla B., Maya S., Scarlet M., Mia R., Nate W., Luke W. and Matilda Y.

Anna, Kai, Daniel, Luke and Matilda went on to place in the top eight in many of their individual events at the meet. In addition, Maya and Daniel earned times that qualified them for the state tournament. We want to congratulate all the CLSC swimmers on their postseason success.

Have questions or need more information about CLSC? Please contact head coach Logan Rogers at lrogers@latinschool.org.

Congratulations to our Athletes of the Week during the period of Feb. 27 - April 25, 2025!

Isabella ‘25 has been a force on defense all season, and this week she took it to another level. In a big win over U-High, she racked up 21 saves and came up with a game-sealing steal in the fourth quarter. She followed it up with 9 more saves against LFA, holding them scoreless for three straight quarters in a dominant 12-1 win.

Jake ‘25, senior captain of the boys tennis team, is off to a strong start at 1-Doubles. He and his partner went 3-0 in mid April, including 2 wins in 2A and 1 in the ISL. Jake leads by example in practice and sets the tone for a strong season ahead.

Andrew ‘26: Kicking off the spring volleyball season strong, Andrew tallied 15 digs, 5 aces, and led the team with 25 service attempts across two matches in early April. A great all-around performance!

 

On Thursday, the Latin community came together to celebrate eight incredible student-athletes during our Athletics College Celebratory Signing Day.

Coaches shared tributes about each students’ accomplishments, and the students’ peers, parents/guardians and teachers watched as they signed with their future colleges and sports teams.

Please join us in congratulating the following student-athletes on taking this important next step in their academic and athletic careers:

• Sanya A., Lacrosse at Harvey Mudd College
• Jackson D., Baseball at Carleton College
• Benjamin G., Cross Country and Track and Field at Cornell University 
• Kate G., Rowing at Dartmouth College
• Mia K., Cross Country and Track and Field at Johns Hopkins University
• Carla M., Ice Hockey at Harvard University
• Paul S., Track and Field at Case Western Reserve University
• Nate W., Swimming at Occidental College 

View more photos from the ceremony on our Instagram page here.

 

Latin’s squash team capped off an incredible season by reaching the finals of the U.S. High School Nationals for the first time ever, earning an outstanding second-place finish in their division.

We congratulate the team on this milestone achievement.