News Brief: Spring/Summer 2020-21

Spring Cum Laude Society

Eleven seniors were welcomed into the Cum Laude Society in spring: Carlos Banda, Kai Bartl, Basma Daham, Ella DeToro, Mira Giles-Pufahl, Mya Johnson, Madeline Marler, Madeleine Megal, Nicholas Potter, Lydia Rasetti, and Maanya Shetty.

USM Welcomes New CFO

Kelly McGuire has started as USM’s new chief financial officer. McGuire has served in the same role for the Chicago Yacht Club since 2017, and worked in various executive-level finance positions, along with additional finance experience.

Check Mate

USM’s top chess team, Nicholas Hu ’23, Divya Pandey ’22, Aditya Pillai ’23, Hersh Singh ’24, and Branden White ’21, won the state chess meet. Hersh Singh ’24 won 1st place in the 2021 U.S. Junior Chess Congress, and won the K-9 Chess Championship.

Ihrke Named gcLi Scholar

Emily Tymus Ihrke, Upper School English teacher and co-coordinator of USM’s PK–12 Ethical Leadership program, served as a scholar at the 2021 gcLi Leadership Lab, where teachers learn how to develop the leadership competencies of their students.

Team 6823

USM’s FIRST Robotics Team 6823 received multiple awards this season, including third place in the skills competition and winner of the autonomous award, among others. In addition, Mackenzie Petersen ’23 was selected as a Dean’s List Finalist from the Wisconsin region.

Students Compete at ISEF

Buwei Chen ’22, Mya Johnson ’21, Jordan Thomas ’23, and Max Watchmaker ’23 competed at the 2021 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Watchmaker won the third grand award, and Johnson earned a scholarship.

Tower Project 2021

More than 60 students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grades participated in Tower Project capstones, in which they develop, research, and create projects for an entire year, gaining skills in research and writing, public speaking, risk-taking, and more.

Dogra ’21 and Morse Recognized

Neil Dogra ’21 was one of 161 high school seniors nationwide named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. In addition, Holly Morse, Upper School Spanish teacher (now retired), was named a 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Distinguished Teacher.