The author grew up in Staunton, Illinois, a small town in the middle of the state about an hour northeast of St. Louis. Staunton is a rural community like many others in the midwest, populated by hardworking, down-to-earth people who value friends, family, and tradition. Staunton was not an easy place for someone like him to grow up and flourish.…

As the author prepares to head back to Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) for homecoming, she finds the analogy of Hogwarts for IMSA to be apropos. Going to IMSA opened doors for her that she hadn't even known were closed. Yet it's not easy to pin down what made her IMSA experience magical. Certainly there are some elements that are…

This issue's humanities reflection presents a student's argument for attention to the humanities in a math, science, and technology program. Everett Brokaw, a senior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, recognizes that his specialized school experience has been enriched by personal journeys through literature and through encounters…