News

Congratulations to Danielle (Dani) Atkins ‘24, who was named a Commended student in the 69th National Merit Scholarship Program.

Seven Laurel Seniors have been named Semifinalists in the 69th National Merit Scholarship Program! This number is an impressive 17 percent of Laurel’s Class of 2024. 

Saniyah Hall ‘26 who was named the number three female player in the country for her class by ESPNW HoopGurls Recruiting Rankings. Saniyah, who plays guard for Laurel’s basketball team, has just started her Sophomore year and has already had more than a handful of college offers. 

Jennifer Coleman ‘81, Program Director of Creative Culture and Arts for the George Gund Foundation, recently offered up her thoughts in a Crain’s Cleveland Business editorial on the importance of integrating art into all aspects of life.

Parents across the country turn to Dr. Lisa Damour, Executive Director of Laurel’s Center for Research on Girls and New York Times Bestselling Author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, to offer advice and reassurance when it comes to raising their teens.

Congratulations to Emily Felderman, visual arts teacher and Power & Purpose Coordinator at Laurel, who’s art focused on cyanotypes will be on display at the Gates Mills Library through the month of September. 

 

Varsity Golf opened their season on July 31 playing in the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Showcase. The event hosted 14 high school teams and 105 players. Siena Maschke '24 earned medalist honors with a two-under score of 70. 

Laurel Head of School Ann V. Klotz reflects on Barbie World and how the Barbie Movie has, as critics suggested, upended the Barbie stereotype. "Gloria’s monologue mirrored conversations I have had for decades with girls and women as a teacher, mother and friend. It is complicated to be female.

Dr. Rachel Herlein, Assistant Head of School for Academic Excellence, spoke about the importance of parent involvement and the options parents have to get involved in an August Cleveland Jewish News story.

Dr. Cheryl Jackson Johnson ‘95, an OBGYN with Summa Healthcare Systems, was featured in a Forum 360 piece focused on Infant mortality rates. Dr. Johnson highlights how in sixth grade, while attending Laurel School, she discovered she wanted to be a physician. 

Congratulations to Elle Richey '25 who has been selected as a Shining Star CLE top 25 Semifinalist! The 7th Annual Shining Star CLE 2023, sponsored by the Menorah Park Foundation, is a solo-singing competition for high school students from Northeast Ohio. 

Sophia Casa '23 was honored at the Society of Professional Journalists—Cleveland Chapter annual awards night where she was the recipient of the Porter Scholarship, which recognizes an outstanding high school journalist. 

 

Viola Strom ‘30, Jade Gladue ‘24, Eva Gross ‘25 and Kelly Kirchner ‘25 performed in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Musical Performance at Blossom in July!

 

STEM-related learning comes in many different forms and Middle School science teacher Sarah Brown

Congratulations to Kaitlyn Ernst ‘24, who was selected as one of only 100 Coolidge Senators from across the country. 

Laurel alum Jami Morris '21 raised more than $77,000 dollars for cancer research through her second annual Hit Fore Hope golf event.

A BIG congratulations to Kaitlyn Ernst '24, who came in 7th in the nation in Lincoln-Douglas Debate at the 2023 National Speech & Debate Tournament!

Congratulations to Margaret Jones '23, who competed in her third consecutive OHSAA State Track & Field Meet in June and came home as a state champion in shot put!

Ella Witalec '25 was featured in the Chagrin Valley Times where she talks about the CodeHERs CLE Hackathon she is hosting at Laurel on June 3. 

Laurel had two Upper School students participate at this year’s State Science Day, a program of The Ohio Academy of Science!

Faye Moledina '25 and Eva Ko '25 were guests on NPR’s The Sound of Ideas on May 15th. 

Laurel's JustWrite Ohio competitive writing team did an outstanding job at the state tournament! 

On April 27 Laurel hosted the Student Art Exhibition, which highlighted the visual arts accomplishments of students in Grades Nine through Twelve.

Congratulations to Heather Havre, Director of Laurel's Primary School Grades 3-5 Program at Butler, who has been named a Notable in Education Leadership by Crain's Cleveland Business!

Laurel represented beautifully at the 25th annual Washington Area Model United Nations Conference (WAMUNC), held at George Washington University. 

Congratulations to Sam Iyer '24 who was the Grand Prize 1st Place winner at the recent Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) where she competed in the Biological Sciences category. 

Congratulations to Sophia Casa '23, who has been chosen as a winner of the Dobama Theatre's 45th Annual Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival.

Candace Maiden, Dean of Upper School Students and Co-Director of DEIB and Lauren Calig, Director of Multicultural Curriculum and Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB), highlighted the many ways in which Laurel teaches a global perspective in this recent Cleveland Magazine piece. 

Congratulations to Sam Iyer '24, Kaitlyn Ernst '24, and Eve Belding '25 who all competed at the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF). 

Angela Yeager, Director of Laurel's Environmental Justice Program, was featured in a recent Cleveland Jewish News story where she highlighted the new Environmental Justice Semester Changemaker Scholarship.

Kaitlyn Ernst '24 is a Speech and Debate National Qualifier with an undefeated tournament record! 

Congratulations to Laurel's Middle School First LEGO League Robotics Team, The Science Sisters, on their recent performance at Districts, where they advanced to the State Tournament! 

The Laurel Basketball Gators closed out an amazing season in a narrow loss against Chippewa High School in the Regional Final Game on March 4. 

Congratulations to Laurel's indoor track and field team for an amazing season! 

Congratulations to Ella Witalec '25, who won the Teen Accelerate pitch competition! This civic-focused contest has been around for adults for many years, but the teen competition is new this year.

The Upper School Swim Team finished its season at the 2023 OHSAA Northeast District meet. 

On February 4 and 5, the Laurel Figure Skating Team competed at the Ohio High School Figure Skating Competition at Thornton Park in Shaker Heights.

Congratulations to Leighann DeLorenzo, who has been offered the permanent role of Director of the Upper School, effective July 1, 2023. 

Each year the Cleveland Institute of Art hosts the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition that recognizes creative achievement in area 7th-12th grade students. Applicants can submit in 28 different categories of art and writing.