News from Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio
Source: http://www.laurelschool.org/news--calendar/news
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:16
News from Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio
myLAUREL
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News & Calendar
News
2026
Rida Tahir ‘27 Wins 1st Place at CWRU’s Community Engaged Cancer Research Program
4/22/2026
Congratulations to
Rida Tahir ‘27
, whose research project, titled “Beyond Active Treatment: Cultural, Socioeconomic, and Psychosocial Barriers to Cancer Survivorship Plans”, was awarded 1st place at the recent Case Western Reserve University’s Community Engaged Cancer Research Program (CECRP).
Laurel School Junior Hazel Segal Selected for Prestigious Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program
4/15/2026
Congratulations to
Hazel Segal ‘27
, who has been accepted into the highly competitive Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program. This international program pairs established, award-winning writers with high school and college students for a rigorous, six-week intensive focused on the craft of poetry, fiction, or spoken word.
Yael Ratner ‘26 Named a National Scholastic Art & Writing Winner
4/6/2026
Congratulations to
Yael Ratner ‘26
, who has been named a 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing National Winner for her mixed media piece, “My Wound.”
Noa Karr '28 Is U1000 Ohio Girls Chess Champion
3/30/2026
Huge congratulations to
Noa Karr '28
, who is the U1000 Ohio Girls Chess Champion!
Tristan Williams '26 Named Player of the Year and 1st Team
3/27/2026
All Ohio Awards were released for Division IV Basketball and a big congratulations goes to
Tristan Williams '26
on being named Player of the Year and 1st Team!
Cleveland.com
highlighted the news.
Claire Leland ‘26 Featured in Scholastic Magazine “Choices”
3/25/2026
Claire Leland '26
was featured in the March issue of
Choices
, a Scholastics Magazine. She spoke about living with celiac disease as part of a story featuring three students who live with autoimmune diseases.
Jaanvi Patel '33 Earns Superior Ranking at Regional Science Day
3/25/2026
Jaanvi Patel '33
participated in the Ohio Academy of Science 2026 Regional Science Day at Kent State University and earned a Superior ranking, which advances her to the State Science Day in May.
Dr. Tori Cordiano Featured in Cleveland Magazine
3/20/2026
Dr. Tori Cordiano
, Laurel consulting psychologist and Co-Director of Laurel’s Center for Research for Girls (LCRG), was included in a recent
Cleveland Magazine
article about rising anxiety among students.
Laurel Gators Capture First OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship
3/19/2026
The Laurel School basketball team made history on Friday, March 13, capturing the program’s first-ever Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) girls basketball state championship with a 60-58 victory over Bellevue in the Division IV title game at the University of Dayton Arena.
Laurel Students Shine at Northeast Ohio Youth Climate Summit
3/16/2026
Laurel helped welcome more than 500 students from 25+ schools across Northeast Ohio who gathered at the Huntington Convention Center on March 12 for the Northeast Ohio Youth Climate Summit.
Signal Cleveland
,
The Lakewood Observer
, and
TV20 News
highlighted the Summit and Laurel student involvement.
Science Sisters Win Core Values Award at States
3/16/2026
Congratulations to the Science Sisters, Laurel’s Middle School robotics team, who won the Core Values award at the Ohio State FIRST LEGO League Championship!
Two State and Four Regional Winners in Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition
3/16/2026
Congratulations to
Asalé Jones '26
and
Martha Neff '26,
who, between the two of them, had four works selected as State Winners in the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition.
Rida Tahir '27 and Lina Rietsch '28 Earn Awards at NEOSEF
3/12/2026
Rida Tahir '27
and
Lina Rietsch '28
participated in the Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) at Lakeland Community College, and both earned an award!
Megan Lum Mehalko '83 Named a Crain’s 2026 Notable Woman in Law
3/11/2026
Congratulations to
Megan Lum Mehalko '83
, former Laurel School Board Chair, current Trustee, and co-chair of Benesch’s Corporate & Securities Group, on being named a 2026 Notable Woman in Law by
Crain’s Cleveland Business
.
Theater Director Eugene Sumlin Featured in Cleveland Jewish News
3/11/2026
Eugene Sumlin
, theater director and Middle and Upper School performing arts teacher at Laurel, was included in a
Cleveland Jewish News
piece about performing arts programs at private schools.
Kayla Cameron '23 Receives OSU Pace Setter Award
3/10/2026
Congratulations to
Kayla Cameron '23
, who received the Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business Pace Setters Award, which is given annually to the college’s top students.
Speech and Debate Finishes 16th at State Tournament
3/10/2026
Congratulations to the Speech and Debate team, which placed 16th out of over 90 teams at the State Tournament and had entries advance to in both speech and debate.
Emily Felderman’s Artwork Included in German Magazine TXP Texielplus
3/9/2026
Emily Felderman
, artist and art educator for Grades 3-5, had her work featured on the
Instagram page of Textiel Plus
, a Dutch international-oriented textile magazine focused on contemporary textile art.
Cleveland.com Says Gator Basketball Not the Underdogs Anymore
3/7/2026
Laurel Girls Basketball is headed back to the OHSAA State Semifinals for the third straight year after an impressive regional win! As highlighted in this
recent feature
by
Cleveland.com, the Gators have built a reputation for postseason success and resilience, showing once again that their playoff pedigree is no fluke.
Track & Field News with Emnet Gebreyes '27
3/6/2026
Congratulations to
Emnet Gebreyes
'27, who was a long jump state qualifier at the State Indoor Track & Field Tournament.
Two Laurel Seniors Represent at Ileen Kelner Juried High School Art Show
3/5/2026
Laurel Seniors,
Martha Neff '26
and
Asalé Jones '26
participated in the 30th Annual Ileen Kelner Juried High School Art Show sponsored by the Beachwood Arts Council. Martha painting "Self Portrait" was awarded first place, and Asale’s photograph "Predetermined Scene #6" received an honorable mention.
Bella Patel Appointed to Library Board
3/4/2026
Congratulations to
Bella Patel
, Director of Early Childhood and Primary Schools at Laurel, who has been sworn in as a member of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) Board of Trustees. She will serve a four-year term through February 2030.
Christina Breen a Guest on In Her Land Podcast
3/3/2026
Head of School Christina Breen recently joined the
"In Her Land" podcast
for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, resilience, and educating the next generation of young women.
Hannah Rosenfeld ‘27 Earns 2nd at Veale thinkBIG! Challenge
3/3/2026
Congratulations to Hannah
Rosenfeld '27
, whose Capstone Project RISE (Reentry Inspiring Systemic Equality) earned 2nd place in the Small Business Track at the Veale Youth Entrepreneurship Forum thinkBIG!
Laurel Team Top 10 at Future Business Leaders of America State Conference
3/3/2026
Laurel’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter competed at the state conference in Newark, Ohio, where students spent two days deepening their knowledge of entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and banking, and competing in a wide range of events.
Michelle Mankaryous ‘26 and Cecilia Doherty ‘26 Named National Merit Finalists
3/2/2026
Congratulations to
Michelle Mankaryous ’26
and
Cecilia Doherty ’26
, who have advanced from Semifinalists to Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program!
Kaya Sgro '26 Received Full Scholarship From OWU
2/24/2026
Congratulations to
Kaya Sgro ‘26
, who was selected as one of 10 students this year to be awarded the Schubert Award, which covers full tuition for four years of study at Ohio Wesleyan University.
8 Laurel Students Qualify for National Speech & Debate Tournament
2/23/2026
Laurel's Speech and Debate team shone at the NSDA District Tournament where eight Laurel students qualified for the National Tournament, which will take place in Richmond, Virginia this June!
Three Laurel Gators Make Cleveland.com List of Top Guards and Forward
2/18/2026
Cleveland.com
took a survey of the girls' basketball coaches to list the
top guards
and
top forwards
for the 2025-2026 season. Congratulations to
Jordyn Meyer '27
,
Olivia Schneider '26
, and
Tristan Williams '26
for making the list!
Laurel Parent Nina Mandell to Publish “A Fraction of a Point: A Gymnastics Dynasty on the Line”
2/17/2026
Laurel parent and sports journalist
Nina Mandell (Mia C. '38)
, published a book,
A Fraction of a Point: A Gymnastics Dynasty on the Line
(Kent State University Press, March 2026).
Jami Morris ‘21 and Laurel’s Athletic Hall of Fame Featured in Chagrin Valley Times
2/16/2026
Jami Morris ‘21
was featured in a
Chagrin Valley Times
article
about her recent induction to Laurel’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Jami is a two-time golf State Champion and founder of the non-profit organization Hit Fore Hope, which raises money for cancer research and the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center.
Jane Startzman ‘70 Named Women’s History Project 2026 Women of the Year
2/16/2026
Laurel alum
Jane Startzman ‘70,
co-founder and director of the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, has been selected as a 2026 Woman of the Year by the Summit County Historical Society.
Sophia Tsuang ‘29 Wins 1st for Violin in Elite International Music Competition
2/16/2026
Congratulations to
Sophia Tsuang ’29
, who won First Place in the Violin Division of the 2025 Elite International Music Competition.
Taya Offutt-Decker '27 Gives “Tiny Bench” Concert on WJCU
2/16/2026
Congratulations to
Taya Offut Decker ‘27
, who produced an album through her Capstone project and gave a
“Tiny Bench” performance
at WJCU this month!
Varsity Swimmers Qualify for District Tournament
2/16/2026
Congratulations to the swim team on their great showing at the Sectional Meet on February 13! Laurel’s small but mighty team of six placed 11th out of the 34 girls’ teams represented at the meet. All three relays have qualified for the District Tournament!
Hannah Feldkamp ‘28 and Rana Abdelhadi ‘28 Win Individual Awards at CLEIMUN
2/13/2026
Model UN saw success when Laurel delegates attended CLEIMUN at St. Edward High School from February 11-13, representing their committees with preparation, conviction, and diplomacy.
Summer at Laurel Highlights Micro-Camps in Cleveland Magazine & Cleveland Jewish News
2/13/2026
Summer at Laurel was highlighted in the special camp issue of
Cleveland Magazine
. The story focused on micro-camps, shorter camp options that offer new opportunities without the full-summer commitment.
Hannah Rosenfeld ‘27 Named a Veale Youth Entrepreneurship Finalist in the ThinkBIG! Competition
2/10/2026
Congratulations to
Hannah Rosenfeld ’27
, whose Capstone Project, RISE (Reentry Inspiring Systemic Equality), has been selected as one of just three finalists in the Veale Youth Forum’s ThinkBIG! Competition.
Ann Thoburn Fauver ‘40 Included in WGBH Story About Figure Skating Judges
2/9/2026
Ann Thoburn Fauver ‘40
was included in a
WGBH video news story
that takes a behind the scenes look at how figure skating is judged.
Asale´ Jones in Freshwater Cleveland Story About Fresh Water Institute Program
2/5/2026
Asalé Jones ‘26
is included in a
Freshwater Cleveland story
about Cuyahoga County’s Fresh Water Institute, a program introducing a new generation of stewards to a crucial natural asset. The institute, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in December, aims to integrate sustainability and environmental health into daily life.
Claire Witalec '28 Qualifies for Tournament of Champions for Debate
2/4/2026
Congratulations to
Claire Witalec ’28
, who recently competed at the Columbia University Invitational, where she finished as co-champion, a performance that earned her a second bid to the Tournament of Champions (TOC), the most prestigious national circuit debate tournament of the year.
19 Laurel Students Qualify for JustWrite State Tournament
2/2/2026
Congratulations to the 19 Laurel Upper School students who have qualified to compete at the JustWrite state tournament at Bluffton University on May 18, 2026.
27 Laurel Students in Grades 8-12 Earn 41 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
2/2/2026
Congratulations to the 27 students in Grades 8-12 who earned an incredible 41 honors in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! Sixteen students were recognized for their visual art, earning four Gold Keys, eight Silver Keys, and 11 Honorable Mentions, while 12 students received writing awards, including one Gold Key, eight Silver Keys, and eight Honorable Mentions.
Gators Basketball Beats Brush 74-73 in Overtime
2/2/2026
Yesterday’s
Cleveland.com
high school sports update “In a girls basketball game that lived up to every bit of the hype, the Laurel Gators outlasted the Brush Arcs 74–73 in overtime Monday night in a non‑conference showdown at Brush.” Another amazing win for the No. 2 ranked Gators!
Laurel Figure Skaters Score 3rd at Ohio Figure Skating Championship
2/2/2026
Congratulations to Laurel’s Figure skating team on their 3rd place overall win at the Ohio High School Team Figure Skating Championships.
Laurel Gymnasts Place 3rd at Lakewood Meet
2/2/2026
Congratulations to Laurel’s gymnastics team on their 3rd place team finish at the Lakewood meet!
Senait P. ‘31 Included in PSA as Member of Youth Section of the NCNW
2/2/2026
Senait P. ‘31
is a Charter member of the Youth Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Lorain County Section. She and her NCNW Youth Sisters recorded a
PSA
to promote mental health awareness among teens, especially girls.
Sheridan Brazile ‘26 Wins 2nd Place in Annual MLK Essay Contest
2/2/2026
Congratulations to
Sheridan Brazile ‘26
, who earned 2nd place in the 36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest, sponsored by East View United Church of Christ. Sheridan was included in this
Cleveland.com piece
about the contest.
Rida Tahir ‘27 Named to Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council
1/28/2026
Congratulations to
Rida Tahir ‘27
on being one of only 16 students statewide to be named to the Ohio Safety Advisory Council.
Gators Basketball on Fire Now Ranking #3 in State
1/26/2026
The Laurel Gators took on Green High School on January 22 for a Special Senior Night honoring
Tristan Williams ‘26
,
Olivia Schneider ‘26
, and
Sydnee Robinson ‘26
, and walked away with an impressive 68-20 win, which capped off a month of exciting wins.
Laurel Swimmers Have Successful Season
1/26/2026
Laurel swimmers have had a successful season thus far. On January 7, the swimming and diving team competed at Baldwin Wallace and achieved impressive results.
Elizabeth Matsievich ‘29
placed 1st in the 500 freestyle with a PR and is currently ranked 30th in the state among Division II girls.
Speech and Debate Season Off to Strong Start
1/26/2026
Laurel’s Speech and Debate team has had a stellar season so far, with
Claire Witalec '28
,
Ana Rubio-Calvillo '27
, and
Julia Duong '26
having qualified early to the State Tournament.
Three Laurel Musicians Represent Laurel at District 7 OMEA Solo & Ensemble
1/21/2026
Sable Comet ‘27
,
August Sumlin ‘27
, and
Shaashwatiyaa Balamurugan ‘28
represented Laurel at the District 7 OMEA Solo & Ensemble at Madison High School, each performing a Class A solo, the highest level of difficulty for high school musicians.
Science Sisters Qualify for States
1/20/2026
Laurel’s Middle School Robotics team earned the Motivate Award at the Northeast Ohio District Competition, and is now headed to States in March!
JustWrite Shines at Regionals
1/19/2026
Laurel’s JustWrite and JustWrite Junior teams competed at the Regional Tournament, and made history by bringing a record-breaking 36 writers! It was the largest JustWrite regional to date, and Laurel students rose to the occasion.
Upper School Robotics Team Receives Sustain & Motivate Awards
1/19/2026
Congrats to Zip Tried, our Upper School Robotics team, on earning the Sustain Award at the Kirtland FIRST Tech Challenge tournament and the Motivate award at the Northeast Ohio District Competition. The team has advanced to States!
Laurel Gymnastics Places 3rd at Elite Gymnastics Meet
1/17/2026
Congratulations to Laurel’s gymnastics team, which placed 3rd overall at the Elite Gymnastics Meet!
Hannah Rosenfeld ‘27 and Lulu Hoffer ‘27 Selected as Teen Accelerate Finalists
1/16/2026
Hannah Rosenfeld ’27
and
Lulu Hoffer ’27
have each been selected as one of only 10 finalists in the Young Entrepreneur Institute Teen Accelerate program!
Reese Samala '29 Competes in Junior Olympics
1/16/2026
Congratulations to
Reese Samala '29
, who competed in the highly competitive Junior Olympics fencing tournament.
Eloise Porter ‘30 Earns 8th Place at Power of the Pen Tournament
1/10/2026
Congratulations to
Eloise Porter ’30
, who earned an 8th place medal at the Power of the Pen District Tournament!
Hannah Feldkamp ‘28 Publishes Story in YEPT News
1/8/2026
Hannah Feldkamp ‘28
authored a piece about the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
for the Youth Environmental Press Team (YEPT).
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Lyman Campus | Laurel School
1 Lyman Circle
Shaker Heights, OH 44122
Phone:
216-464-1441
Admissions:
admissions@LaurelSchool.org
General:
info@LaurelSchool.org
Butler Campus | Laurel School
7420 Fairmount Road
Novelty, OH 44072
Phone:
216-464-1441
Admissions:
admissions@LaurelSchool.org
General:
info@LaurelSchool.org
#1 All-Girls School in Ohio
© 2025 Laurel School. All Rights Reserved.
myLAUREL
Admissions
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Welcome
Why Laurel?
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Why All-Girls?
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18 Months-Prekindergarten Inquiry
Kindergarten-Grade 12 Inquiry
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News & Calendar
News
2026
Rida Tahir ‘27 Wins 1st Place at CWRU’s Community Engaged Cancer Research Program
4/22/2026
Congratulations to
Rida Tahir ‘27
, whose research project, titled “Beyond Active Treatment: Cultural, Socioeconomic, and Psychosocial Barriers to Cancer Survivorship Plans”, was awarded 1st place at the recent Case Western Reserve University’s Community Engaged Cancer Research Program (CECRP).
Laurel School Junior Hazel Segal Selected for Prestigious Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program
4/15/2026
Congratulations to
Hazel Segal ‘27
, who has been accepted into the highly competitive Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program. This international program pairs established, award-winning writers with high school and college students for a rigorous, six-week intensive focused on the craft of poetry, fiction, or spoken word.
Yael Ratner ‘26 Named a National Scholastic Art & Writing Winner
4/6/2026
Congratulations to
Yael Ratner ‘26
, who has been named a 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing National Winner for her mixed media piece, “My Wound.”
Noa Karr '28 Is U1000 Ohio Girls Chess Champion
3/30/2026
Huge congratulations to
Noa Karr '28
, who is the U1000 Ohio Girls Chess Champion!
Tristan Williams '26 Named Player of the Year and 1st Team
3/27/2026
All Ohio Awards were released for Division IV Basketball and a big congratulations goes to
Tristan Williams '26
on being named Player of the Year and 1st Team!
Cleveland.com
highlighted the news.
Claire Leland ‘26 Featured in Scholastic Magazine “Choices”
3/25/2026
Claire Leland '26
was featured in the March issue of
Choices
, a Scholastics Magazine. She spoke about living with celiac disease as part of a story featuring three students who live with autoimmune diseases.
Jaanvi Patel '33 Earns Superior Ranking at Regional Science Day
3/25/2026
Jaanvi Patel '33
participated in the Ohio Academy of Science 2026 Regional Science Day at Kent State University and earned a Superior ranking, which advances her to the State Science Day in May.
Dr. Tori Cordiano Featured in Cleveland Magazine
3/20/2026
Dr. Tori Cordiano
, Laurel consulting psychologist and Co-Director of Laurel’s Center for Research for Girls (LCRG), was included in a recent
Cleveland Magazine
article about rising anxiety among students.
Laurel Gators Capture First OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship
3/19/2026
The Laurel School basketball team made history on Friday, March 13, capturing the program’s first-ever Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) girls basketball state championship with a 60-58 victory over Bellevue in the Division IV title game at the University of Dayton Arena.
Laurel Students Shine at Northeast Ohio Youth Climate Summit
3/16/2026
Laurel helped welcome more than 500 students from 25+ schools across Northeast Ohio who gathered at the Huntington Convention Center on March 12 for the Northeast Ohio Youth Climate Summit.
Signal Cleveland
,
The Lakewood Observer
, and
TV20 News
highlighted the Summit and Laurel student involvement.
Science Sisters Win Core Values Award at States
3/16/2026
Congratulations to the Science Sisters, Laurel’s Middle School robotics team, who won the Core Values award at the Ohio State FIRST LEGO League Championship!
Two State and Four Regional Winners in Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition
3/16/2026
Congratulations to
Asalé Jones '26
and
Martha Neff '26,
who, between the two of them, had four works selected as State Winners in the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition.
Rida Tahir '27 and Lina Rietsch '28 Earn Awards at NEOSEF
3/12/2026
Rida Tahir '27
and
Lina Rietsch '28
participated in the Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) at Lakeland Community College, and both earned an award!
Megan Lum Mehalko '83 Named a Crain’s 2026 Notable Woman in Law
3/11/2026
Congratulations to
Megan Lum Mehalko '83
, former Laurel School Board Chair, current Trustee, and co-chair of Benesch’s Corporate & Securities Group, on being named a 2026 Notable Woman in Law by
Crain’s Cleveland Business
.
Theater Director Eugene Sumlin Featured in Cleveland Jewish News
3/11/2026
Eugene Sumlin
, theater director and Middle and Upper School performing arts teacher at Laurel, was included in a
Cleveland Jewish News
piece about performing arts programs at private schools.
Kayla Cameron '23 Receives OSU Pace Setter Award
3/10/2026
Congratulations to
Kayla Cameron '23
, who received the Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business Pace Setters Award, which is given annually to the college’s top students.
Speech and Debate Finishes 16th at State Tournament
3/10/2026
Congratulations to the Speech and Debate team, which placed 16th out of over 90 teams at the State Tournament and had entries advance to in both speech and debate.
Emily Felderman’s Artwork Included in German Magazine TXP Texielplus
3/9/2026
Emily Felderman
, artist and art educator for Grades 3-5, had her work featured on the
Instagram page of Textiel Plus
, a Dutch international-oriented textile magazine focused on contemporary textile art.
Cleveland.com Says Gator Basketball Not the Underdogs Anymore
3/7/2026
Laurel Girls Basketball is headed back to the OHSAA State Semifinals for the third straight year after an impressive regional win! As highlighted in this
recent feature
by
Cleveland.com, the Gators have built a reputation for postseason success and resilience, showing once again that their playoff pedigree is no fluke.
Track & Field News with Emnet Gebreyes '27
3/6/2026
Congratulations to
Emnet Gebreyes
'27, who was a long jump state qualifier at the State Indoor Track & Field Tournament.
Two Laurel Seniors Represent at Ileen Kelner Juried High School Art Show
3/5/2026
Laurel Seniors,
Martha Neff '26
and
Asalé Jones '26
participated in the 30th Annual Ileen Kelner Juried High School Art Show sponsored by the Beachwood Arts Council. Martha painting "Self Portrait" was awarded first place, and Asale’s photograph "Predetermined Scene #6" received an honorable mention.
Bella Patel Appointed to Library Board
3/4/2026
Congratulations to
Bella Patel
, Director of Early Childhood and Primary Schools at Laurel, who has been sworn in as a member of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) Board of Trustees. She will serve a four-year term through February 2030.
Christina Breen a Guest on In Her Land Podcast
3/3/2026
Head of School Christina Breen recently joined the
"In Her Land" podcast
for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, resilience, and educating the next generation of young women.
Hannah Rosenfeld ‘27 Earns 2nd at Veale thinkBIG! Challenge
3/3/2026
Congratulations to Hannah
Rosenfeld '27
, whose Capstone Project RISE (Reentry Inspiring Systemic Equality) earned 2nd place in the Small Business Track at the Veale Youth Entrepreneurship Forum thinkBIG!
Laurel Team Top 10 at Future Business Leaders of America State Conference
3/3/2026
Laurel’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter competed at the state conference in Newark, Ohio, where students spent two days deepening their knowledge of entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and banking, and competing in a wide range of events.
Michelle Mankaryous ‘26 and Cecilia Doherty ‘26 Named National Merit Finalists
3/2/2026
Congratulations to
Michelle Mankaryous ’26
and
Cecilia Doherty ’26
, who have advanced from Semifinalists to Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program!
Kaya Sgro '26 Received Full Scholarship From OWU
2/24/2026
Congratulations to
Kaya Sgro ‘26
, who was selected as one of 10 students this year to be awarded the Schubert Award, which covers full tuition for four years of study at Ohio Wesleyan University.
8 Laurel Students Qualify for National Speech & Debate Tournament
2/23/2026
Laurel's Speech and Debate team shone at the NSDA District Tournament where eight Laurel students qualified for the National Tournament, which will take place in Richmond, Virginia this June!
Three Laurel Gators Make Cleveland.com List of Top Guards and Forward
2/18/2026
Cleveland.com
took a survey of the girls' basketball coaches to list the
top guards
and
top forwards
for the 2025-2026 season. Congratulations to
Jordyn Meyer '27
,
Olivia Schneider '26
, and
Tristan Williams '26
for making the list!
Laurel Parent Nina Mandell to Publish “A Fraction of a Point: A Gymnastics Dynasty on the Line”
2/17/2026
Laurel parent and sports journalist
Nina Mandell (Mia C. '38)
, published a book,
A Fraction of a Point: A Gymnastics Dynasty on the Line
(Kent State University Press, March 2026).
Jami Morris ‘21 and Laurel’s Athletic Hall of Fame Featured in Chagrin Valley Times
2/16/2026
Jami Morris ‘21
was featured in a
Chagrin Valley Times
article
about her recent induction to Laurel’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Jami is a two-time golf State Champion and founder of the non-profit organization Hit Fore Hope, which raises money for cancer research and the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center.
Jane Startzman ‘70 Named Women’s History Project 2026 Women of the Year
2/16/2026
Laurel alum
Jane Startzman ‘70,
co-founder and director of the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, has been selected as a 2026 Woman of the Year by the Summit County Historical Society.
Sophia Tsuang ‘29 Wins 1st for Violin in Elite International Music Competition
2/16/2026
Congratulations to
Sophia Tsuang ’29
, who won First Place in the Violin Division of the 2025 Elite International Music Competition.
Taya Offutt-Decker '27 Gives “Tiny Bench” Concert on WJCU
2/16/2026
Congratulations to
Taya Offut Decker ‘27
, who produced an album through her Capstone project and gave a
“Tiny Bench” performance
at WJCU this month!
Varsity Swimmers Qualify for District Tournament
2/16/2026
Congratulations to the swim team on their great showing at the Sectional Meet on February 13! Laurel’s small but mighty team of six placed 11th out of the 34 girls’ teams represented at the meet. All three relays have qualified for the District Tournament!
Hannah Feldkamp ‘28 and Rana Abdelhadi ‘28 Win Individual Awards at CLEIMUN
2/13/2026
Model UN saw success when Laurel delegates attended CLEIMUN at St. Edward High School from February 11-13, representing their committees with preparation, conviction, and diplomacy.
Summer at Laurel Highlights Micro-Camps in Cleveland Magazine & Cleveland Jewish News
2/13/2026
Summer at Laurel was highlighted in the special camp issue of
Cleveland Magazine
. The story focused on micro-camps, shorter camp options that offer new opportunities without the full-summer commitment.
Hannah Rosenfeld ‘27 Named a Veale Youth Entrepreneurship Finalist in the ThinkBIG! Competition
2/10/2026
Congratulations to
Hannah Rosenfeld ’27
, whose Capstone Project, RISE (Reentry Inspiring Systemic Equality), has been selected as one of just three finalists in the Veale Youth Forum’s ThinkBIG! Competition.
Ann Thoburn Fauver ‘40 Included in WGBH Story About Figure Skating Judges
2/9/2026
Ann Thoburn Fauver ‘40
was included in a
WGBH video news story
that takes a behind the scenes look at how figure skating is judged.
Asale´ Jones in Freshwater Cleveland Story About Fresh Water Institute Program
2/5/2026
Asalé Jones ‘26
is included in a
Freshwater Cleveland story
about Cuyahoga County’s Fresh Water Institute, a program introducing a new generation of stewards to a crucial natural asset. The institute, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in December, aims to integrate sustainability and environmental health into daily life.
Claire Witalec '28 Qualifies for Tournament of Champions for Debate
2/4/2026
Congratulations to
Claire Witalec ’28
, who recently competed at the Columbia University Invitational, where she finished as co-champion, a performance that earned her a second bid to the Tournament of Champions (TOC), the most prestigious national circuit debate tournament of the year.
19 Laurel Students Qualify for JustWrite State Tournament
2/2/2026
Congratulations to the 19 Laurel Upper School students who have qualified to compete at the JustWrite state tournament at Bluffton University on May 18, 2026.
27 Laurel Students in Grades 8-12 Earn 41 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
2/2/2026
Congratulations to the 27 students in Grades 8-12 who earned an incredible 41 honors in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! Sixteen students were recognized for their visual art, earning four Gold Keys, eight Silver Keys, and 11 Honorable Mentions, while 12 students received writing awards, including one Gold Key, eight Silver Keys, and eight Honorable Mentions.
Gators Basketball Beats Brush 74-73 in Overtime
2/2/2026
Yesterday’s
Cleveland.com
high school sports update “In a girls basketball game that lived up to every bit of the hype, the Laurel Gators outlasted the Brush Arcs 74–73 in overtime Monday night in a non‑conference showdown at Brush.” Another amazing win for the No. 2 ranked Gators!
Laurel Figure Skaters Score 3rd at Ohio Figure Skating Championship
2/2/2026
Congratulations to Laurel’s Figure skating team on their 3rd place overall win at the Ohio High School Team Figure Skating Championships.
Laurel Gymnasts Place 3rd at Lakewood Meet
2/2/2026
Congratulations to Laurel’s gymnastics team on their 3rd place team finish at the Lakewood meet!
Senait P. ‘31 Included in PSA as Member of Youth Section of the NCNW
2/2/2026
Senait P. ‘31
is a Charter member of the Youth Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Lorain County Section. She and her NCNW Youth Sisters recorded a
PSA
to promote mental health awareness among teens, especially girls.
Sheridan Brazile ‘26 Wins 2nd Place in Annual MLK Essay Contest
2/2/2026
Congratulations to
Sheridan Brazile ‘26
, who earned 2nd place in the 36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest, sponsored by East View United Church of Christ. Sheridan was included in this
Cleveland.com piece
about the contest.
Rida Tahir ‘27 Named to Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council
1/28/2026
Congratulations to
Rida Tahir ‘27
on being one of only 16 students statewide to be named to the Ohio Safety Advisory Council.
Gators Basketball on Fire Now Ranking #3 in State
1/26/2026
The Laurel Gators took on Green High School on January 22 for a Special Senior Night honoring
Tristan Williams ‘26
,
Olivia Schneider ‘26
, and
Sydnee Robinson ‘26
, and walked away with an impressive 68-20 win, which capped off a month of exciting wins.
Laurel Swimmers Have Successful Season
1/26/2026
Laurel swimmers have had a successful season thus far. On January 7, the swimming and diving team competed at Baldwin Wallace and achieved impressive results.
Elizabeth Matsievich ‘29
placed 1st in the 500 freestyle with a PR and is currently ranked 30th in the state among Division II girls.
Speech and Debate Season Off to Strong Start
1/26/2026
Laurel’s Speech and Debate team has had a stellar season so far, with
Claire Witalec '28
,
Ana Rubio-Calvillo '27
, and
Julia Duong '26
having qualified early to the State Tournament.
Three Laurel Musicians Represent Laurel at District 7 OMEA Solo & Ensemble
1/21/2026
Sable Comet ‘27
,
August Sumlin ‘27
, and
Shaashwatiyaa Balamurugan ‘28
represented Laurel at the District 7 OMEA Solo & Ensemble at Madison High School, each performing a Class A solo, the highest level of difficulty for high school musicians.
Science Sisters Qualify for States
1/20/2026
Laurel’s Middle School Robotics team earned the Motivate Award at the Northeast Ohio District Competition, and is now headed to States in March!
JustWrite Shines at Regionals
1/19/2026
Laurel’s JustWrite and JustWrite Junior teams competed at the Regional Tournament, and made history by bringing a record-breaking 36 writers! It was the largest JustWrite regional to date, and Laurel students rose to the occasion.
Upper School Robotics Team Receives Sustain & Motivate Awards
1/19/2026
Congrats to Zip Tried, our Upper School Robotics team, on earning the Sustain Award at the Kirtland FIRST Tech Challenge tournament and the Motivate award at the Northeast Ohio District Competition. The team has advanced to States!
Laurel Gymnastics Places 3rd at Elite Gymnastics Meet
1/17/2026
Congratulations to Laurel’s gymnastics team, which placed 3rd overall at the Elite Gymnastics Meet!
Hannah Rosenfeld ‘27 and Lulu Hoffer ‘27 Selected as Teen Accelerate Finalists
1/16/2026
Hannah Rosenfeld ’27
and
Lulu Hoffer ’27
have each been selected as one of only 10 finalists in the Young Entrepreneur Institute Teen Accelerate program!
Reese Samala '29 Competes in Junior Olympics
1/16/2026
Congratulations to
Reese Samala '29
, who competed in the highly competitive Junior Olympics fencing tournament.
Eloise Porter ‘30 Earns 8th Place at Power of the Pen Tournament
1/10/2026
Congratulations to
Eloise Porter ’30
, who earned an 8th place medal at the Power of the Pen District Tournament!
Hannah Feldkamp ‘28 Publishes Story in YEPT News
1/8/2026
Hannah Feldkamp ‘28
authored a piece about the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
for the Youth Environmental Press Team (YEPT).
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Lyman Campus | Laurel School
1 Lyman Circle
Shaker Heights, OH 44122
Phone:
216-464-1441
Admissions:
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General:
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Butler Campus | Laurel School
7420 Fairmount Road
Novelty, OH 44072
Phone:
216-464-1441
Admissions:
admissions@LaurelSchool.org
General:
info@LaurelSchool.org
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