While University Laboratory High School opened in 1921, with it’s first graduating class in 1922* 2022, Covid has delayed the celebration to this year.
This weekend, Uni High alums are gathering in C-U for a weekend of events celebrating the milestone. There will be a convocation, sock hop in Kenney Gym, luncheon on the Uni lawn, a gala featuring Uni grad George Will as the keynote speaker, and more.
The origins of Uni go all the way back to 1876, as a college prep class held in the basement of University Hall. The Illini Union now occupies that land. The College of Education made a request for a laboratory high school in 1910, and it took another 11 years to materialize. That building remains the home of Uni students, though attempts were made to build a new school. You can read the full history of the school on Uni’s website.
The school has produced a long list of accomplished graduates, with careers ranging from conservative writer and columnist (George Will, ’58) to artist and drag queen (Sasha Velour, ’04).
Top image from University Laboratory High School website.
* Editor’s Note: The original version accidentally published “2022” instead of “1922” and we have since updated the SPlog.