FEATURES

UP Seniors: “We Are College Bound” FEATURES

Seniors from the Englewood, West and Bronzeville Campuses receive their red and gold striped ties for being accepted into four year colleges and universities.

6 LION’S ROAR At Urban Prep it is tradition that students start off with a red tie. They receive their blazers during Convocation, which is held after the first week of their freshman year. Convocation is one of many important rituals to Urban Prep in which students dawn their blazers for the first time. As they progress through their highschool careers, students are alloted the chance to receive a gold tie for being exceptional in class or in school in general. During a students’ senior year they apply to a certain amount of colleges. Those students are able to receive a red and gold striped tie from the principal of their campus, Chief Academic Officer, Mr. Dennis Lacewell and Founder and CEO Tim King. Once the students submit their acceptance letters, they receive these ties symbolizing being accepted to a 4 year College or University. The On To The Next One (OTTNO) ritual was created in the Fall of 2009 to recognize and celebrate the Class of 2010 (Urban Prep’s first inaugural graduating class) for their dedication, commitment and focus to work exceptionally hard during their time at Urban Prep to earn their official acceptance to a four-year college or university. The name of the OTTNO ritual comes from a song with the same name on Shawn Carter’s critically acclaimed album, The Blueprint 3. If you read the lyrics of the song, it is easy to see that the theme of the song is about always progressing, moving forward, and never being scared to fail while working towards exceptionality. Our young men have exhibited those sentiments through their work at Urban Prep towards exceptionality that has earned them their official acceptance to a four-year college/university. Thus, the chorus (not the verses) of this song is played continuously during this ritual. Students who have received their ties include: By Dorian Hill Editor and Chief, Bronzeville Campus

Englewood Campus Darius Bowden Devin Canady Aaron Coleman Tyjen Fields Tony Gamby Micheal Gary Jr. Devion Johnson Core’del Lott Jaden Roundtree Xavier Doby Antoine Winston Percy Washington Joshua Idugboe Travon Arnold West Campus Derek Calvin Tiberias Canders Marty Cleaves Shemond Copeland Korian Dalton Michael Gray Anthony Lofton Trevon Mason Antwoine Morgan Johnny Neal Jakobi Parker Nicholas Ross Olajuwon Slaughter Bronzeville Campus Jaden Armstrong-Upshaw Daniel Baker, Jr. Rico Barnes Aaron Brize Roberto Ceballos Phillip Curry Frederick Handy, II Elijah Holmes Tyler Hurn Brian Johnson, Jr. Darrell Johnson, III Kyle King Michael Lilly Xander Maclin Zion Martin-Dillard Maximus McFadden Jaylen Nesbitt Stacy Reed Jacquez Smith Daylen Treaseh Creshawn Trimble Malik Waddy Edward Walker, III Kendrell Warren Fatir Muhammad from the Bronzeville Campus has received the most college acceptances within the network with a total of 57. Michael Gray, Anthony Lofton and Olajuwon Slaughter (WST)

Students recieve gold ties for being exceptional STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

This month Mr. Pollard has recently received (3) gold ties. Mr. Pollard’s teacher wrote: “He always asks questions. If he is behind, he wants to catch up. If he is ahead, he is proud of himself. He stays alert and always ready to complete whatever it is that is asked of him. One of the kindest young men I have worked with here at Urban Prep. I am thankful for his positive energy and he is always a positive influence on the room, no matter what is going on around him. He never allows anyone to distract him from accomplishing his goal and that is to be educated. Very thankful that I get to work with him each day”. Mr. McGee receievd a gold tie during the month of January. His teacher wrote: “Mr. McGee demonstrates what it means to be on time, which is to be early, by making himself available to volunteer in setting UP Community. He makes sure that he is in proper uniform before he engages staff and Community preparation which would suggest that in his first year at Urban Prep he functions like an upperclassman with poise, humility and integrity”. Mr. McGee lives what he recites with his Urban Prep brothers every moring in Community, “We have a responsiblity to our family, community”. Mr. McMiller recieved his gold tie during the month of Feburary. Principal Bywater wrote: “Mr. McMiller transferred into Urban Prep Bronzeville in January. In only two months since joining the Urban Prep family, Mr. McMiller has done a great job of demonstrating the Urban Prep core values. He has shown solidarity as he has fit in quickly and well with his brothers. He has also shown selflessness towards his classmates and teachers. Earlier this month his exceptionality was on full display as he earned a gold tie as Student of the Week in front of his brothers in Community.” Mr. Jeremiah McMiller, Class of 2021 - BronzevilleMr. Kenyan McGee, Class of 2023 - West Mr. Jaquan Pollard, Class of 2022 - Englewood Urban Prep’s Great Debaters bring home the win

Last weekend, the great debaters from the Urban Prep Bronzeville Campus competed in Chicago’s Debate League winning first and fourth place. Messrs. Payne, Christmas and Young won individual speakers awards. Urban Prep Alumnus from the Class of 2011 Raheem Cooper-Thomas is the Assistant Coach. Mr. Cooper-Thomas was a member of Urban Prep Englewood’s debate team when he was a student and won various awards during his participation.