URBAN PREP CHARTER ACADEMY FOR YOUNG MEN
THE LION’S ROAR NEWSPAPER April /May 2022 Volume 2, No. 4
Urban Prep Seniors Announce College Choices at Signing Day
Photos: Ian Isbell
Mr. Contrell Lopez and his brothers from the Urban Prep West/Downtown Campus sign the Annual Signing Day banner after announcing the college or university they are attending this Fall; Messrs. Antonio Milian and Jawon Rogers from the Englewood Campus after announcing their college choice.
On May 19th, seniors from Urban Prep's Englewood, West/Downtown, Bronzeville Campus took to Daley Plaza in Downtown Chicago to announce the four year college or university they will be attending this fall. The weather was beautiful as onlookers, parents and supporters gathered to celebrate this memorable event for the Class of 2022. Mr. Tim King, Founder and CEO of Urban Prep gave a speech and announced that for the 13th consecutive year in a row 100 percent of Urban Prep graduating seniors have been admitted into college. This year's theme is 100 Percent Indomitable. In his speech, Mr. King explained "Indomitable means you are unconquerable. It means you will not falter in the face of any obstacle placed before you. It means that although the world will try to keep you down, you are ready to pull yourself up with every fiber of your being." During the event Mr. Troy Boyd, Chief Operating Officer announced a scholarship on behalf of Top of the World Hats (TOWS) to the senior with the most college acceptances. This year's recipent was Mr. Amari Austin from the Bronzeville Campus, who received LION’S ROAR
73 college acceptances, the most in Urban Prep history. At Signing Day, seniors lined up, approached the mic and proudly announced to the world the school they would be attending then they donned the hat of that school. Seniors then signed the event banner and the credimus book with their name and the school they are attending. This is significant because every graduating senior class has done so since the inaugural Class of 2010. There were juniors from all three campuses present. This was very impactful and meaningful because next year they will have the great opportunity to announce the school they will attend in Fall of 2023. While Urban Prep has been hosting Signing Day since 2010, this year's event was most special because for the past two years we have not been able to gather in this fashion due to the pandemic. It was a great experience . "College Signing Day means so much to me, just so we can change the narrative of young Black men not attending college" said Dorian Hill, Class of 2022 and Editor-in-Chief of the Lion's Roar from the Bronzeville Campus.
Mr. Baraka Myart-Sapho from the Bronzeville Campus announces that he’s attending Western Illinois University.
Photo Credit: Michael Kardas
COO Troy Boyd, Principal of the Bronzeville Campus Joffrey Bywater, Senior Amari Austin, Founder and CEO Tim King and Chief Academic Officer Dennis Lacewell
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