OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
June 22, 2016
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Together with Alderman Foulkes, I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning the Earle STEM Academy Chess Teams.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.

Mayor
Very truly yours,

resolution
adopted by %e Qlty GoUHCll
ofthe Qity of Ghicago, Illinois
ALDERMAN TONI FOULKES
C^Jresentd by MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL ow JUNE 22, 2016

QXBCIS > Tne Members of this Chamber wish to congratulate the chess teams at Earle STEM Elementary School for their competitive prowess during the 2015-2016 school year; and
WHEREAS, The Earle STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Elementary School, located at 2040 West 62nd Street in the Englewood neighborhood in the 16th Ward, ranks among the top elementary school chess teams in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The main purpose of the chess club at Earle STEM Elementary School is to make great thinkers out of its students. Chess provides a powerful model for everyday life by enhancing students' critical thinking skills and instilling in them the knowledge that there are consequences to every move they make in life; and
WHEREAS, During the 2015-2016 school year, Earle STEM Elementary School has earned five 1st Place team trophies, a 4,h Place trophy in the State of Illinois chess championship, and a 3rd Place Chicago Public Schools academic chess trophy; and
WHEREAS, Of special significance is a national 1st Place trophy won by the Earle all-girls chess team, whose members are Gelita Woodlow, Angelique Wilson, Monique Williams, Tamya Fultz and Breanna Shaw. The Earle all-girls chess team was one of only two all-African American girls chess teams in this tournament; and
WHEREAS, The Earle co-educational chess team from grades four through eight won the 5th Place trophy in the 2016 National Junior High School Championship, the largest junior high school chess tournament in the Country, held in Indianapolis; and
WHEREAS, Fourteen of the school's team members have been officially accepted as rated members by the United States Chess Federation, the Nation's highest chess authority, enabling these elementary school students to qualify for college grants and scholarships for chess-related activities; and
WHEREAS, All of Chicago is proud of the great accomplishments of these fine students, both in the classroom and in chess tournaments. We salute the members of the Earle STEM Elementary School Chess Team and its Network 11 Family of students, educators, parents and staff: Student Joshua Johnson, Student Erik Tolbert, Student Tyrone Dellar, Student Gelita Woodlow, Student Xavier Rosado, Student Monique Williams, Student Angelique Wilson, Student Semaj Lowe, Student Brandon Burgess, Student Taahir Levi, Student Stephon Edwards, Student Tamya Fultz, Student Breanna Shaw, Student Gavin Harry, Coach Joseph Ocol, Staff Jereisha Mahone, Principal Cederall Petties, Assistant Principal Elwanda Butler, LSC Community Head Darlene O'Banner, and Network 11 Chief Megan Hougard; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-second day of June, 2016, do hereby congratulate the chess club students and coach at Earle STEM Elementary School for their achievements in their maiden year of chess competition; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to each student in the chess club and their coach as a gesture of our esteem and good wishes.
