CONGRATULATING THE MARSHALL METROPOLITAN HIGH SCHOOL CHESS TEAM
WHEREAS, The Marshall Metropolitan High School Chess Team, located in the 28th Ward on Chicago's great West Side, is among the top 20 school chess teams in Chicago and is ranked as the top African-American high school chess team in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The Marshall Chess Club has garnered five state medals and 4 out-of-state medals, including two team trophies in high school chess tournaments. During this school year, six of its members have been officially rated by the United Stated Chess Federation, the nation's the highest chess body, thereby enabling them to qualify for college scholarships as well as grants for chess-related activities; and
WHEREAS, The Marshall Metropolitan High School Chess Team was created in 2006 and is coached by Joseph M. Ocol who joined the Marshall faculty in 2005. At its inception, Ocol and the Chess Club started visiting the Michael Faraday Elementary School, a nearby public school, where he recruited over one hundred students for a chess team of their own, resulting in the creation of the Michael Faraday Elementary Chess Team; and
WHEREAS, With its impressive performance this past year, the Marshall Chess Team has emerged out of 140 public and private schools as the top African-American school chess team in the city. Additionally, in the Illinois State Chess finals last year, Marshall ranked among the top 30; and
WHEREAS, Located in the 28th Ward on Chicago's West Side, Marshall has more than 80% of its population coming from below-poverty level households. The same statistics hold true for the Marshall Chess Team, proving that poverty is no barrier to success in intellectual pursuits such as the game of chess; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Jason C. Ervin, Alderman of the 28"' Ward has apprised this august body ofthe remarkable feats of the members ofthe Marshall Metropolitan High School Chess Team, to wit: Jerome Wakins, Datreion Levertson, Malcolm Richards, Shantanika ...
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