RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber are pleased to congratulate the Earle STEM Academy Elementary School Chess Club ("Earle STEM Chess Club") in Englewood on their many achievements during the 2018-2019 school year; and
WHEREAS, The Earle STEM Chess Club burst onto the national chess scene in 2016, with fewer than a dozen members. Today, under the leadership of chess coaches Joseph Ocol and Edwin Walker, the Chess Club boasts 57 members, comprising students from kindergarten through the eighth grade; and
WHEREAS, Since 2016, the Earle STEM Chess Club has been widely acclaimed for its success in helping students to acquire the discipline, confidence, adaptability, tenacity and critical thinking skills necessary to master the game of chess and to excel in life. In recognition of their dedication and professional accomplishments, Chess Club members got a chance to meet former President Barack Obama when he visited Chicago in October 2018; and
WHEREAS, The only Chicago Public School team to advance to the Illinois State Chess Tournament in February 2019, the Earle STEM Chess Club brought home three medals; and
WHEREAS, The Earle STEM Chess Club advanced to the 2019 National Junior High School Championship in April of this year, where team members once again exhibited the grit, intelligence and mental toughness that enabled them to place fourth in the competition; and
WHEREAS, Defying the odds, the Earle STEM Chess Club made their first-ever appearance at the U.S. Chess Federation's 2019 SuperNationals VI Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, the largest chess match in the world. Despite intense competition, the Earle STEM Chess Club beat 39 other schools to earn their spot among the Top 25 Team Winners and earned three trophies; and
WHEREAS, All of Chicago is proud of the Earle STEM Academy Elementary School Chess Club. Individually and together as a group, the members of this outstanding Chess Club exemplify the values of team work, fair play, hard work and individual excellence that all competitors should aspire to achieve; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council, assembled this twelfth day of June, 2019, do hereby congratulate Chess Club coaches Joseph Ocol and Edwin Walker, and the following members of the Earle Stem Academy Elementary School Chess Club: Kimberly Salas, Madison Salas, Stephon Edwards, Victasia Washington, Victorian Washington, Jalen Peters, Lester Ayers, Jailyn Perry, Derrick Joyner, Laparis Sutton, Pierre Sutton, Armoni Sanders, Angel Branch, Takaela McCoy, Chaniyah McCoy, Jessie Williams, Quincy Williams, Henry Williams, Eamaren Williams, Jayquan Williams, Keon Taylor, Kamya Stevenson, Amarhia Cullar, Savannah Austin, Lashaun Coleman, London Coleman, Adon
Burgess, Antwain Danner, Genesis Benson, Zaire Benson-Sutters, Ayana Anderson, Katurah Wilson, Christopher Moore, Janilah Perry, Lyrik Watkins, Areana Glover, Alana Lofton, Lamare Hudson, Zamari Taylor, Tatiano Bobo, Anastasha Boba, Alexia Reed, Hazal Martinez, Marvionce Davis, Martavion Johnson, Juelez Nowells, Jarmarius Nowells, Rashard Warfteld, Jasmyne Watson, Jalen Lewis, Sarai Vaughn, Christina Williams, Shatira Danner, Deandre Perry, Brandon Burgess, Taahir Levi, and Gavin Harry; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Earle Stem Academy Elementary School Chess Club Coaches Jospeh Ocol and Edwin Walker, and to each ofthe aforementioned students, as a token of our appreciation and esteem.