On June 16th, 240 college-bound African-American young men crossed the stage and received their diplomas in front of over 3,000 relatives, teachers, and friends during Urban Prep’s 5th Annual Commencement Exercises at the Civic Opera House. This year’s Commencement was especially significant because Urban Prep’s Bronzeville Campus graduated its first class. Also, several members of our first alumni class joined in the ceremony to induct the graduating seniors into the Urban Prep Alumni Association. During the program, guests enjoyed music from Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago as well as Lee England, Jr., “the Soul Violinist.” Special congratulatory video messages were shown from CNN anchor Don Lemon, nationally syndicated radio host Tom Joyner, and News One anchor Roland Martin. Several students and leaders inspired guests with rousing speeches, but the biggest cheer came when Urban Prep founder & CEO Tim King announced that a gift from the Callahan Family Foundation would result in each graduate receiving a laptop computer upon enrolling in college. At the conclusion of Commencement, all of the graduates took the stage and for the last time as a group recited the Urban Prep Creed. It was a powerful end to a powerful ceremony and proof-positive of what happens when We Believe. To view pictures from Commencement 2014, click the following link: http://we-b.lv/Commencement2014Pics. You can also watch the Commencement video by clicking the following link: http://we-b.lv/Commencement2014video.
