Southland College Prep Charter High School’s new mascot—an Eagle—joins with Homer Thomas ( l.) Athletic Director, and Dr. Blondean Davis, CEO (third from left) in congratulating sophomores Perry Sibby and Morgan Brown who display the Southland College Prep jackets they earned for being named “Outstanding Performers” of the year during the school’s first annual Athletic and Activities Banquet. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
Fetes Two as “Outstanding Performers”; Announces Eagles as Team Mascot
RICHTON PARK, IL—(ENEWSPF)–May 17, 2012—Eighty-eight Southland College Prep Charter High School students, who competed on ten teams in Illinois High School Association ( IHSA) sanctioned tournaments, were honored for their accomplishments at the school’s recent first annual athletic and activities banquet.
Letters and medals were awarded to all and 19 students were named Most Valuable Players (MVP) or Rising Stars (RS) by their coaches.
Two sophomores, Morgan Brown, 15, of Matteson and Perry Sibby, 15, of Park Forest, the first and only Southland students to compete in IHSA tournaments at the state level, were named “Outstanding Performers,” by Athletic Director Homer Thomas who awarded them school jackets.
“Morgan Brown’s forensic performance in IHSA tournaments this academic year has been extraordinary,” said her coach, Dean Cheryl Frazier.
Brown placed 7th in the IHSA State Speech Individual Events tournament with her performance of an oratorical declamation, ”I Am Seeking an Attitude,” an essay by June Jordan, the late award-winning African-American poet, novelist, activist and literary figure who is recognized for her contributions in raising black consciousness.
“Bowler Perry Sibby had a phenomenal season,” according to Coach Brian Wales, who teaches math at Southland.
The sophomore, who threw against varsity bowlers all season long, averaged 217.2 per game and rolled a high game score of 267. 7.7 strikes per game with marks on his score sheet in 9 out of 10 frames per game. He finished the season placing 29th in the Boys Illinois State Bowling tournament with an average round of 209.
A highlight of the evening was the surprise announcement by Thomas that the new Southland College Prep Charter High School’s teams will compete as the Eagles.
“Eagles soar to great heights and that’s our vision for all of these talented young people who have represented Southland College Prep Charter High School so very well this year in IHSA sanctioned tournaments,” said Dr. Blondean Davis, Southland College Prep’s CEO.
“We’re proud of all of our students who are striving to create a new future for themselves by focusing on their academics and participating in a full program of athletic and extra-curricular activities during our nine-hour school day,” Dr. Davis said.
“Letters and medals were presented in recognition of students’ participation and leadership on Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Bowling, Boys and Girls Track and Forensics teams,” said Thomas.
Southland College Prep coaches named 19 Most Valuable Players (MVP) and Rising Stars of their respective teams as follows:
Boys Cross-Country Coach Dan Higgins: MVP, Michael Ward-Fleming; Rising Star, Michael Gettings.
Girls Cross-Country Coach Maria DeSoto: MVP, Ashley Jackson; Rising Star, Imani Fountain.
Golf Coach Homer Thomas: Boys Golf: MVP Perry Sibby; Rising Star, Jeremy Rhymes
Girls Golf: MVP, Samantha Higgins
Volleyball Coach Linda DeYoung: MVP, Kendall Brunson; Rising Star, Phymia Nunn
Bowling Coach Brian Wales:Girls Bowling: MVP, Kiara Chandler; Rising Star, Samantha Higgins;
Boys Bowling : MVP, Perry Sibby; Rising Star, Victor Banjoko.
Forensics Coach Cheryl Frazier: MVP, Morgan Brown; Rising Star, Malik Bibbie
Boys Track Coach Dan Higgins: MVP, Michael Ward-Fleming; Rising Star, Marcelle Vanarsdale
Girls Track Coach Maria DeSoto: MVP, Ashley Jackson; Rising Star, Cierra Osborne
About Southland College Prep Charter High School
Southland College Prep opened in August, 2010. It is the only public charter high school in Chicago’s suburbs.
According to Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, CEO, “Southland Charter offers a choice for students and a hope for the future. Every child has a right to learn and can achieve the 21st century skills needed for success—to think critically and to problem solve,” she says.
For the academic year, 2011-12, 250 students are enrolled in Southland’s freshmen and sophomore classes. Over the next two years, the enrollment is scheduled to double to approximately 500 students as set by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Dr. Davis’ conviction that “children can achieve their highest learning potential when given the opportunity in an encouraging, student-centered, academically challenging environment,” was a major factor in creating the new charter public high school for students in nine south suburbs.
“Southland College Prep Charter High School is designed to prepare all of its graduates for academic success in college. They will graduate from a college of their choice,” she predicts. The new school incorporates several intervention strategies to insure student success and has a team in place to provide all eligible students special education and related services, Dr. Davis said.
Southland is located at 4601 West Sauk Trail Road, Richton Park, on eight acres in a three-story, 85,000 square foot, state-of-the art learning center with small class sizes, an extended nine-hour school day and a college prep curriculum which emphasizes foreign languages and the arts.
Southland’s students use 21st century classroom tools including an electronic portfolio of work and a blog for each subject area. Students engage in technology-based collaborative learning with other students, have access to video conferencing and technology assisted home-school communication to keep parents informed of progress.
Among the most popular Southland College Prep’s extra-curricular programs are: forensics and interpretative drama and such lifelong sports as bowling, cross country, golf, tennis, track and volleyball.
Southland College Prep Charter High School serves students who reside in: Country Club Hills, Flossmoor, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park and Tinley Park.
