Saturday, March 20, 2010
Chicago tough neighorhoods has something to smile about..
Urban Prep Academy senior Keith Greer, along with his classmates, celebrates the news they will receive a free prom in Chicago because 100 percent of the graduating class was accepted into 4-year colleges or universities.
(Tribune photo by Heather Charles / March 5, 2010)
The entire senior class at Chicago 's only public all-male, all-African-American high school has been accepted to four-year colleges. At last count, the 107 seniors had earned spots at 72 schools across the nation.
Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman surprised students at an all-school assembly at Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Englewood this morning to congratulate them. It's the first graduating class at Urban Prep since it opened its doors in 2006.
Huberman applauded the seniors for making CPS shine.
"All of you in the senior class have shown that what matters is perseverance, what matters is focus, what matters is having a dream and following that dream," Huberman said.
The school enforces a strict uniform of black blazers, khaki pants and red ties -- with one exception. After a student receives the news he was accepted into college, he swaps his red tie for a red and gold one at an assembly.
The last 13 students received their college ties today, to thunderous applause.
Ask Rayvaughn Hines what college he was accepted to and he'll answer with a question.
"Do you want me to name them all?"
For the 18-year-old from Back of the Yards, college was merely a concept--never a goal--growing up. Even within the last three years, he questioned if school, let alone college, was for him. Now, the senior is headed to the prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta , Ga. next fall.
Hines remembers the moment he put on his red and gold tie.
"I wanted to take my time because I was just so proud of myself," he said. "I wanted everyone to see me put it on."
The achievement might not merit a mayoral visit at one of the city's elite, selective enrollment high schools. But Urban Prep, a charter school that enrolls using a lottery in one of the city's more troubled neighborhoods, faced difficult odds. Only 4 percent of this year's senior class read at grade level as freshmen, according to Tim King, the school's CEO.
"I never had a doubt that we would achieve this goal," King said. "Every single person we hired knew from the day one that this is what we do: We get our kids into college."
The school offers an extended day--170,000 more minutes over four years compared to its counterparts across the city--and more than double the number of English credits usually needed to graduate.
Even the school's voicemail has a student declaring "I am college bound" before it asks callers to dial an extension.
Normally, it takes senior Jerry Hinds two buses and 45 minutes to get home from school. On Dec. 11, the day University of Illinois at Champaign- Urbana was to post his admission decisions online at 5 p.m., he asked a friend to drive him home.
He went into his bedroom, told his well-wishing mother this was something he had to do alone, closed the door and logged in.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" he remembers screaming. His mother, who didn't dare stray far, burst in and began crying.
That night he made more than 30 phone calls, at times shouting "I got in" on his cell phone and home phone at the same time.
"We're breaking barriers," he said. "And that feels great."
Link for original story below...
Chicago Tribune
March Madness 2010: Scores, Recaps & More From Day 2
Well for those that don't know if I wasn't doing the music thing I would be playing ball somewhere. I had a scholarship in college for Bball but my passion has always been music. Now I'm running with the Los Angeles squad in that ELeague...
Back to March Madness:
March Madness wrapped up its second day of the 2010 Tournament Friday night, and in just two days the field has been narrowed from 64 teams to 32. While Friday's action did not have as many dramatic upsets as Thursday, there were several smaller upsets -- and one conference got its first win in twelve years. Scroll down for complete coverage.
You can find that full story @
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/march-madness-2010-scores_n_506828.html
Back to March Madness:
March Madness wrapped up its second day of the 2010 Tournament Friday night, and in just two days the field has been narrowed from 64 teams to 32. While Friday's action did not have as many dramatic upsets as Thursday, there were several smaller upsets -- and one conference got its first win in twelve years. Scroll down for complete coverage.
- 2-seed West Virginia crushed Morgan State, 77-50.
- 12-seed Cornell upset Temple, becoming the first Ivy League team to win a Tournament game since 1998.
- Xavier held off 11-seed Minnesota, 65-54.
- Purdue resisted a late charge from 13-seed Siena, prevailing 72-64.
- Another 4-seed, the Wisconsin Badgers, barely held on against Wofford.
- Pitt easily took care of Oakland, 89-66.
You can find that full story @
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/march-madness-2010-scores_n_506828.html
Friday, February 26, 2010
Former Spur arrested in sex trafficking case
By Guillermo Contreras - Express-News
Authorities have busted up a sex-trafficking ring accused of forcing a 14-year-old girl to have sex last year with men throughout San Antonio and Corpus Christi, and the group includes former Spurs guard and NBA All-Star Alvin Robertson.
Seven people are allegedly tied to the ring, which also includes an R&B performer and a man charged with bribing an official at the Greater Kelly Development Authority, the board that oversaw Kelly USA, the business park formed after the military’s closure of Kelly AFB.
Of the seven, Robertson, who played for the Spurs from 1984 to 1989 and was a one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was the last to be arrested, said Deputy Ino Badillo, a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, which led the investigation.
To read more about this go to: My San Antonio News
CERTIFIED DIAMOND
Lady GaGa's debut album The Fame is officially certified as diamond worldwide having sold 10,000,054 copies!
As for her follow-up, The Fame Monster, it's nearly double platinum in the United States!
More info @ Perez Hiltons Blog
Killer Whale Will Remain At SeaWorld!
We're glad because it was an accident and he's a wild animal!
Tilikum, the killer whale who was involved in the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, will "remain an active contributing member of the team, despite what happened…No animal is ever subject to any punishment and Tilikum is no exception."
Dawn's family also released an official statement:
“You have all heard what an amazing trainer Dawn Brancheau was, and that is true.
She was the best. It came natural to her. Being a trainer was a lifelong dream that she achieved.
She loved her job and she loved her animals. For her husband, family and friends, Dawn was so much more—a compassionate and loving person who lived life to the fullest.
She touched so many lives. To those who loved her and suffered a tremendous loss, one so unexpected, it is extremely difficult to even process or comprehend at this time. Our family sincerely appreciates everyone’s prayers and compassion and thoughts for Dawn and her husband and family. While we understand that this tragic event is capturing headlines across the country, at this time our family needs space and privacy to absorb our loss. We sincerely hope that the media will honor this request.”
Our thoughts are still with her family as they grieve.
Read More: Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilton
http://perezhilton.com/ Celebrity Juice, Not from Concentrate
Flashback of Serena Williams in Jane Magazine circa 2007
Serena Williams Takes it Off in Jane Magazine
Jane magazine’s highlight this month is the semi-nude photos of Eva Mendes, Joss Stone, Serena Williams, and five other famous faces. There is nothing that gets a guy to the newsstand faster than knowing that some well-known celebrity chick is naked in a magazine.
Serena Williams is way up there on the list, especially for those of us that appreciate bootay. Not bootie. Bootay!
With a pair of silver Moschino pumps and flowers keeping it mysterious, Serena Williams struck a sexy little backshot.
The caption reads.. (as if that’s important).
Once I was getting ready to go out and my hitting partner, who is my best friend and, like, Greek god - handsome, walked into my hotel room, it wasn’t awkward for me, but he freaked out.
I told him we had to get married.”
If I was still in high school I would have took this picture, clipped, taped.. right on the bedroom wall.
With Serena’s not much shame nudity policy maybe there will be more spreads in her future (pun intended). I’m sure KING magazine is fiendishly dialing.
Article located @ Serena Photo
Thursday, February 18, 2010
LOGOS - Branding a product..
When one is trying to brand ones own self, the first step to Branding a product which in this case would be me Marques Anthony, one needs a logo to represent the product...
Let me know what you guys think about these Logos by my boy Joshua Chandler.. Check him out on Facebook and Twitter search Joshua Chandler..
Let me know what you guys think about these Logos by my boy Joshua Chandler.. Check him out on Facebook and Twitter search Joshua Chandler..
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