Title
To recognize and celebrate the 2018-2019 Columbus Africentric Early College High School Lady Nubians Girls Basketball Team for winning the Ohio Division III State Girls Basketball Championship.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus and the members of Columbus City Council are proud to honor and celebrate the youth of this community as they represent more than just a state of mind, they represent the quality of our imagination, the triumph of courage over fear and the very future of this community; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Africentric Early College High School, known as the Nubians, was named after the ancient African civilization that flourished along the upper parts of the Nile in what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan - first proposed in 1993 the school has an academic focus that includes a respect for African-American culture tradition and values; the school has more than 494 students who are committed to scholastic excellence, it has a 88% graduation rate and more than $3.4 million in scholarships were awarded to the Class of 2018; and
WHEREAS, this year, Coach William McKinney, a Naismith Coaches Award Finalist, and the Columbus Africentric Lady Nubians led by McDonald’s All-American Jordan Horston ended their 28-0 season with a 51-47 victory over the Waynesville Spartans on March 16, 2019 at the Value City Arena on the campus of The Ohio State University to win their seventh state championship - tying the state record with Pickerington Central and Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame for the most titles in the 43-year history of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball Tournament; and
WHEREAS, the road to the state championship included the school winning its 11th City League School Championship, the first undefeated season in school history, a national ranking of 3rd by ESPN.com and 4th by MaxPreps.com, its second state championship in a row and its third state championship in the last four seasons - Africentric secured State Championships in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019; and
WHEREAS, the 2018-2019 Basketball Lady Nubian State Basketball Championship Team included: Arianna Smith, Maliyah Johnson, Jordan Horston, Sakima Walker, Alexia Smith, Nyam Thornton, Tearra Cook, Charjae’ Brock, Lyric Ransom, Coach Will McKinney and his assistants - moreover the Lady Nubians collected post-season tournament wins over, Columbus Northland for the City League Championship, Fairbanks, Fredericktown, Liberty Union, Utica, Margaretta, Liberty Benton, Hiland, and Waynesville, continuing the winning tradition of Columbus City Schools with a team G.P.A. average of 3.28; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Africentric Early College High School has a committed teaching staff led by Dr. Todd Walker and others who believe in the importance of academics and opportunities to help students learn in ways that express and expose their talent - this spirit of leadership, combined with the support of parents, teachers, administrators, friends and a community of others has successfully guided the school to a tradition of success which includes securing the 2019 State Girls Basketball Championship, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate the 2018-2019 Columbus Africentric Early College High School Lady Nubians Girls Basketball Team for Winning the Ohio Division III State Girls Basketball Championship