HR0588 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0588 LRB104 16410 ECR 29800 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Leo High School on the occasion of its 100th anniversary of providing education to young men on Chicago's South Side; and

WHEREAS, Leo High School opened its doors in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago on September 7, 1926; the school started with more than 120 students and quickly grew its class sizes and footprint while achieving acclaim for the academic, athletic, and cultural activities of its students and alumni; and

WHEREAS, Leo High School has reflected both the opportunities and challenges present in its community and the City of Chicago at large, most notably by being resilient in the face of population loss and demographic change, evolving from once having an all-white student body to having a student body that is all-Black or Hispanic today; and

WHEREAS, At present, Leo High School has more than 200 enrolled students and features a student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1, ensuring that students and teachers are able to benefit from enhanced student-teacher interactions and a more active learning environment; and

WHEREAS, Leo High School offers a college preparatory program and honors curriculum, providing students with a well-rounded education to prepare them for higher education and the workforce, and the school has boasted a 100% graduation rate for over a decade; and

WHEREAS, Leo High School possesses a strong tradition of providing extracurricular activities for students to develop experiences and opportunities in leadership, teamwork, time management, and networking; and

WHEREAS, Leo High School has a proud athletic tradition that aims for students to develop character and discipline in addition to sporting skills, which has helped its teams, the Lions, to compete in more than 60 championships, earning titles in track and field, football, and basketball; and

WHEREAS, Leo High School further has a talented men's choir, which gained national recognition while competing and being named a finalist on the competition show America's Got Talent in 2025, and the choir has further honored the school through performances at celebrations honoring Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago area native, the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and as part of the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs; and

WHEREAS, Leo High School leads its students with the motto "Facta Non Verba", or "deeds, not words", as it prepares young men to lead lives of integrity, purpose, and service from the classroom to the community and through their futures; and

WHEREAS, Beginning in December 2025, Leo High School will celebrate its centenary under the theme, "One Century, One Brotherhood, One Leo", featuring a variety of events continuing through 2026, including the Leo Lion Legacy Scholarship Benefit and Christmas Concert, the Black History Month celebration, various alumni celebrations, and a centennial block party and time capsule; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Leo High School on achieving its 100th anniversary, providing a century of distinguished service and dedication to the education of young men on Chicago's South Side, and we thank the high school for its continued resilience and unwavering commitment to this mission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Leo High School President Dan McGrath and Principal Shaka Rawls as a symbol of our esteem and respect.