Dispatches from Chicago's south side.
It was May 23, 2008, when Martrell was hit by gunfire in the back of his mother's car, in the 6400 block of South Bishop Street.And now an account of his Kindergarten graduation:
"He just started shooting; shot my brother-in-law three times, and I screamed, and that's what made him turn to my truck, and he shot directly through my car, and shot my son," said Martrell's mother, LaKeesha Rucker.
No one was ever arrested or charged in the shooting.
An innocent little South Side boy who was wounded by gunfire last year wasn't sure he'd ever walk again, but today, he's being called an inspiration.Great story out of one of our local schools.
As CBS 2's Susan Carlson reports, this is the day that Martrell Stevens, 5, has been waiting for. He graduated from kindergarten inside the gymnasium at Jane M. Neil Elementary School, 8555 S. Michigan Ave.
But for a boy who has been confined to a wheelchair for the past year, it was also a huge day of triumph.
Martrell arrived at school in style, in a limousine donated by the organization Stop Killing Our Youth, in honor of the milestone.
Not only did Martrell receive his diploma, he also walked across the stage to get it.
It was a feat that took months of preparation.
"Walking, and stretching my legs out," Martrell said.
Faced with a problem this spring of too many graduating seniors and too little room for their families, five south and west suburban high schools stumbled on an obvious solution: broadcast the ceremonies live on their Web sites.It would be great to announce to those who read this blog that Harlan, Robeson, or even Chicago State would have their graduations broadcast online. I'm sure doing such a production costs money, but I don't think it's entirely a bad idea to show our community's best and brightest.
Just like that, officials said, an entirely new world came into focus. One where Friday night football games, school concerts or plays could be beamed into the homes of alumni living out of town or around the world; where students home sick could watch classes live; where high-achieving middle-schoolers could sit in virtual high school classrooms; or where parents could perhaps one day monitor their child's behavior in class.
About 1,200 households watched online this week as graduating seniors from Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Andrew High School in Tinley Park and Sandburg High School in Orland Park donned caps and gowns and accepted their diplomas, a Consolidated High School District 230 official said. More are expected to tune in for a live video stream of graduation ceremonies Sunday for two Indian Prairie School District 204 high schools in Aurora and Naperville..
The suburban schools are among a growing number around the country to experiment with live video on the Web, an emerging tool that some say will revolutionize how schools connect with their communities. For schools already accustomed to sharing important information with families on ever-expanding Web sites and on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, live Web casting is another leap forward in communicating with the public.
Congrats to all CSU grads.More than 1,000 students will graduate tonight at Chicago State University’s Spring Commencement ceremony at the Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center beginning at 6 p.m.Two students will make history as the University’s first doctoral graduates from the College of Education. Angelia Roberts-Watkins and Reginald Patterson will receive doctor of education degrees – the first time that degree has been awarded at CSU.Other notable graduates are Tiffany Brown, who was named outstanding graduating senior and will enroll in College of Pharamacy at CSU in the fall, and Fiona Wan, a resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, who will graduate summa cum laude and has been accepted into the school of law at Indiana University, Bloomington. Both students have received numerous academic honors during their careers and Ms. Brown is a member of the CSU track team and Ms. Wan is a member of the CSU golf team.Interim President Dr. Frank G. Pogue will honor five students graduating summa cum laude, 11 students graduating magna cum laude, and 55 students graduating cum laude.Media coverage of the event is welcome. Chicago State University is located at 95th Street and Martin Luther King Drive.
