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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 2
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Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Charles Allen 6
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 9
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 13
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To recognize, honor, and congratulate the Howard University men’s swimming and 18
diving team for its first NCAA Conference Championship in over 30 years. 19
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WHEREAS, Howard University is located alongside Georgia Avenue in Ward 1, with its 21
university motto being ‘Veritas et Utilitas, Truth and Service’; 22
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WHEREAS, Howard University is the only HBCU to have an NCAA swimming and 24
diving program; 25
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team finished the year with 27
a winning record for the fifth consecutive season, finishing at 6-2; 28
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team, during its 2022 – 2023 30
campaign reset 16 of the 20 School records (5 Relay and 11 Individual); 31
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team Director and Head 33
Coach was inducted into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame for his accomplishments 34
as a Howard University dual sport student-athlete (Swimming & Tennis); 35
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team hosted the largest dual 37
meet in HBCU history, Battle at the Burr; 38
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WHEREAS, the Battle at the Burr received National attention and positively influenced 40
the swimming world, putting collegiate swimming and diving in the spotlight; 41
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team is the first all-black 43
swimming and diving team to be featured on the daily cover of the globally syndicated magazine, 44
Sports Illustrated; 45
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team won the 2023 47
Northeast Conference Swimming and Diving Championship in Geneva, Ohio in dominant fashion; 48
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team shattered 10 Northeast 50
Conference records (4 Relay and 6 Individual); 51
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team earned an impressive 53
21 total medals at the Northeast Conference Championships (12 Gold, 3 Silver, and 6 Bronze); 54
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team took home several 56
Conference honors including Most Outstanding Swimmer, Most Outstanding Diver, Diving Coach 57
of the Year, and Coaching Staff of the Year; 58
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team’s conference title drew 60
recognition from ESPN, CNN, NPR, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, BET, Essence 61
Magazine, Revolt Network, and several other media outlets; 62
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team has continued to 64
promote water safety and drowning prevention; 65
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team’s coaching staff 67
consists of Dr. Miriam Lynch, Salim King, Courtenay Miller, Jasmine Payne, Sidney Williams, 68
and Jake Garza; 69
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team was also supported by 71
two student-managers, Iman Ferguson and Gabriel Rose; 72
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team is led by Hall of Famer, 74
Conference Coach of the Year, Professional of the Year, and National Coach of the Year, Nicholas 75
Askew; 76
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team’s Director and Head 78
Coach, Nicholas Askew is the recipient of the 2023 Drake Hero Award presented by the Drake 79
Group Education Fund; 80
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving team’s Director and Head 82
Coach, Nicholas Askew is a dedicated advocate for legislation to increase the amount of access 83
for underserved communities; and 84
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WHEREAS, Howard University men’s swimming and diving championship winning team 86
members include: Miles Simon – Captain; Mark-Anthony Beckles – Captain; Luke-Kennedy 87
Thompson – Captain; Tai Afrik; Taj Benton; Kevin Claiborne; Brenton Cooper; Miguel Davis Jr.; 88
Ahmad Dove; Cyrus Gibson; Darin Johnson; Spencer Miles; Jordane Payne; Vaughn Peoples-89
Hobson; Niles Rankin; Reese Samuel; Arion Solomon; Tristan Stevens; Mark-Anthony 90
Thompson; Erald Thompson III; Ty Triche; Jordan Walker; Langston Weddington; Joel 91
Wilkinson; and Darien Williams. 92 3
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this 93
resolution may be cited as the “Howard University Men’s Swimming and Diving Team 2023 94
Northeast Conference Championship Recognition Resolution of 2023”. 95
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the Howard 97
University men’s swimming and diving team for winning the 2023 NEC Championship. 98
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 100