NICHOLS BROTHERS WIN PUSH Excel ORATORY COMPETITION

Orators Zyon & Zyire Nichols with their proud parents, Demetrius & Tracye Nichols, Sumner School Principal W. Delores Robinson, and Reverend Woodard Williams, Pastor of #2 New Mount Sinai M.B. Church. (Photo by Isaac Jones)

Zyon and Zyire are making a name for themselves as young men to be heard – and people are listening! They have impressed Mayor Rahm Emanuel and caught the attention of Governor Pat Quinn. Reverend Jesse Jackson, himself a renowned orator, has taken notice of the two brothers.

Both of the boys are students at Charles Sumner Elementary School, 4320 West Fifth Avenue. Zyon is 8 years old and in 3^rd grade. Zyire, 6, is in 1^st grade. According to their Principal, W. Delores Robinson, “They are both extremely gifted young men and we are very proud of them.”

On December 29, 2012, Zyon and Zyire competed in the annual PUSH Excel Oratorical Competition. With the help of their parents, Demetrius and Tracye Nichols, the boys selected excerpts from a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the subject of poverty. They both won the competition and went on to perform at the city’s Dr. King Day Breakfast where they met the governor and mayor. This is the second year Zyon participated in the PUSH Excel Oratorical Competition. 

Several weeks ago, at a public meeting concerning school closings, Zyon delivered an impassioned defense of his school and told why Charles Sumner deserves to remain open. Principal Robinson says she has no doubt the fact that Sumner was removed from the final list of schools at risk of closing is due to the convincing appeal made at the hearing by Zyon Nichols.

The brothers are active members of #2 New Mount Sinai M.B. Church, 310 North Laramie Avenue. Their Pastor, Reverend Woodard Williams, predicts a bright future for both of the boys. He says they are often called upon to recite the Church Covenant.

Zyon’s teacher, Georgia Anne Moore, said the two brothers are so impressive she wanted their talents to be recognized by a wider audience. Teachers Nickcole Pierre and Susan Kang echo her sentiments.