Heights High senior Charles Conwell (center) will compete on the 2016 Olympic Boxing Team. Tiger Nation honored him at the May 23 parade around Heights High.
May 24, 2016 -- Heights High and Tiger Nation honored 2016 Olympian Charles Conwell with a parade and official proclamations on Monday, May 23. Charles is a senior at Heights High and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. He will compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August.
Students and staff were released from school to line the school’s driveway and cheer for their classmate and attend a ceremony and official Olympic send-off for Charles.
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The parade began the festivities with Charles and his parents, Charles Conwell Sr. and Annette Steen-Conwell, riding in a blue convertible. Leading the parade were the University Heights Police representative followed by the Heights High marching band, the cheerleaders, the Cleveland Heights Police representative and fire trucks from both Cleveland Heights and University Heights.
Following the parade, students gathered to hear the University Heights Mayor Susan Infeld present a proclamation to Charles, congratulating him for his achievement and Superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon read a proclamation from U.S. Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge noting the Olympian’s achievements.
Superintendent Dixon, Board of Education President Kal Zucker and Administrative Principal Zoraba Ross spoke to congratulate and recognize Charles.
Two of Charles' teachers, Joyce Bukovac and Becky McDonald, presented Charles with 14 packets of notes from students and staff. Charles will carry the notes with him and read words of support and encouragement from Tiger Nation everyday he is in the Olympic Village.
Both of Charles’ parents thanked the attendees for coming and asked for their continued support on the road to Rio.
Closing the event, Charles stepped to the microphone and told the students, staff and community members that he appreciated their support and he would work very hard to bring a gold medal home for to Tiger Nation.