VIDEO: Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys Celebrates Leadership at Annual Tie-Tying Ceremony

The annual tie-tying ceremony at Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys (CCPSB) is more than just an event—it's a pivotal moment in the life of the school’s young men. Every year, students don the school's uniform and take part in a tradition that has come to symbolize a commitment to their personal growth and leadership development. As reported, each grade proudly wears a different colored tie, maroon for sixth graders, black for seventh graders, and a combination of maroon-and-black stripes for eighth graders, symbolizing the progression through the school year.

The event is not only about teaching the boys how to neatly tie a knot around their necks, but also to slowly build up the foundation of discipline, pride, and brotherhood. Speakers and community leaders use this opportunity to not only teach tie-tying but to also stress the importance of unity and mentorship, essential pillars for fostering the future leaders of the community. Eighth grader Braylon Prysock-Glass told Columbus City Schools, “This year, our theme is Stronger Together. One Brotherhood. One Vision which connects with the district’s theme, Leaders Grown Here."

This year's ceremony saw participation from various notable community organizations and local figures. These included My Brother’s Keeper Columbus, Sigma 614 Foundation, and Columbus City Schools staff, among others. A particularly poignant moment was captured when Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin tied his nephew's tie, expressing his pride and the ceremonious gravity in teaching the young men about responsibility and expectations. “We’re going to turn to the young men in front of us and what that means is we’re going to have high expectations of you,” Hardin said, according to Columbus City Schools. “We are going to expect excellence. We are going to expect leadership. We are going to expect you to be your brother’s keeper.”

Community leaders used the gathering as an opportunity to strongly reinforce the school’s ethos. For Karim Jackson, senior program officer of My Brother’s Keeper Columbus, and Troy Glover, president of the Beta Omicron Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., it was a moment to remind students of the ethos "action, action, despite the distraction," as Glover articulated. Moreover, CCS Superintendent/CEO Dr. Angela Chapman highlighted the collective backing the students enjoy, "This ceremony today represents what I like to call your circle of support—a tribe of great men who demonstrate that true leadership is always built together and never alone,” Chapman told the young scholars, according to Columbus City Schools. The idea that leaders are nurtured in the supportive soil of community resonated, urging students to always carry themselves with purpose and integrity, in line with the messages of guidance and support imparted during the ceremony.

CCPSB student Amar Harrison, reflecting on his third tie-tying ceremony, conveyed the underlying message that the tie is not merely an article of clothing but a symbol of a much greater commitment. "This is not just a fabric," Harrison said, in a statement obtained by Columbus City Schools. "This is a reminder to carry ourselves with purpose, live with accountability, show respect, walk in integrity, serve others, and always strive for excellence." His words encapsulated the spirit of the tradition that, for more than a decade, has defined the beginning of the school year for the young men at CCPSB, continually sowing seeds for the future leaders among them.