University of the District of Columbia Announces the 11th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Class

WASHINGTON, DC- The University of the District of Columbia will induct the 11th Athletics Hall of Fame class on Saturday, February 10, 2024. The celebration will be held at Maggiano's Little Italy Banquet Hall located on Wisconsin Avenue. The Luncheon and induction ceremony will start at 12:00 p.m.

This year's Induction class features four former student-athletes and a Coach. 

Leon Cunningham  (UDC Class of '98)

Cunningham attended UDC from 1994-98 and was a 3 year letterman on the men's basketball team. During the 97-98 season, he averaged 15 points and, 11 rebounds per game. Prior to attending UDC Leon was nominated to the McDonald's All-American Team in 1992 at Archbishop Carroll, High School. He received the Coaches Award from the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. during the 1996 1st Annual Basketball Awards Luncheon, and received the UDC Coaches Award his senior year.

Leon has been coaching high school basketball in the area since 2007. He is Co-Founder of Get A.M.P.ed!, Inc., which is a program designed to assist high school girls and boys basketball players and their families with the recruiting process. Annually, the organization hosts an "Exposure Event" where unsigned basketball prospective student-athletes play in front of college basketball coaches from across the country.

Kaneesha Hollis (UDC Class of '12)

Hollis graduated from UDC in 2012 and was a four year letter winner in cross country/track & field. She is a two time All-American (4x400 relay indoors), 4x100 relay (outdoors). Freshman year, Kaneesha was ranked first in the East Region, and 31st nationally in the 440m. She was USCCTFCCA All-Region and ranked 20th nationally in the 400m her senior year. She was also team captain as a senior and was the top cross country runner for the Firebirds, finishing 23rd out of 59 competitors at the 2011 ECC Cross Country Championship.

After graduating, Hollis served as an assistant coach at her high school, North Caroline, and was instrumental in helping the team win state and regional championship titles. She served as a summer youth track & field coach for the Department of Recreation in Caroline County, Maryland. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kanessha currently serves as a property manager in Richmond, Virginia.

Tracey Oaks Jordan (UDC Class of '93 - MA '07)

Oaks Jordan graduated from UDC in 1991 and is a three year letter winner in track & field, competing in the NCAA Championships twice during her career. She earned All-American accolades in 1991 in the 55m dash.

Following graduation, Tracey was a technician at the National Institute of Health and she coached track & field at St. Gabriel School in Washington, D.C. She is is a scientist at Bio Reliance in Bethesda, MD. Tracey enjoys visiting local high schools to encourage youth to pursue STEM studies and careers, often bringing her pet rabbit.

Ronald Lewis  (DCTC Class of '73, MA UDC '78)

Lewis enrolled at the District of Columbia Teachers College in 1969 as a dual sport student-athlete in football and baseball. After recovering from a season ending knee injury in 1969, Ronald led the team in tackles during the 1971 season and was named Defensive MVP that year as well as in 1973 and 1974. In baseball, Ronald received the 1972 and 1973 athletic awards. He was named Outstanding Defensive Player for the East Capital Jets in 1975.

Ronald taught in the D.C. Public Schools for 30 years. He coached at McKinley Tech High School as well as Theodore Rosevelt High School. His McKinley Tech squad upset favorite Spingarn in the City Championship game and was ranked 8th in the Washington Post High School rankings.

C. Francis A. Silva

After serving as an assistant professor as well as tennis and basketball coach at his Alma Mater, Howard University, Frank Silva coached the D.C. Teachers College men's basketball team from 1973-1977. The team competed in the Potomac Intercollegiate Conference (PIC) and his 1976-77 team compiled a 23-6 record during which he received the PIC Coach of the Year Award. Silva coached University of the District of Columbia Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees, Harry Brockenberry, Robert Gates, Reginald Moore and Phillip Stevens.

In the late 1970's Frank Silva became Director of Athletics at North Carolina Central University where he also served as interim men's basketball coach for the 1978-79 season. In 1980, he returned to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area where he served as an Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor and Senior Advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services. During this time he continued his love of sports coaching the Southeastern University men's basketball team as well as the Bowie State University men's basketball team. In later years, he coached basketball in the Howard County, Maryland Department of Parks and Recreation.

Coach Silva blew his last whistle on March 31, 2011.

Click Here to stay uo to date with HOF information. 

Established during the 160th Anniversary of the University of the District of Columbia, the Athletics Hall of Fame honors outstanding individuals and recognizes the University's rich history of intercollegiate athletics, which began in the early 1900s when students attending Miner Teachers College competed in basketball and tennis. Athletics Hall of Fame inductees have significantly contributed to the athletic success and history of the University and its predecessor institutions