May 22, 2025 — As the final bell of the school year prepares to ring at Northland High School, one student stands tall among the graduating class of 2025—not just for his academic or athletic accomplishments, but for the legacy of leadership and heart he leaves behind.
Meet Uzziah Bailey: student, athlete, future dental hygienist, and one of Northland's finest examples of what it means to aspire, achieve, and adapt—the Viking Way.
From the start, Bailey has been a product of Columbus City Schools (CCS), beginning at Devonshire Elementary School, moving through Mifflin Middle School, and finally landing at Northland, where he has spent all four of his high school years.
“Northland, in my opinion, is amazing,” Bailey said. “Great teachers, great staff, amazing students… probably one of the best CCS schools.”
Bailey packed his time at Northland with activities, accolades, and advancement. He’s been named Student of the Month twice and joined the National Honor Society and the Technical National Honor Society. He works two jobs: one at Noodles and Company and the second at the beloved sports shop Rally House. In addition to playing baseball and running track, his athletic efforts as a key football team member helped lead them to three consecutive city championships and several crucial victories against their school rivals.
“Football was a big part of my life, probably the biggest so far,” Bailey said. “It molded me into a young man. It gave me a lot of skills I'm going to need over my whole lifetime and a lot of skills I could pass down. It also gave me a home that I can come back to anytime.”
Northland Intervention Specialist Ryan Sayers has been Bailey’s head football coach for the last four years.
“Uzziah is a very outgoing and charismatic person who is also a great leader,” Sayers said. “[He] is someone that you can rely on to always do the right thing.”
Bailey’s success isn’t limited to the field or the classroom. He’s already built a foundation for his future, attending Fort Hayes Career Center where he studied dental assisting as part of the school's Career-Technical Education (CTE) program. Fort Hayes Career Center programs equip students with the skills and experiences they need to succeed in their communities and beyond.
Now, he’s headed to Columbus State Community College to pursue a degree in dental hygiene, with tuition and fees covered by the Columbus Promise. Through an internship at Nationwide Children's Hospital Dental Clinic, Bailey gained hands-on experience that became a summer job opportunity, taking an impressive step forward in his health care career.
“Uzziah has a bright future ahead in his career pathway of dental hygiene,” said Dr. Jason Johson, principal at Northland High School. “He has the skills, tools, and grit to be a dentist and own his own practice.”
With certifications in CPR and radiology, Bailey has already put himself ahead of the curve. But ask him what he’s most proud of, and you’ll get an answer rooted not in accolades, but in impact. Whether serving as a Link Crew leader or representing the school on the homecoming court three years in a row, Bailey has been a role model his peers look up to.
“Uzziah's winning attitude, humility, and helpfulness make him stand out among his peers,” Dr. Johnson added. “He goes out of his way to improve the spaces in which he operates by encouraging others to be and do their best.”
Bailey draws inspiration from a famous quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.” It’s a belief that perfectly captures the energy he brings to everything he does—from academics to athletics to future ambitions.
Outside of school, Bailey credits his strong support system, including his mom, siblings, coaches, girlfriend, and tight-knit friend group from football, who have been instrumental in shaping him into the person he is today.
“There's great people [who] are always going to make themselves better and strive for greatness,” Bailey said. “I feel like that's always good to be around because it's going to make you want to strive, too.”
As he finishes up his successful and gratifying high school career, Bailey reflects on what advice he would give to students attending Northland next year.
“Have fun, find your circle, and do everything,” he said. “The more you do, the more people you know, and that makes life easier.”
As graduation approaches on May 31, Uzziah Bailey will walk across a stage, stepping into his future with gratitude, grit, and goals bigger than ever. Northland High School and the entire CCS district can take pride in calling him one of their own.
