Monday, April 12, 2010

Katie Washington is Notre Dame's First Black Valedictorian

hat tip-The Savvy Sista

From WBBM780.com



You Go Girl: Katie Washington is Notre Dame's first black valedictorian

History is being made at the University of Notre Dame this spring.

In the 161 years the University of Notre Dame has been awarding degrees, never had there been an African-American as valedictorian. Until this year.

She's Katie Washington of Gary, Indiana. She carries a 4.0 GPA majoring in biology and minoring in Catholic social teaching.

According to the Northwest Indiana Times, Washington plans to continue her studies at Johns Hopkins University and follow in her father's footsteps into medicine.

Washington says she's humbled by the honor of being named valedictorian.

More information from Notre Dame University:

Katie Washington, a biological sciences major from Gary, Ind., has been named valedictorian of the 2010 University of Notre Dame graduating class and will present the valedictory address during Commencement exercises May 16 (Sunday) in Notre Dame stadium.

Washington, who earned a 4.0 grade point average, has a minor in Catholic Social Teaching. She has conducted research on lung cancer at the Cold Spring Harbor labs and performed genetic studies in the University's Eck Institute for Global Health on the mosquito that carries dengue and yellow fever. She is the co-author of a research paper with David Severson, professor of biological sciences.

Washington directs the Voices of Faith Gospel Choir at Notre Dame, is a mentor/tutor for the Sister-to-Sister program at South Bend's Washington High School and serves as the student coordinator of the Center for Social Concerns' "Lives in the Balance: Youth Violence and Society Seminar."

Upon graduation, Washington plans to pursue a joint M.D./Ph.D program at Johns Hopkins University.


Congratulations, Ms. Washington.

YES YES YES!!!

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Congrats! Way to go, your accomplishment is really great and we are proud of you. But life holds many more tremendous achievements for you. Good Luck in your future endeavors.

Spinster said...

Beautiful and inspiring. Keep up the GREAT work, Ms. Washington.

Brian said...

Love to read these kinds of positive reports.

lendingexcellence said...

Congrats to Ms. Washington!!! I know we will be hearing great things from this young woman.

Debi said...

You make us all proud and dispell oh, so many myths! Keep it up. I, personally, will be looking for your name in the annals of medical history!

Abby said...

I am indeed inspired and compelled to support the fact that mighty and phenomenal occurences such as human miracles happen amongst us each and every day. Within the span of my illustrious career of 300 conference engagements and motivational presentations, I am seldom if ever lost for words. This defies even my masterful oratory capacity. Keep up the great work. Accolades Personafied! Excelsior!

Most Gregariously and Estately
The Esquire Abby
abby.phelps@detroitk12.org

Anonymous said...

Congratz Sweetheart!!! Way to be apart of history!!! this is just the start of what great things are to come! :)

Anonymous said...

Katie Washington 2010 Notre Dame Valedictorian

What is in a university with a prestigious Catholic name?
Whoa! Quite a bit of you are speaking about Notre Dame,
A football powerhouse with academics not to be undone,
And this year the valedictorian is Miss Katie Washington.

Ah what’s so special? Colleges’ graduate a brain every year,
Yeah, however this is a never before occurrence do you hear?
It’s that this time numeru uno is a female African American,
Next is John’s Hopkins where her medical career will begin.

Baseball is normally the big news talked about every spring,
Which one’s, Yankees or the Red Sox’s, these kind of things,
Cy Young, MVP, home run king, no hitters, will have to wait,
This accomplishment can’t be concealed behind home plate.

For 161 years this university has been awarding degrees,
Now history is being made thanks to this racial minority,
Yet, only in her race because in smarts she is at the top,
As we used to say on the farm, “the cream of the crop.”

Majoring in Biology w/a minor in Catholic Teaching 4.0 GPA,
Hailing from Gary Indiana, just a hop, skip and a jump away,
The valedictory address during Commencement exercises,
Proudly presented probably with tears in her parent’s eyes.

She’s conducted lung cancer research & genetic studies,
Along with Professor David Severson her research buddy,
Co-authoring a paper plus her work for Global Health now,
On the mosquito that carries dengue & yellow fever. Wow!

Katie also directs the Notre Dame Voices of Gospel Choir,
Reminds me of a song by Jackie Wilson, “Higher & Higher,”
Mentor/tutor at a South Bend school helping others learn,
And student coordinator of the Center for Social Concerns’.

“Lives in the Balance: Youth Violence and Society Seminar.”
Ha! She sounds more like an angel from some distant star,
Whatever galaxy it cannot be brighter than your future here,
Mucho congratulations for everything accomplished my dear.

By Luke Easter

Spinster said...

What a nice poem. :-)

Thomas said...

As a Horace Mann Graduate, I know personally why your aschievements are so incredible! Keep it moving Ms. Washington!!!

Anonymous said...

One school fact about young KATIE WASHINGTON not often mentioned is that she attended the Banneker Achievement Center in Gary, a public elementary school that for years has recorded the highest or among the highest test scores in the state of Indiana. The principal there, Sarah Givens, is a strong advocate of the "all children can..." philosophy .. meaning that gifted and talented can be developed among ALL children, regardless of income, neighborhood, race, or ethnicity, if given the right environment for learning. (cla@teacher.com)

Anonymous said...

One school fact about young KATIE WASHINGTON not often mentioned is that she attended the Banneker Achievement Center in Gary, a public elementary school that for years has recorded the highest or among the highest test scores in the state of Indiana. The principal there, Sarah Givens, is a strong advocate of the "all children can..." philosophy .. meaning that gifted and talented can be developed among ALL children, regardless of income, neighborhood, race, or ethnicity, if given the right environment for learning. (cla@teacher.com)

Melvin Freeman said...

Congratulations,Ms. Katie Washington on being the first black and woman to be Notre Dame's Valedictorian 2010. Your hard work will pay off in saving the lives of so many needy people. God Bless You!
Good luck with your future endeavors at John Hopkins. May you continue to keep the light burning at night, so that it may shine ever ever and ever so bright!

Anonymous said...

thank you, notre dame, for being obedient.