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Notre Dame's first black valedictorianş

Notre Dame's first black valedictorianş

anita moore · Wednesday, April 21st 2010 at 9:54AM · 338 views
Katie Washington (UND photo)

She's Notre Dame's first black valedictorian
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 .

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anita moore augusta, GA

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Comments (6)

Richard Kigel Wednesday, April 21st 2010 at 11:09AM

“I had to learn very early not to limit myself due to others’ limited imaginations. I have learned these days never to limit anyone else due to my own limited imagination.”

--Astronaut Mae Jemison, first African-American woman in space.


Richard Kigel Wednesday, April 21st 2010 at 1:41PM

ClarK: Wonderful!

Me too. I modeled one of the main characters in my new novel coming out shortly on Astronaut Mae Jemison.

I use that quote in the book.

By the way--do you have any idea how I can contact her?

Cynthia Merrill Artis Wednesday, April 21st 2010 at 2:19PM

Rich I hope Im in your novel!!!!!!

Hey Anita.... Great Story.... Thanks

Richard Kigel Wednesday, April 21st 2010 at 2:37PM

Hey CEE--

Actually, I put some of my very best friends in the novel.

If I had known you a year ago I might have. You'll have to wait for the next one.



Jen Fad Wednesday, April 21st 2010 at 2:51PM

Congrats SIster Katie!!

anita moore Thursday, April 22nd 2010 at 6:01PM

A little comment from my sista Maria on my other network. I just had to post her concerns. Tell me what you think?
This should have been Plastered all over the evening news and yet it was not! Think about it! The white owned press that forms public opinion enthusiastically blurts out negative images of our young men with trousers hanging off their rumps, braided heads, tattooed bodies and mouths bedecked with gold. Fox news Inc. lives on that kind of fare. Along comes a sweet success story and you don't hear or see anything from the major news networks. This upsets me to no end. Please send this around to any and everyone you can think of that will promulgate this bit of good news.

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