She's Notre Dame's First Black Valedictorian

Submitted to Guardian Chronicle by Ms. Lucia Bennett April 27, 2010

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.

Written by Lucia Bennett

Subject: Notre Dame's first black valedictorian

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.

SEE YOU AT THE TOP!!!

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