FIRST BLACK VALEDICTORIAN TO GRADUATE FROM NOTRE DAME.

First Black Valedictorian to Graduate from Notre Dame

[1]Katie Washington, 21, is a biology major and minor in Catholic social teaching with a 4.0 GPA.

Katie Washington of Gary, Indiana will make history May 16th as the first Black valedictorian at Notre Dame

“I am humbled,” said Washington to the Northwest Indiana Times [2]. "I am in a mode of gratitude and thanksgiving right now.”

University officials said they couldn’t recall ever having a black valedictorian, and don’t keep record of their race.

The valedictorian has been accepted to five schools, including Harvard, but she plans to pursue a joint M.D./Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University [3], according to nwitimes.com [4].

"Katie works so hard," Washington’s mother Jean Tomlin said. "I told her when she went to Notre Dame, 'You are representing your family, your church and the city of Gary [5]. Make us proud.'"


Gary, stand up!