A brilliant boy named Kellie McGowan has broken the 119-year-old record of St. Thomas High School in Houston, United States as he emerged as the first black valedictorian to graduate with an exceptional 4.57 Grade Point Average.
Kellie McGowan is an African-American teen who made history as the first-ever black student to graduate with the highest grade point since the inception of St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas.
Kellie not only graduated with a 4.57 GPA, he also received the school’s prestigious Albert R. Gaelens Award, which recognizes the senior student who best embodies the school’s motto of “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.”
Despite his evident hard work, Kellie remains humble, expressing surprise at being named valedictorian. He hopes his achievements will change how others view race.
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“Honestly, I’m proud to say I’m the first one, I think by being valedictorian, I can show other people, particularly within my community, that they can do whatever they set their minds to,” he said.
“People have these misguided notions of what it means to be African American. I believe by seeing an African American do well in an institution like this, they can see there is more to us than what they think,” he added.
Kellie was also recognized as a permanent member of the St. Thomas Club, an exclusive group of students who maintained at least a 4.0 GPA for seven consecutive semesters.
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St. Thomas High School English teacher, Darrel Yarbrough described Kellie as as a superhero with a cloak of humility. “We don’t have to know everything, that is God’s job. And Kellin McGowan is God’s superhero,” Yarbrough said.
His social justice teacher and campus minister, Alex Gotay also described Kellie as gentle, eloquent, and firm. He said that his being the first black valedictorian of the school was huge and reflected both where the school is headed and the diversity of Houston.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure, but it’s a good pressure for Kellin. And I know where it is that he’s heading. He’s going to do big things. Whoever’s listening to this, I promise you, remember his name. Remember this young man’s name because he is that special,” he said.
Kellie said he has big plans for his future, stating that he will be attending the University of Chicago to pursue political science, with a long-term goal of going to law school to become an immigration lawyer.
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