Houston high school has first black valedictorian in 119-year history

A black student has become valedictorian at the St. Thomas High School in Houston for the first time in 119 years.

According to a local CBS station, Kellin McGowan is the first black student to receive the academic honor at the all-boys college preparatory school since it was founded in 1900.

{mosads}McGowan told the station this week that he was shocked when he discovered he had received the honor.

“By being valedictorian, I think that I can change some people’s perspective about my race specifically,” McGowan said.

Aaron Dominguez, the principal of the Houston school, told the station that students at the school are “really competitive academically.”

“They support each other. They hold each other up, but they’re also vying to be the very, very best,” he continued.

Darrell Yarbrough, who teaches English at the school, described McGowan as “a superhero with a cloak of humility” in an interview with the station. 

“You will never meet a nicer person,” he said.

According to the local outlet, McGowan is planning to attend the University of Chicago to study political science and eventually become an immigration attorney.