Honoring Legacy: Celebrating the first Black students from St. Martin de Porres Catholic School to attend Cardinal Newman High School

On the first Sunday in November, in recognition of the feast day of St. Martin de Porres and Black Catholic Schools Month, the Cardinal Newman High School community came together in a special worship with the congregation at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church. During the celebration, Mrs. Etta Harrison, a St. Martin de Porres Catholic School Foundation Board Member, gave remarks representing the first Black students from St. Martin de Porres Catholic School to attend Cardinal Newman High School in 1964. Those students included Kenneth Dial, Bill Wilson, Shirley Williams, Larry Weston, Horace Smith, and Felix Gordon. Mrs. Harrison thanked St. Martin de Porres Catholic School for providing a solid academic foundation and confidence to overcome obstacles and embrace every opportunity. She appreciated Cardinal Newman High School's challenging curriculum and extracurricular experiences that prepared them for any post-secondary institution they wanted to pursue. A reception was held after mass where those present could see a display of Cardinal Newman High School memorabilia dating back to 1965, reinforcing the strong bond within the catholic school community.