For the first time in the school\u2019s 274-year history, Princeton has named their first black valedictorian.
\nNicholas Johnson is a Canadian native who majored in operations research and financial engineering. According to reports by CNN, Nicholas worked at Google as a software engineer in machine learning and focused his senior thesis on developing algorithms that would contribute to easing Canada\u2019s obesity epidemic.
\nOn May 31st, Johnson will address the Class of 2020 in a virtual graduation for the Ivy League school\u2019s students, due to the coronavirus. However, an in-person graduation has been scheduled for May 2021.
\nThis summer the Ivy League\u2019s valedictorian for the year will be an intern as a researcher and software developer at D.E. Shaw Group, an investment and technology firm. He\u2019ll then begin his Ph.D. in the fall for operations research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as reported by CNN.
\nWhile talking to CNN, Johnson said \u201cbeing Princeton’s first Black Valedictorian holds special significance to me particularly given Princeton’s historical ties to the institution of slavery.\u201d He then continued, \u201cI hope that this achievement motivates and inspires younger Black students, particularly those interested in STEM fields.”<\/p>\n
Blogged By: Bernie Oh!| @IamBernieOh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For the first time in the school\u2019s 274-year history, Princeton has named their first black valedictorian. Nicholas Johnson is a Canadian native who majored in operations research and financial engineering. According to reports by CNN, Nicholas worked at Google as a software engineer in machine learning and focused his senior thesis on developing algorithms that … <\/p>\n