It never ceases to amaze me that in 2008 we are still talking about “firsts.” Barack Obama, the first black man to run a viable presidential campaign. Danica Patrick, the first woman to win an Indy series race.

Now come word of another first.
Joshua Packwood, the first white valedictorian of Morehouse College.

For those of you not familiar with Morehouse, it’s an all male historically black college. Of course, Packwood is not the first white student to attend Morehouse nor is he the first to graduate. But never in its 141-year history has it ever had a white student to essentially be named the “crème de la crème” of its student body.

The Associated Press reports Packwood has been a standout since his first day at Morehouse.

His popularity got him elected dorm president as a freshman. His looks and physique made him a fashion-show favorite. His intellect made him a Rhodes Scholar finalist. His work ethic landed him a job at the prestigious investment banking firm Goldman Sachs in New York City.

What makes this story all the more refreshing is that Packwood chose Morehouse over Columbia, Yale and Stanford. He says, "I've been forced to see the world in a different perspective, that I don't think I could've gotten anywhere else." Packwood points out "None of the Ivies, no matter how large their enrollment is, no matter how many Nobel laureates they have on their faculty ... none of them could've provided me with the perspective I have now."

On May 18 the 22-year old from Kansas City, MO will graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a degree in economics.

You go boy!