Ieshia Champs, a single mother of five whose law school graduation picture went viral on social media, will be a featured speaker at Cornelius Elementary School’s inaugural Career Day.  Three of Champs’ children attend Cornelius Elementary.

The event will take place Friday, May 18, 2018 on the Cornelius campus (7475 Westover, Houston, 77087) from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

The recent Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law graduate gained notoriety after a photo of her dressed in her cap and gown surrounded by all five of her children was shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media.

“I’m grateful to all of the teachers at Cornelius who knew what I was working toward to provide a better life for my children,” Champs said. “They did everything possible to support my children and I while I went through law school. They offered Saturday tutorials, small group and individual study. They cared enough about my children and me to make sure they were getting everything they needed academically.”

Her story has been featured on local and national media outlets, as well as the Steve Harvey Show. She will join more than 60 other professionals for the school’s first-ever career day.

“My message to the students and to other parents would be to never give up, despite whatever circumstances come your way,” she said. “Never give up on your dreams because anything is possible. I’m a living testimony of that.”

Students will hear from attorneys, engineers, dentists, nurses, a nurse practitioner, a geologist, construction workers, real estate professionals, cosmetologists, entrepreneurs, and many more industry representatives.

“We’re a magnet for math and science, and we focus a lot on that,” Cornelius Elementary School Principal Angel Wilson said. “Based on conversations with students during our restorative circles we’ve implemented this school year, our teachers suggested we spend more time focusing on the pathways that will lead the students to their desired future career paths. There’s no better way to do that than bring local professionals from all kinds of industries to our campus for a day.”