Catherine Blackwell has logged thousands of miles through the air visiting her beloved African continent.

But as special as those trips are, Blackwell is equally fond of the roughly 12-mile journeys she frequently takes from her home to a building on Detroit’s east side. This special destination is the Catherine C. Blackwell Institute of International Studies, Commerce and Technology, which molds bright minds from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

“I think everyone should have a school named after them!” said Blackwell lightheartedly, adding, “Every time I visit the school it’s fantastic – it makes my heart beat, beat, beat really fast.”

Since 1991, the Catherine C. Blackwell Institute has been committed to high student achievement. Some of the school’s programs and special activities include the National Junior Honor Society, National Junior Beta Club, Leadership Educational Training Program, Girls In Focus Trying to Succeed, and the acclaimed Blackwell Gospel Choir.

As a result of the first-class preparation, it is no surprise that Blackwell students have gone on to some of the most respected universities in the country, including Clark Atlanta, Howard, Michigan and Yale. And a key ingredient to the school’s success can be traced back to a gentle woman with an infectious laugh and uncanny knack for telling stories.

“We love Mrs. Blackwell, she means so much to us,” said Patricia Hines, Blackwell Institute principal.