This press release was prepared and disseminated in conjunction with Cathedral High School.

WilmerHale, one of Boston's premier law firms, held its biennial morning Career Day for Cathedral High School students on April 10. Professionals from a wide variety of career fields and industries spoke in small-group panels across 20 classrooms at the school's historic South End campus. Speakers hailed from a wide variety of industries, from the arts and technology and innovation to business and finance. Cathedral students in grades 7 through 12 attended the panels of most interest to them.

Robert Lewis Jr., founder of The BASE, a nationally recognized thought leader, public speaker and passionate advocate for urban youth, launched the day with a keynote address for the Cathedral High School student body. Relating his experience to that of the students, Lewis encouraged students to seize this opportunity to learn from and network with the panelists, some of whom might someday be offering them an internship or a job.

“Do not let today go by without you asking any intelligent questions that you have; do not let the day go by without capturing business cards and using them; do not let today go by,” Lewis said to the students. Speaking to the panelists, Lewis added, “You need to bring your A game today because these students should be deciding whether your company is good enough for them to work there.”

Among the 50 panelists were several alumni, including Noel Dixon, assistant vice president and a macro research analyst at State Street and class of 2002 alumnus; James Carmody, vice president and general manager of Seaport Hotel, from the class of 1971; Leslie DeLeon, junior architect at Jan Gleysteen Architects, Inc., from the class of 2010; and Anthony Thomas, development officer for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute and a 2006 alumnus. 

Among others who presented were Jon Olinto, co-founder of B.GOOD; Karen Wallace, retired senior vice president of Fidelity Investments; Patrick Noone, assistant regional director, accountant in the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and Joe McKendry, a painter and illustrator as well as a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design.

“This Career Day allows students at Cathedral High School to envision their larger future,” said Anne Bowie, public service manager at WilmerHale. “It is a day that supports those dreams but also helps students formulate action steps, like applying for internships and networking with mentors. We are so honored to work with the wonderful students of Cathedral and to support such an important initiative.”

WilmerHale has been partnering with Cathedral High School, which is a WilmerHale-designated philanthropic partner, since 1997. The two organizations also collaborate on other initiatives, including an annual summer internship opportunity for selected Cathedral High School students and college application workshops for seniors each fall. 

All of these programs help fulfill Cathedral High School's mission of preparing students for success in college and leadership in a 21st-century economy.

Cathedral High School is an urban, independent, Catholic, applied-learning school in Boston's historic South End, serving boys and girls of all faiths from grades 7 through 12.