Elaine J. Coates facts for kids

Elaine Johnson Coates (born September 15, 1937, and passed away on February 14, 2026) was an important American social worker and teacher. She made history as the very first African American student to graduate from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Elaine Coates's Early Life and Education

Elaine Coates was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 15, 1937. Her mother worked at home, and her father worked for the railroad. She went to Frederick Douglass High School, which was a school just for African American students at that time.

Breaking Barriers at University

After a very important court decision called Brown v. Board of Education, schools began to change. In 1955, Elaine Coates decided to attend the University of Maryland. This was a big step because she was one of only a few African American students allowed to live on campus.

Her high school counselor did not want to write a recommendation letter for her. The counselor suggested Elaine get a job instead of going to college. But Elaine's mother encouraged her to write her own letter. Because of her determination, Elaine earned a scholarship that paid for all four years of her college education.

While at the university, Elaine lived in Caroline Hall. She sometimes faced unfair treatment from others and even from some of her teachers. Despite these challenges, she was a member of the Red Cross Club. In 1959, Elaine graduated from the College of Education. She became the first African American student to ever graduate from the University of Maryland, College Park. This was a truly historic moment!

A Career Helping Others

After college, Elaine Coates became a social worker and a teacher. She taught for a while at her old high school. Later, she earned a master's degree in social work. She also became a Licensed Certified Social Worker–Clinical (LCSW-C). This meant she was specially trained to help people.

Elaine worked at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. There, she helped children and adults who had experienced difficult situations. Even after she retired in 2006, she continued to help people by volunteering her time as a counselor.

Both her daughter and son also later attended the University of Maryland, following in her footsteps.

Elaine Coates passed away on February 14, 2026, at the age of 88.

Recognizing Elaine Coates's Impact

Elaine Coates received many special recognitions for her important work and her pioneering spirit.

The Elaine Johnson Coates Award

In April 2019, the University of Maryland Alumni Association created a new yearly award. This award celebrates people who have done a lot to promote fairness and welcome everyone, both in their country and around the world. Elaine Coates was the very first person to receive this award. Because of her incredible contributions, the award was then named in her honor: the "Elaine Johnson Coates Award."

Honored at Graduation

In May 2019, Elaine Coates was celebrated at the University of Maryland's graduation ceremony. She spoke to the graduating students, saying, "I stand on this podium and look at the diversity in the beautiful faces of the graduation class... and it tells me that my journey mattered." Her words showed how proud she was to see how much the university had changed.

More Tributes and Honors

Elaine Coates received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Maryland in May 2020. This is a special degree given to people who have made great achievements.

In July 2020, the president of the University of Maryland, Darryll Pines, announced another honor. One of the university's brand-new student dorms was named after Elaine Coates. This was to remember her as the first African American woman to graduate from the university.

See also

• List of African-American firsts