Her hand calculations sent the first men into space. But her greatest accomplishments tightly surrounded her Saturday as a statue of Katherine Johnson was unveiled on campus.
Seventy-five of Johnson’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to Institute to join the celebrated NASA mathematician on her special day.
“I hope this statue does what we would like it to do, and that’s inspire students for years to come,” said Joylette Hylick, Johnson’s daughter.
On the eve of her 100th birthday, six grandchildren lifted the cover off the life sized bronze image. Sitting nearby and wearing dark gun glasses, the greatest State grad flashed a bright, approving smile.
The unveiling also marked the endowment of the Katherine Coleman Noble Johnson Scholarship for science, technology, engineering and mathematics students. Jasiaha Daniels of Charleston and Alexis Scudero of Roane County are the first recipients.
“I really couldn’t believe it. I was honored, especially to have something in her name,” Daniels said, who is pursuing a biology degree. “She’s inspiring, and especially because she’s African-American. I can identify with her.”
Johnson entered State at 14. Graduated in 1937 at 18 with degrees in math and French. Then taught math and science for 15 years. In 1953, just as the U.S. civil rights movement was taking off, Johnson joined NASA.
She and three other women manually crunched numbers at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. They worked in the pre-computer age, calculating rocket trajectories and orbits for the earliest American space flights.
Johnson was featured in the book and 2016 film “Hidden Figures.”
Astronaut Dr. Yvonne Cagle, the keynote speaker, said, “What makes Katherine so extraordinary is she not only prevailed while segregation failed, Dr. Johnson has continued to persevere and thrive with the gracious poise and clarity that defies mere words of explanation, let alone definition.”
In 2015, then-President Barack Obama awarded Johnson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
The Johnson statue is by Cole Hall, a short walk from the student union. In her hands is a bronzed text. One page says “love learning.”
Sen. Joe Manchin said, “It is my hope that the students who pass by every day will be reminded of Katherine’s legacy and will be inspired to keep their passion for knowledge alive.”
