November 5, 1962 Benjamin Alvin Drew, NASA astronaut, was born in Washington, D. C. Drew earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in physics and astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1984 and his Master of Science degree in aerospace science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2006, he earned another master’s […]
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October 21st in African American History – Ronald Ervin McNair
October 21, 1950 Ronald Ervin McNair, physicist and NASA astronaut, was born in Lake City, South Carolina. McNair earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics, magna cum laude, from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971. In 1976, he earned his Ph. D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Bernard Anthony Harris, Jr. – June 26th in African American History
June 26, 1956 Bernard Anthony Harris, Jr., the first African American to walk in space, was born in Temple, Texas. Harris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1978 and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. He completed a residency […]
April 19th in African American History – Percy Lavon Julian
April 19, 1975 Percy Lavon Julian, research chemist and pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants, died. Julian was born April 11, 1899 in Montgomery, Alabama. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in 1920, Phi Beta Kappa and valedictorian and became a chemistry professor at Fisk University. In […]
Lewis Howard Latimer – September 4th in African American History
September 4, 1848 Lewis Howard Latimer, inventor and draftsman, was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Latimer joined the U. S. Navy at the age of 15 and after receiving an honorable discharge joined a patent law firm as a draftsman at the age of 17. In 1874, Latimer co-patented an improved toilet system for railroad cars […]
Guion “Guy” Bluford, Jr. – August 30th in African American History
August 30, 1983 Guion “Guy” Bluford, Jr. became the first African American in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger. Bluford was born November 22, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1964. Bluford then joined the U. S. Air Force and during the Vietnam War flew 144 combat […]