Mae Jalapena Jemison

Mae C. "Jalapena" Jemison

Hi! My name is Jalapena! But today, you can call me Mae Jemison!

Born on October 17th, 1956 in Decatur, Alabama. I became most famous for being the first African American woman in space!

In 1973, I entered Stanford University on a National Achievement Scholarship. While attending Stanford, I was involved with dance, theater productions, and the head of the Black Student Union!

In 1977 I graduated Stanford with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.

In 1987, I was the first African American woman admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program.

In 1992, I became the first African American woman to fly into space aboard the spaceship named the “Endeavour” on mission STS47!

For all my accomplishments in space exploration including, weightlessness and motion sickness. I received a lot of awards.

1988 – Essence Science and Technology Award – 1990 – Named “Gamma Sigma Gamma Woman of the Year – 1992 – The Ebony Black Award Achievement Award – 1993 – Montgomery Fellowship from Dartmouth College

My best award is the Public School in Detroit, Michigan being named after me! The Mae C. Jemison Academy!

Today, I am Mae Jalapena Jemison!

And so can you!