One of America's Formerly "Hidden Figures" Continues to be Celebrated!

Hidden Figures is an upcoming American biographical drama film based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe as three of the African American females hired by NASA in the 1960's and referred to as "human computers". Ms. Henson plays Katherine Johnson, the brilliant (entered high school at age 10) African American physicist, space scientist, and mathematician who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. It was a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. Ms. Johnson also calculated the trajectory for the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon. On August 26th of this year, she turned 98 years old, so continues to have the honor of seeing her accomplishments lauded in print and on film.

Hidden Figures also stars, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, and Jim Parsons, and will be released to theaters on January 6, 2017.

Sadly, John Glenn, the national hero, and forever-figure of America’s leadership status in the race to space, died on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at the age of 95. Honored by presidents and described as “Ohio’s ultimate hometown hero,” he also served as a U.S. senator for 24 years. In May of 2012, President Barack Obama presented Senator Glenn with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor the United States can bestow.