Sean C. Morgan
Oak Heights sixth grade Brianna Wirth recently won a Willamette Valley essay contest on women in science and engineering.
Wirth wrote about Mae Jemison, the first black female astronaut.
“I’m into aeronautics,” Wirth said. “I just couldn’t decide what to write on. She sounded interesting.”
Wirth wants to be an astronaut or pilot helicopters.
“I’ve flown like twice,” Wirth said. “It’s pretty fun. I just like being up in the air. It’s fun knowing you can fall at any moment.”
She has even thought about sky diving, “but my dad won’t let me,” Wirth said.
Knowing what she wants to do, Wirth is pretty sure she will attend Oregon State University and has thought about joining the Air Force.
She received her award at a banquet at OSU in February. She was among 16 students to submit essays. The award included $50, which she has saved for her college education.
She also has earned two Newspapers in Education awards through the Albany Democrat-Herald’s Young Voices.
Wirth is “top of the line” as a student, Oak Heights Principal Keith Winslow said. “She’s also one of our students that does the newspaper,” and she is involved in putting a pamphlet about Sweet Home murals together for the City of Sweet Home.
“She’s also quite an athlete,” Winslow said.
Wirth enjoys playing soccer and riding horses.
With all of this, she maintains good grades and is among the few her age to remain in band.
“She’s one of our finest, no doubt about it,” Winslow said. “This entire sixth grade class will be a pleasure to the junior high. We’re just proud of her.”
By Brianna Wirth
From Rough Draft
Everybody is fond of Dr. Martin Luther King and his dreams, but there is another dream upon us many won’t be familiar with.
Dr. Mae G. Jemison, astronaut and engineer, has many dreams. Her dreams will be revealed in this essay.
Mae Jemison was born in Decatur, Ala., and reared in Chicago, Ill. At 16, Mae graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1973. She entered Stanford University on a scholarship. Mae graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. From there, Mae was known as Dr. Jemison. In 1981, she earned a doctorate in medicine.
Dr. Jemison began serving in the Peace Corps in 1983. There, she provided medical care and developed and implemented guidelines for health and safety issues. Mae served in the Peace Corps for two years.
After returning from the Peace Corps, Mae found an interest in aeronautics. Dr. Jemison received a position with CIGNA in Los Angeles, Calif. There, Mae began attending classes in engineering.
Mae decided to apply to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to participate in the astronaut program. In 1987, Mae became one of 15 candidates out of 2,000 to be approved for the NASA space program .
Dr. Mae Jemison successfully completed her training program in 1988. There she became the first black female astronaut in NASA history.
Dr. Mae Jemison rocketed into orbit on Sept. 12, 1992 aboard the shuttle Endeavor. Mae Jemison became the first black female to go into orbit.
Dr. Mae Jemison was one of the first science mission specialists on a shuttle flight. Mae conducted bone cell experiments. In 1993, Dr. Jemison resigned from NASA but continued working in engineering and science.
After resigning from NASA, Dr. Jemison founded Jemison Group, Inc., in Houston, Texas. Her purpose was to research, develop and implement advanced technologies designed for individuals regardless of their environment or status.
Dr. Mae Jemison followed all of her dreams, big and small. Dr. Jemison is committed to ensuring that technology fields represent the full diversity of the population of the United States of America.
As everyone knows, becoming an astronaut was only of a chain of accomplishments for this African-American woman.
Dr. Jamison, chemical engineer, scientist, astronaut, has many hidden talents. She is truly a dynamic woman.
Dr. Jemison is my role model, and I am sure she is one for many others.