Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson

Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson. Katherine Johnson Plaza. , A native of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson first came to Institute at the age of 10 to attend the high school that used to be part of West Virginia State's campus. After graduating high school at age 15, Katherine enrolled for college classes at West Virginia State. During this time she began a lifelong relationship with her beloved Nu Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Katherine excelled in her studies and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1937 at the age of 18 with bachelor's degree in mathematics and French., In 1953, Katherine was hired as a research mathematician, also known as a "computer," at the Langley Research Center with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which became NASA in 1958. She was known especially for her calculations of the 1961 trajectory for Alan Shepard's flight when he became the first American in space; the 1962 verification of the first flight calculation made by an electronic computer for John Glenn's orbit; and the 1969 Apollo 11 trajectory to the moon., Katherine's pioneering work was widely recognized following publication of the book, Hidden Figures, and release of the movie of the same name. In November 2015, Katherine received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a civilian, from President Barack Obama.