Phoenix - Mae Jemison was awarded the 2007 AAUW Achievement Award at Monday night’s Foundation Banquet. Jemison encouraged women to take the lead in nontraditional fields and in society as a whole.
“I am honored to be here [with AAUW members] who haven’t waited for permission to move the world ahead,” Jemison said.
Jemison, a chemical engineer, doctor, teacher, and entrepreneur, was the first African American woman in space. She discussed the importance of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, as she herself is a pioneer in that realm.
“I already knew I belonged anywhere I wanted to be,” Jemison said.
Jemison described an idea of excellence that all women should strive toward. Each woman has a responsibility to make choices and to feel confident about setting standards of achievement, she said.
"It’s not a nicety, it’s a necessity," Jemison exclaimed.
For more information, please visit our website or contact Rebecca Leaf, senior media relations associate, at 202/785-7738 or leafr@aauw.org; or Ashley Carr, director of communications, at 202/785-7745 or carra@aauw.org.
