University of Guam biology major Trevor Boykin recently received a resolution from I Lehislaturan Guåhan (The Legislature of Guam) on behalf of his great-grandmother, Katherine Johnson, a former NASA mathematician.
Johnson was featured in 20th Century Fox’s “Hidden Figures,” a film that portrayed the space race that took place in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Johnson, who was an African American woman, worked with other African American colleagues to derive the essential mathematical computations behind the trajectories of the Friendship 7 Mission and John Glenn’s first orbit around the earth.
Boykin held an early screening of the featured film, donating the proceeds to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) division of the UOG Endowment Foundation as a scholarship for eligible students who maybe interested.
Students who have any type of financial obligation are eligible to receive the award, in addition to the required qualifications. Although the award for the scholarship is awaiting its approval, be on the lookout for an opportunity to apply. The main intention for this scholarship is to assist those students who wish pursue a degree in any field of STEM.
Trevor, who was a young boy at the time, lived a difficult life in Las Vegas with his mother before relocating to Guam in 2001. His father was in the Air Force, who had orders to be stationed at the Anderson Air Force Base in Yigo. Since then, he has been living on island for the most part of his life.
“Guam will always be my home” Trevor explained.
He described his great-grandmother as a “natural born genius.” “It meant a lot having a relative who took part in such history.” He reiterated that it is a “pure blessing. It makes me want to work and take part in more.”
“That’s why I want to work out here in the Pacific. The diversity of life is so rich. I wouldn’t want to miss my chance.”
The Virginia native is now on his second year as biology major at the University of Guam and is hoping to purse his Ph.D. in marine zoology.
“It will be a dream to do just as much as my great-grandmother did,” explained Boykin. “She was my idol.”