West Virginia native and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson was awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal

On Wednesday afternoon the family of the late Katherine Johnson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of their mother.

This medal is given to people who have impacted American history and culture and is likely to be given recognition in their field for years to come.

When West Virginia decided to quietly integrate its graduate schools in 1939, West Virginia State’s president, Dr. John W. Davis, selected her and two men to be the first black students offered spots at the state’s flagship school, West Virginia University. In 1962, as NASA prepared for the orbital mission of John Glenn, Johnson was called upon to do the work that she would become most known for.

Obviously as a mathematician Johnson was known for her excellent number skills and Senator Shelley Moore Capito acknowledged her skills with numbers and her impact on American society.

“Today we’re here to celebrate the one thing she couldn’t count and that’s the impact she and her colleagues had on students teachers and explorers. Katherine proved to us that no obstacle is too high if you work hard and believe in your goals,” said Sen. Capito.

Senator Capito has spearheaded efforts to honor the life of Johnson, including legislation she introduced to rename the NASA IV&V Facility in Fairmont, W.Va. after Johnson.