Hunter McNelly School Celebrates Moon Landing Anniversary with Special Project

Over the summer, students at the Hunter McNelly School at RHA Health Services’ Clear Creek location completed a project titled “From Hidden Figures to the Moon.” The project commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing on July 20, 1969.

Its intent was to also highlight the historically overlooked but extraordinary contributions of three African American women — Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn. Their work helped America win the “Space Race” and fulfill President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 vision of getting a man into space and then safely to the moon and back.

Katherine Johnson’s work as a “human computer” had direct impact on making John Glenn the first man to orbit the Earth and later on Neil Armstrong becoming the first man to walk on the moon.

The Hunter McNelly School plans to make the “Hidden Figures to the Moon” diorama a permanent display and interactive piece at the school.