Special to the American
The members of the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. recently teamed up with the Saint Louis Science Center and East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. to honor Astronaut Joan Higginbotham.
Higginbotham, who is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Links, Inc., is the third African-American woman to complete a mission in space.
She was honored at a special luncheon at the Science Center where she was saluted for her exemplary service to the field of science and to NASA. Comptroller Darlene Green, License Collector Mike McMillan, President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed, State Senator Robin Wright-Jones and Mayor Parks showered her with proclamations and accolades.
Ida Woolfolk was the Master of Ceremonies at the luncheon, and the East St. Louis Jazz Combo, the No. 1 jazz combo in the state of Illinois, provided music.
On the same day, the Deltas also hosted The Delta Academy Regional Lead-her-ship Conference. Girls from across the Central Region participated in an educational workshop presented by Higginbotham. She showed a video of her mission in space and displayed samples of food that she and her crew ate during that mission.
Students from Mason/Clark Middle School in East St. Louis, the East St. Louis Delta Academy, the St. Louis Alumnae Delta GEMS and Twinkles also participated in the youth workshop. There were over 500 people in attendance for this historic event.
The Saint Louis Science Center made a replica of her hand print, which will be bronzed and hung on the wall in the Planetarium. She will be the first African-American female to be so honored.
The Deltas thanked their sponsors: Miles Davis Properties, LLC, Coca-Cola Enterprises, James Williams, McDonald’s Inc., Mayor Alvin Parks Jr., Sandra Lucado, Janet H. Bonner, Gloria Reno, Dr. Lillian A. Parks, Ruby Harriman and Hortense Watkins.
They also thanked their partners: The Saint Louis Science Center and the East St. Louis/St. Clair County Arts Council. Lauren Parks, president of the Arts Council, and Darlene Roy extended congratulations during the luncheon.
Janet H. Bonner is president of the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Sandra Lucado is the regional director.