Sunday, February 1, 2014 marked the start of Black History Month (BHMMalcomBHM

On Tuesday, December 5, 2013 the world lost one of its nearest and dearest figures, Nelson Rolihlahla

Shirley Ann Jackson, a theoretical physicist, had been regarded by Time Magazine as "perhaps the ultimate role model for women in science" and is a member of the National Women's Hall of Fame. Her credentials make it clear that she is not your "average everyday theoretical physicist". After graduating valedictorian in her class of 1964, Jackson became the first African-American woman to attend Massachusetts Institution of Technology (MIT) where she became one of two African-American women to receive a doctorate in physics in the country. Shortly after, Jackson outdid herself again and became the first black woman to be awarded a doctorate in theoretical science. She was also awarded the New Jersey's Governor's Award in Science and was the first African- American woman to be appointed to the chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. On Thursday, July 1, 1999, Jackson was named the 18th

Valerie Thomas is an African-American scientist and inventor who invented the illusion transmitter, which became officially patented in 1980. According to wordpress.com, the illusion transmitter conveys three-dimensional illusions of objects on a screen, expanding on the concept of the television. The images located behind the screen have three-dimensional projections emerge as though they are actually there. The illusion transmitter Thomas created was initially used for NASA to observe Halley's Comet, a comet that is only visible from Earth every 75 years, and can be seen with the naked eye. Thanks to Thomas's illusion transmitter, Halley's Comet was the first to be observed by a spacecraft in detail. Even though she did not learn about math or science at her all-girls school, Thomas was fascinated by it and attended Morgan State University with a major in physics. Thomas was only one of two women studying physics at the university. Since 1964, she has worked with NASA as a data analyst, then as an overseer for the LandsatSSDOO

Throughout the month of February, Kean will continue the Black History Month celebration. By recognizing historic African-Americans; like Mandela, Jackson, and Thomas, students of all races and backgrounds can become inspired to succeed.