In The KNOW
Stott encourages women to take advantage of opportunities By Bob Granath
R
etired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott recently spoke to employees at Kennedy Space Center during a celebration of Women’s Equality Day on Aug. 26. The day marked the 95th anniversary of ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting American women the right to vote. Stott used the occasion to inspire women working in the space program to take full advantage of opportunities offered as NASA reaches for deep-space destinations such as Mars. The event was sponsored by KNOW — Kennedy Networking Opportunities for Women. The newly chartered organization provides focus on issues that affect female employees, such as employment, retention, promotion, training, career/personal development and education. It also seeks to eliminate barriers that hinder the advancement of women in the workforce. Stott credits her mentors and fellow employees at Kennedy for assisting with her career development in America’s space program. “I feel like this is the place that provided me with the opportunity to be here today,” said Stott, who was born in Albany, New York, but grew up in Clearwater, Florida. Working at Kennedy provided “really wonderful opportunities opened up by being a part of something, by being excited by it and wanting to pursue it.” More than a century ago, many American women wanted to pursue the right to vote. Aug. 26, 1920 was the date the constitutional amendment officially went into law granting national women’s suffrage. The bill to include women in the voting process first was introduced in Congress during
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“Tell young people to pay attention to what inspires them. I am very thankful that I had parents who never used the word impossible.”
– Nicole Stott Retired NASA Astronaut
Top left, the Kennedy Networking Opportunities for Women logo was designed by Debra King, a Logistics specialist with Wichita Tribal Enterprises. Her entry was selected as the winner in August. The emblem presents a concept figure open to new ideas with outstretched hands. The six stars stands for the focus or mission of KNOW: employment, retention, promotion, training, career/personal development and Education. Image credit: KNOW/Debra King