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Contact: David Williams
Communications Specialist
Integrated Marketing and Communications
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
(920) 424-2442
williamd@uwosh.edu
http://www.uwosh.edu/
Renowned author salutes women who trained to be first astronauts
UW Oshkosh commencement address honors graduates and astronauts
OSHKOSH, Wis. – Greatness is achieved by “standing on the shoulders of another,”
according to renowned author Martha Ackmann, who addressed the 133rd graduating
class of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and the women of Mercury 13.
The Mercury 13, who celebrated in Ackmann’s address, were granted honorary
doctorates in recognition of their roles as women pioneers in space and aviation. It was
the first time the group was honored since passing the rigorous tests to be astronauts in
1961.
NASA and the federal government canceled their ultra-secret training program and the
women never flew in space, but their story paved the way for future generations of
female astronauts.
Ackmann’s book, “The Mercury 13: The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream
of Space Flight,” was used the past two years as part of the UW Oshkosh first-year
orientation program. The Mercury 13 story made an impression on the UW Oshkosh
campus community, and visits to campus by Ackmann and Mercury 13’s Wally Funk
inspired students and faculty alike.
In her address, Ackmann drew several parallels to the Mercury 13 women and the
graduating seniors by acknowledging that individual success is achieved with the help of
others.
Ackmann spoke of then-Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, the first female U.S. space shuttle
commander in 1999. The Mercury 13 women were on hand to witness the launch as
guests of Collins. Ackmann, who questioned Collins decision to have the group present,
explained, “After the successful mission, I asked why she had invited the Mercury 13 to
her historic launch, and she didn’t let a second pass before saying simply, ‘I stand on
their shoulders.’”
“None of us ever achieves a dream all by ourselves,” she told graduates. “You’re
standing on shoulders today. The shoulders of your family who made sure you received a
university education, your friends who loved you and made you laugh even when you
were your most unlovable, and the professors who stayed with you long after office hours
were over to explain what you needed to understand.”
At the end of her 9 a.m. keynote address, Ackmann was surprised when Chancellor
Richard H. Wells awarded her the Chancellor’s Medallion for her efforts to promote
social justice. The Chancellor’s Medallion is an honor that shows significant contribution
or service to the university, region, state or nation.
“The Chancellor’s Medallion represents the value that we place on learning and service
and is a reflection of the principles we embrace at the university,” Wells said. “We
recognize Martha Ackmann’s contribution to women’s history and social justice.”
Wells also encouraged the nation to give the Mercury 13 women their rightful
recognition as American heroes.
“I see this as an opportunity to challenge Congress to grant the women of Mercury 13
long overdue national recognition with a Congressional Award,” Wells said.
The commencement ceremony concluded two days of events celebrating the role of
Mercury 13, including a panel discussion attended by nearly 300 from local schools and
the campus community.
For a copy of the entire speech, visit:
http://www.uwosh.edu/mercury13/docs/commencementspeech.pdf
For photos and streaming video of the events, visit:
http://www.uwosh.edu/mercury13/multimedia.php (click on individual photo for
cutlines.)
For information on The Mercury 13 and the two-day event at UW Oshkosh, visit
http://www.uwosh.edu/mercury13/index.php.
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has grown since its founding in 1871 to become
the third largest university in Wisconsin. With a fulltime enrollment of more than 12,400
(11,000 on campus) students, the university offers 73 associate, baccalaureate and
master’s degree programs in the colleges of Business Administration, Education and Human
Services, Letters and Sciences and Nursing. UW Oshkosh, an educational and cultural
anchor that had a $501-million impact on the New North region in 2005-2006, serves as
an economic engine for 1.2 million citizens of northeastern Wisconsin.
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