History Makers 2023

abolitionist and revolutionary who was born into slavery but escaped and freed many others from bondage

architect who won many of the most prestigious architectural awards, known as the "Queen of the Curve" for their style

animator, filmmaker, writer, and founder of Studio Ghibli: a world-famous, award-winning animation film studio

NASA astronaut, author, and physicist who was the first American woman in space

nonviolent, intellectual resistance group led by Hans and Sophie Scholl against the Nazis

mathematician, computer scientist, and cryptanalyst who led codebreaking efforts against the Nazis during WWII

activist and civil rights leader, known for starting and leading the Montgomery bus boycott

a guitarist, singer, and songwriter who developed rhythm and blues, the “Father of Rock and Roll”

superlative track & field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin

politician who was the first openly gay elected official in California, advocated for the rights of LGBTQ people

BONUS: Which masterful civil rights leader said, "We who believe in freedom cannot rest"?

chemist and inventor best known for formulating the Periodic Law for natural elements

scholar, scientist, and Navy admiral who was a pioneer in computer programming who invented one of the first linkers

BONUS: The White Rose, an anti-Nazi student group, was led by which extremely brave person?

writer, philosopher, and advocate for women’s rights who fought for gender equality in a time of great inequality

legendary martial arts master, actor, filmmaker, philosopher, and social change maker

dancer, entertainer, and civil rights activist who joined the French Resistance during WWII against the Nazis

post-impressionist painter of "Starry Night" fame who is among the most influential artists in Western history

electronic engineer who pioneered the technology to be able to play multiple video games using one console

revolutionary, feminist, and writer, considered a national hero and martyr of government change

politician and social activist who resisted the Nazis and was eventually imprisoned in the Auschwitz death camp

theoretical physicist and cosmologist with ALS who contributed enormously to scientific understanding

accomplished mathematician and writer, regarded as the first computer programmer ever

campaigner for racial equality in education at the center of the Supreme Court case to racially integrate schools

“The Genius” was blinded in childhood but became a singer, pianist, and pioneer of soul music

engineer and computer scientist best known as the inventor of the World Wide Web (THEY MADE THE INTERNET)

mathematician and first Black woman to be an aerospace engineer at NASA, the DC headquarters is now named after her

mathematician, scientist, and writer who is famous for the mathematical triangle & philosophical wager named after them

marine biologist, author of Silent Spring, and conservationist who advanced the global environmental movement

BONUS: Which Olympic athlete was credited with single-handedly crushing Hitler's racist myth of Aryan white supremacy?

military general who fought in the American Revolution and was key in the French Revolution

musician who was a child prodigy and is now one of the most famous cello soloists of all time

singer and actor, nicknamed "The Voice" and named in 2023 by Rolling Stone as the 2nd best singer of all time

professional athlete who was the first Black player to play in Major League Baseball & be inducted into the Hall of Fame

military general and best-known leader of the Haitian Revolution against French imperialism

mathematician and scientist whose orbital mechanics calculations were critical to the success of NASA programs

civil rights advocate who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during WWII

social reformer and statistician who is considered to be the founder of modern nursing

writer, literary critic, and human rights activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize while imprisoned by their government

physician and social reformer who was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States

boxing world champion and Olympic champion, strong activist against racism and militarism

hugely influential physicist and chemist who won a Nobel Prize in both scientific fields

Medal of Honor recipient and Senator from Hawaii who was the highest-ranking Asian-American politician in US history

BONUS: Did you learn a lot about many different people throughout history and across the world?

writer, poet, and critic who is best known for his gothic short stories and poems of mystery and macabre

author, activist, and civil rights leader who continued the work for decades after the assassination of her partner

professional football (soccer) legend who scored 1,279 goals over his career and was voted World Player of the Century

journalist who traveled around the globe alone, and went undercover to report on abuse in mental institutions

writer who was one of the first women writing novels that gained influence and fame all over the world, even today

inventive, award-winning artist who worked with a variety of media, internationally known as "the father of video art"

brilliant inventor and engineer best known for contributions to alternating current electricity

one of the most influential civil rights leaders ever, who helped found the SCLC to fight racism throughout the South

member of the Sac & Fox nation, Olympic medalist, and considered to be one of the greatest athletes ever

architect, interior designer, and writer who mastered the philosophy of organic architecture

BONUS: Bruce Lee was famous for telling people to be flexible in mind & body with which saying?

zoologist specializing in poison dart frogs and human rights activist focusing on women’s suffrage

BONUS: Can you make your own history by having a positive impact on your community and our world?

widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players ever, ranked world No. 1 in singles for a record 377 weeks

Lakota war leader who defended their people and led their resistance against American imperialism, known as Crazy Horse

scientist and statesperson, who advanced the fields of mathematics, optics, and horology, and discovered "true north"