Determined to Rise
Determined to Rise

Breakfast Business and Professional Women, in partnership with The Spartanburg County Foundation, presented Determined to Rise, an evening of inspirational storytelling featuring local women and the daughters of NASA scientist Katherine Goble Johnson on May 30, 2018. Katherine Moore and Joylette Hylick spoke to over 200 guests at the Chapman Cultural Center about the importance of education and their mother’s story of perseverance as she became an integral part of the mathematics behind NASA’s engineering work in the 1940s.

In addition to the community-wide event, Ms. Moore and Ms. Hylick spoke to Spartanburg students at both Spartanburg High School and Fairforest Middle School. The sisters encouraged students to become interested in science and math and seriously pursue both subjects.

Determined to Rise Group Photo

Determined to Rise, a partnership of Breakfast Business and Professional Women and The Spartanburg County Foundation, offered a unique opportunity for students, parents, and the people of Spartanburg to hear from Katherine Goble Moore and Joylette Goble Hylick, daughters of famed NASA scientist Katherine Johnson, whose story unfolded in the blockbuster Hidden Figures. Along with the special guests, local women Susan Lea and Tammie Hoy Hawkins shared their personal stories about the power of education and overcoming circumstances to become successful leaders.

Determined to Rise 2018
  • Increase awareness about the importance of education
  • Bring together people from different backgrounds to hear from local women and national figures, leaving a lasting impression on the community
  • Breakfast Business and Professional Women set a goal to raise money for the BBPW Scholarship Fund held at The Spartanburg County Foundation in order to contribute additional support for women’s education
Determined to Rise 2018

Over 200 people attended the community event, and the daughters spoke to over 300 students in Spartanburg County. Breakfast Business and Professional Women and The Spartanburg County Foundation received sponsorships from several businesses, individuals, and nonprofits across the Upstate.