Antonia Navarro Huezo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonia Navarro Huezo
|
|
|---|---|
Antonia Navarro Huezo
|
|
| Born | August 10, 1870 San Salvador, El Salvador
|
| Died | December 22, 1891 (aged 21) San Salvador, El Salvador
|
| Education | University of El Salvador |
| Occupation | Engineer; Teacher |
Antonia Navarro Huezo (born August 10, 1870, in San Salvador, El Salvador – died December 22, 1891) was a brilliant engineer and teacher. She made history as the first woman in Central America to earn a university degree. She received her PhD from the University of El Salvador in 1889.
Antonia Navarro Huezo was born in 1870. Her father, Belisaro Navarro, was a pharmacist, and her mother was Marina Huezo. Her family loved learning. Even after her father passed away in 1878, her uncle supported her desire for education.
Antonia's health was not good, so she could not attend school regularly. However, she studied very hard by herself at home. Because she was so smart, she was allowed to take special exams to enter university. In 1887, she joined the Faculty of Engineering at the University of El Salvador.
University Achievements
Antonia learned very quickly and did extremely well in all her classes. Just two years later, in 1889, she earned her PhD in Engineering. This was a huge achievement!
On September 20, 1889, she successfully defended her final project, called a thesis. She answered questions for thirteen hours straight! News of her amazing success spread around the world.
Her thesis looked at a common idea called The Moon of the Harvests. Many people believed the moon looked brighter during harvest time to help farmers. Antonia proved in her thesis that this effect was actually an illusion.
National Recognition
Antonia's success and her university degree were big news across El Salvador. The country's president, General Francisco Menéndez, personally congratulated her. He even organized a special concert to celebrate her achievement.
Even though she was the first woman to graduate from university in El Salvador, she was not allowed to teach there. Instead, she became a teacher for younger women at a high school in San Salvador.
Sadly, Antonia Huezo died on December 22, 1891, from tuberculosis. Her burial place is not known.
Legacy
Antonia Huezo's achievements are a very important part of women's history in El Salvador. She is seen as a major role model for women in the country. She showed that women could achieve great things in education and science. There is a special painting, called a mural, dedicated to her in the theater of the University of El Salvador.
See also
In Spanish: Antonia Navarro Huezo para niños
