Elayne Arrington facts for kids

Elayne Arrington, born around 1940, is an amazing American mathematician and engineer. She made history as the first African American woman to earn a bachelor's degree from the School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. After getting her Ph.D., she worked at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. There, she studied how well Soviet Union aircraft performed.

Early Life and Education

Elayne Arrington grew up in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. She went to Homestead High School, which is now Steel Valley High School. She graduated in 1957.

High School Achievements

Elayne was very good at math. She got one of the highest scores on the SAT math test, scoring 797 out of 800. Even though she was the top student in her class, she was not allowed to give the graduation speech. The school leaders chose a white male student, who was the class president, to give the speech instead.

Overcoming Challenges in College

Elayne was offered a full scholarship to study mechanical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. However, the company offering the scholarship, Mesta Machine Company, took it back. They said the money had to go to a man because women "do not finish engineering programs."

Despite this unfair prediction, Elayne proved them wrong. In 1961, she became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Engineering. She was also a member of the engineering honor society, Pi Tau Sigma. Elayne later shared that being a girl in engineering was a big challenge, even before race was considered.

Advanced Degrees

After her bachelor's degree, Elayne continued her studies. She earned a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Dayton in Ohio. While working on her master's, she also took math classes at Oxford University in England.

In 1974, she earned her Ph.D. in math from the University of Cincinnati. Her Ph.D. paper was called The P-Frattini Subgroup of a Finite Group. With this degree, she became the 17th African American woman in the United States to earn a PhD in mathematics.

Career Highlights

After finishing her studies, Elayne Arrington had an impressive career. She used her skills in both mathematics and engineering.

Aerospace Engineering

Elayne was hired as an aerospace engineer at the Foreign Technology Division. This division was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Her job there was to study and understand the performance of aircraft from the Soviet Union.

Teaching at University

In 1974, after earning her doctorate, Elayne returned to the University of Pittsburgh. She became a teacher in the mathematics and statistics department. She taught there for many years, sharing her knowledge with new students. Elayne reduced her work hours in 2012 and fully retired from the university in 2018.

Community Involvement

Elayne also contributed to her community. In 2007, she was chosen to be a board member for the Community College of Allegheny County.

Continuing Education

Even after retiring, Elayne kept learning. In 2016, she took a class at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She studied New Testament Greek so she could read the Bible in its original language. She continued her theological studies at the University of Pittsburgh. She planned to complete another master's degree in theological study in 2021, at the age of 81.

Awards and Recognition

Elayne Arrington has been recognized for her achievements and contributions.

In April 2007, she received a special award. The African American Alumni Council of the University of Pittsburgh gave her a Distinguished Alumnus Award. This award honored her as a notable former student.