June Bacon-Bercey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
June Bacon-Bercey
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June Bacon-Bercey, c. 1977
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June Esther Griffin
October 23, 1928 Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
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| Died | July 3, 2019 (aged 90) Burlingame, California, U.S.
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| Children | 2 |
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June Bacon-Bercey (born June Esther Griffin) was an amazing American expert in weather and aviation. She worked for important organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service. She was a true pioneer in her field!
June was the first African-American woman to earn a college degree in meteorology, which is the study of weather. She was also the first female TV weather forecaster in the United States who had a degree in meteorology. Her work helped many people understand the weather better and inspired future scientists.
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Early Life and Learning
June Bacon-Bercey was born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1928. She grew up enjoying activities like bike riding and playing the piano. Her interest in weather started when she wondered how big events could affect Earth's atmosphere. A helpful high school teacher noticed her curiosity and encouraged her to study meteorology.
June first went to Friends University, planning to study math. However, she soon decided to follow her passion for weather. She transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1954, she earned her bachelor's degree there. UCLA was one of the few schools offering a degree in atmospheric science at that time.
It wasn't always easy for June. An advisor once suggested she study home economics instead of meteorology. But June knew what she wanted! She excelled in science, earning an "A" in thermodynamics. She made history by becoming the first African-American woman to graduate from UCLA with a meteorology degree.
Later in life, June continued her education. She earned a Master's degree from the University of Southern California in 1979. She also became a certified teacher. She taught math and science to students in elementary and high school. She continued teaching until she was in her 80s.
A Career in Weather Science
After graduating, June Bacon-Bercey moved to Washington, D.C. She worked as a weather analyst and forecaster. Her job was with the National Meteorological Center. This center is now part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service.
June also worked as an engineer for the Sperry Corporation. Later, she joined the United States Atomic Energy Commission. She was interested in understanding how certain events could affect Earth's atmosphere. Her work helped scientists learn more about these important environmental impacts.
Breaking Barriers in TV Weather
In the 1960s, June returned to NOAA in New York City. She worked as a radar meteorologist. At the same time, she studied journalism at New York University. In 1970, June became a weather caster in Buffalo, New York. This made her the first woman meteorologist to have such a role in the entire country.
In 1971, she joined WGR-TV as a news reporter. She later became the station's on-air meteorologist in 1972. Within just four months, June Bacon-Bercey became the chief meteorologist for the station. She was a true pioneer in television weather forecasting.
From 1979, June spent almost ten years at NOAA. She was the chief administrator for Television Weather Activities. She also worked as an aviation meteorologist. She taught new technologies to other weather forecasters.
Helping Others Succeed
June Bacon-Bercey cared deeply about helping other women. She especially wanted to encourage African-American women to study meteorology. In 1978, she wrote an important report about African-American meteorologists in the U.S.
In 1977, June won $64,000 on a TV game show called The $128,000 Question. She used this money to create a scholarship fund. This fund helped young women who wanted to study atmospheric sciences. The American Geophysical Union (AGU) managed this scholarship.
From 1978 to 1990, 13 women received scholarships from June's fund. The scholarship was brought back in 2021. Now, it gives $1,000 each year to scientists. Since 2021, four more women have received this special award.
June also helped create the American Meteorological Society's Board on Women and Minorities. This board now works to make science more welcoming for everyone. She also served on other important boards. In 2006, a book for young people was published about her. It was called June Bacon-Bercey: a meteorologist talks about the weather.
Awards and Recognitions
June Bacon-Bercey received many important honors. She was the first woman and the first African-American person to get the American Meteorological Society's Seal of Approval. This award recognized her excellent work in television weathercasting. She earned it while working at WGR in Buffalo, New York, in the 1970s.
She was also the first African-American woman to become a member of the New York Academy of Sciences. This shows how respected she was in the scientific community.
In 2000, Howard University held a special conference to honor June. They celebrated her many contributions. These included helping to create a meteorology lab at Jackson State University in 1980. They also recognized her scholarship fund and her teaching in California schools. NASA also named her a "Minority Pioneer for Achievement in Atmospheric Sciences."
Since 2021, a major award has been named after her. The American Meteorological Society's Award for Broadcast Meteorology is now the June Bacon-Bercey Award. It honors weather forecasters who have made great contributions over time.
Her Family Life
June Bacon-Bercey was married three times and had two daughters. She passed away on July 3, 2019, in Burlingame, California. She was 90 years old. Her amazing life and work continue to inspire people today.
See also
In Spanish: June Bacon-Bercey para niños
