Sophia Danenberg facts for kids

Sophia Danenberg (born 1972) is an American mountain climber. She is famous for being the first African American and the first Black woman to climb Mount Everest. Mount Everest is the world's tallest mountain! Sophia is also active in politics. She works as a Washington State Park Commissioner. Sophia has a mixed background; her mother is Japanese and her father is Black.

Early Life and Education

Sophia Danenberg was born in 1972 in Okinawa, Japan. Her birth name was Sophia Marie Scott. Her father was in the United States Army and was stationed in Japan. When she was one year old, her family moved to the United States. Later, as a toddler, they moved back to Japan.

At age six, Sophia moved again to Homewood, a suburb of Chicago. She graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 1990. While in high school, she was part of the track team.

Sophia first studied Applied Math and Chemistry at Harvard University. After a trip to Thailand, she changed her major. She became interested in how nature and the economy connect. So, she switched to Environmental Sciences and Public Policy. She was one of the first five students to graduate from this program. Sophia graduated with high honors (magna cum laude). After college, she became a Fulbright Fellow at Keio University in Tokyo. This is where she first started to enjoy rock climbing.

Sophia's Career Journey

Sophia Danenberg began her career at United Technologies Research Center. There, she managed projects about energy and air quality inside buildings. In 2003, she became a Senior Engineer at Pratt & Whitney. She worked on their Green Engine Program.

In 2005, Sophia joined the company's EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) division. In this role, she made an important discovery. She found that the company was using a flame retardant that was banned in the European Union. This discovery led to big changes in how industries handle dangerous chemicals.

Since 2009, Sophia has worked for Boeing. She helps create their international environmental, health, and safety policies. She also helps gather ideas for EHS rules outside the United States.

Political Involvement

Sophia Danenberg has been involved in politics for a long time. She helped with Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential Election campaign. In 2008, she was a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. She also served as a presidential elector for the Biden-Harris team in the 2020 election.

On September 17, 2019, Governor Jay Inslee appointed her to a special role. She became a Washington State Park Commissioner. She took over the spot left by Pat Lantz, who retired. Sophia still holds this position today. Her term is set to end on December 31, 2026. In 2021, she joined the King County Districting Committee.

Sophia also serves on the boards of several organizations. These include NatureBridge, SheJumps, and the National Institute of Reproductive Health. She is also on a committee for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA).

Amazing Accomplishments

Climbing Mount Everest

Sophia Danenberg had planned to climb another mountain called Cho Oyu. But due to bad weather (monsoon conditions), she changed her mind just one week before her trip. She decided to climb Mount Everest instead!

At age 34, Sophia began her climb of Mount Everest without a guide. This meant she chose her own path. She carried her own gear and made all her own decisions.

On May 19, 2006, at 7 AM, Sophia reached the very top of Mount Everest. There was bad weather the night before, which delayed other climbers. Only Pa Nuru Sherpa and his brother Mingma Tshiring saw her reach the summit. At that time, Sophia was not feeling well. She had bronchitis, a stuffy nose, and frostbite on her cheeks. Her oxygen mask was also clogged. Despite all this, she made history! Sophia Danenberg was the first African American and the first Black woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Other Mountain Summits

Sophia Danenberg has climbed many other tall and challenging mountains around the world. Here are some of the peaks she has summited: