Renee Juhans
Headquarters, Washington               July 18, 2002
(Phone: 202/358-1712)

RELEASE: 02-131

AND THE WINNER IS ... NASA WOMEN OF COLOR

     NASA is the proud employer of twelve minority women who 
will be honored for their achievements in government and 
defense at the second annual Women of Color Government and 
Defense Technology Awards Conference July 18-19, in 
Washington.

This year's theme, "There is a Winner In You," is especially 
significant for NASA both because NASA can claim as employees 
more of these exemplary women than any other federal agency 
and because NASA views as an integral element of its mission 
to inspire the next generation of explorers "… as only NASA 
can."

The NASA 2002 Women of Color Awards recipients are:

National Responsibility Award
Debra L. Johnson, Johnson Space Center, Houston

National Student Leadership Award
Eileen M. Saenz, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland

VIP Award
Karen Hickman, Glenn Research Center

All Star Award
Michelle Amos, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Gena H. Baker, Kennedy Space Center
Hortense Blackwell Burt, Kennedy Space Center
Barbara L. Brown, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Dawn M. Elliott, Kennedy Space Center
Yolanda R. Hicks, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Robbie E. Hood, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, 
Ala.
Charlene T. Malloy, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, 
Md.

Rising Star
Stacie M. Smith, Kennedy Space Center

The awards are sponsored by Career Communications Group, 
Inc., and are given in recognition of the contributions women 
of color are making in the traditionally male-dominated 
fields of government and defense. They were created to 
highlight success stories, motivate other women to higher 
levels and reconfirm commitment to equality in the workplace. 

More information on award recipients from NASA can be found 
at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/womenofcolor.html

Additional information on this year's Women of Color in 
Government and Defense Technology Awards Conference is 
available at: 

http://www.womenofcolor.net

                         -end-