Karla Benjamin Clark
Karla (Benjamin) Clark was inducted into the Finneytown Hall of Fame in 2003 because she is literally a rocket scientist. That's right - Karla had a stellar career with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
After graduating from Finneytown in 1979 with accomplishments that include National Merit Commended Student, National Honor Society, and receiving a National Merit Scholarship from Proctor and Gamble, she went on to receive a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from Rice University and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management from the University of Southern California. She then took a position with JPL and became arguably one of the world's foremost experts on how spacecraft systems interact with the harsh environment of outer space. By hardening power and avionics systems against the radiation found in space, she has helped mankind explore the outer reaches of the solar system including Jupiter's moons, Pluto, and the Kuiper belt beyond Pluto. (If you've never heard of the Kuiper belt, join the club).
Karla's curiosity and dedication to contributing to mankind's understanding of things greater than ourselves is why we are proud that Karla can call Finneytown home.
Check out the rest of the Class of 2003 Hall of Fame inductees!
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