Mae Carol Jemison

1. American Physicist & NASA astronaut

2. First Afro American woman in space (12 Sep, 1992)
3. While servicing in the Peace Corp, overrode the authority of her superior
doctor at personal risk to career but saved a patients life in the bargain
4. Example of
a. Challenging authority
b. Overcoming adversity of her race and sex
Claude Monet
Celebrated French painter, 19th century
Started Impressionist movement
Painted Haystack 21 times between 1888 and 1891
Painted his wifes picture while she was on her death bed (1872)
dedication to his passion
5. Example of
a. Repetitiveness may not lead to boredom or lose relevance
b. Pursuit of Perfection
c. Dedication to his profession and cause
1.
2.
3.
4.

Jackie Chan
1. Chinese martial artist-turned-movie star, >100 major motion pictures,
over 40 years
2. Was a sticker to details a perfectionist while doing his job
3. 50 average takes per scene
4. World record 2900 takes for a single 10-min scene in the movie Dragon
Lord in 1982
5. Example of
a. Repetitiveness may not lead to boredom or lose relevance
b. Pursuit of Perfection
c. Dedication to his profession and cause
Jonas Salk

1. American medical scientist and virologist, 1914 1995

2. Developed the first successful Polio vaccine on 12 Apr, 1955
3. Selfless Altruist: Worked 16hrs a day, 7 days/ week for years but still did
not patent
4. If patented, would have been valued at $7 billion+
5. There is no patent. Can you patent the Sun? When died, was researching
AIDS vaccine
6. Example of
a. Altruism
b. Modern day Hero
c. Dedication to his profession and cause
d. Positive choice (refused patent)

Grigori Perelman

1. Russian mathematician and topologist.

2. Solved the seemingly unsolvable Poincare Conjecture in 2002 and 2003.
3. Refused the 1 Million USD prize and the Fields Medal,The mathematical
counterpart of the Nobel prize.
4. Rejected any accolades claiming that the knowledge gained was worth
more than the prize itself.
5. Example of
a. Positive Choice
b. Love for his profession (Spent 3 years in isolation to derive proof)
Hugh Thompson Jr.
1. American War veteran and airline pilot.
2. Landed his helicopter between fleeing Vietnamese civilians and American
soldiers in persuit, ordering his door gunner to shoot at anyone who tries
to harm the civilians.
3. Condemned and Ostracized for challenging a direct order from a superior.
4. Received a formal apology and the Soldiers Medal, the highest award for
bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy.
5. Example of
a. Challenging Authority
b. Risking life for others
c. Choice (Save or not)
Wilhelm Rontgen
1. German physicist and inventor
2. On 8th November 1895, was recreating the Lenard cathode ray experiment
when discovered that that the scintillating rays observed showed
anomalous properties and called them X-rays.
3. Roentgen did not take patents out on his discoveries to ensure that the
world could freely benefit from X-Rays, and donated the money for his
Nobel prize which came at a great personal cause; due to the inflation
following World War I, Roentgen fell into bankruptcy, spending his final
years homeless and in poverty.
4. Example for
a. Altruism
b. Modern Day Hero
c. Adamant to cause despite hurdles.