On Thursday, February 16, from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, the Corvallis School District is hosting a renaming celebration at Bessie Coleman Elementary. The event celebrates the school’s renaming and a visit from Bessie Coleman’s descendant, Gigi Coleman.
Gigi Coleman is the great-niece of Bessie Coleman. She designed an aviation program, 501(c)3 Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars, to expose disadvantaged youth to career opportunities in aviation. Gigi travels across the country to tell the story of her inspirational aunt and inspire youth to explore careers in aviation and follow their dreams.
Special guests at the event include members of the Linn Benton NAACP, Corvallis School District Equity Leadership Team Advisory (DELTA), Corvallis Public Schools Foundation, Evergreen Aviation Museum, and the Washington Museum of Flight.
“We are excited to welcome Gigi Coleman and to celebrate the renaming of our school as well as the amazing new building our community has supported,” said Tracey Fischer, Bessie Coleman principal. “This will be a special day for our students, staff, and community.”
According to the National Air and Space Museum, Bessie Coleman was born in Atlanta, Texas, to a large African American and Native American family. In 1920, she became determined to become a pilot when her brother, a World War I veteran, talked about French women flying airplanes. She learned French, traveled to France to study at the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation, and became the first African American and Native American woman to earn her pilot’s license. Her determination and strong will continue to inspire today.
U.S. Mint American Women Quarters™ Program Honors Bessie Coleman
In January, the United States Mint (Mint) began shipping the first coin in the 2023 American Women Quarters™ (AWQ) Program. The annual program honors the achievements of women, demonstrating what can be possible with determination, perseverance, and the indomitable spirit of American women.
“The first coin of the 2023 American Women’s Quarters™ Program honors the life and legacy of Bessie Coleman,” said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. “The woman known as “Brave Bessie” defied the odds and became an aviator. Her tenacious drive and fearless personality helped pave the way for future generations.”
The reverse (tails) depicts Bessie Coleman as she suits up in preparation for flight. Her expression reflects her determination to take to the skies, the only place she experienced freedom she did not have on the ground. In the background, her Curtiss “Jenny” biplane is soaring through the clouds. The inscriptions include “6.15.1921,” the date Coleman received her pilot’s license.
“This new portrait of Bessie Coleman depicts her fierce determination and unyielding resolve to become a licensed pilot during a time of stiff opposition to ambitious women of color,” said United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Designer Chris Costello.
The Bessie Coleman quarters can be purchased on the U.S. Mint website and will go on sale on February 14, 2023.
For more information, please see the entire United States Mint press release.
