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Clarice Phelps, a Tennessee State University graduate, became the first African American woman to help discover a new element on the periodic table, Tennessine (Ts), element 117.

Her remarkable 20-year journey led her from serving in the U.S. Navy to conducting groundbreaking research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where her work made this historic discovery possible. Now pursuing her Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, Clarice continues to inspire the next generation of scientists to break barriers and redefine what’s possible.

AJ Dybantsa Carries Three Flags to the NBA Stage

AJ Dybantsa’s journey to becoming the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft is bigger than basketball. Born in the United States, with a Jamaican mother and a Congolese father, Dybantsa represents a powerful blend of cultures, discipline, and family pride.

His mother, Chelsea Hudson Dybantsa, brings Jamaican roots to his story, while his father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa Sr., brings Congolese heritage and strong family guidance. Together, they helped shape one of basketball’s brightest young stars.