At 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, a decorated astronaut, researcher, and NASA leader, will visit her middle school alma mater in La Mesa to dedicate a mural installed in her honor.
Students and staff of Parkway Sports & Health Science Academy will dedicate the mural in a ceremony that will include performances from the school’s choir, as well as a Q&A session with Dr. Ochoa.
“It’s a tremendous honor for Dr. Ochoa to invest time to visit her middle school alma mater,” said Parkway Principal Jacob Ruth. “For our students to engage and interact with someone with Dr. Ochoa’s achievements will give our students an amazing opportunity to see the possibilities available to them in whichever field they choose.”
“I’m thrilled to be returning to Parkway for this mural dedication,” said Dr. Ochoa. 
The Grossmont High School grad was the first Hispanic woman to go to space and was the 11th director of the Johnson Space Center, as well as its first Hispanic director and second female director.
Dr. Ochoa joined NASA in 1988 as a research engineer and moved to Johnson Space Center in 1990 when she was selected as an astronaut. She became the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served on the nine-day STS-56 mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993. She has flown in space four times, logging nearly 1,000 hours in orbit. She is a co-inventor on three patents and the author of several technical papers.
She has been recognized with NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award for senior executives in the federal government. She has received many other awards and is especially honored to have six schools named for her.
Ella graduated from Parkway Middle School in 1971, eventually attending San Diego State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in physics. She earned a master’s and Ph.D. from Stanford University.
“We can’t wait to welcome Dr. Ochoa as we dedicate this mural in her honor,” said La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools Superintendent David Feliciano. “It’s an affirmation to our students that their potential has no limits. Dr. Ochoa is an inspiration. She has taught us all to literally shoot for the stars.”
