Olympia LePoint

Olympia Ann LePoint is an American author, professional public speaker and award-winning rocket scientist.^[1]

LePoint is CEO of OL CONSULTING CORPORATION & PUBLISHING. She helped design and build space rockets, launching a total of 28 NASA Space Shuttles from 1998-2007. In 2007, LePoint discovered and in 2010 trademarked the condition and term Mathaphobia,^[2] a learning disability and math fear linked to the amygdala part of the brain. She published the book, Mathaphobia: How You Can Overcome Your Math Fears and Become a Rocket Scientist in 2013.^[3] The author, science entertainer and university educator uses math and science principles to help people overcome their fear and adversity.

Early life and education

LePoint was born in Los Angeles, California and was selected to study at Alexander Hamilton Music Academy within Alexander Hamilton High School, a school located near Beverly Hills, California. She graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School at the age of 16, and left home to enter studies at California State University, Northridge.^[4]

Shortly after enrollment, LePoint was caught in a collapsing campus residence building where she survived the catastrophic January 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake, which destroyed the university campus, injuring 8,700, and killing her classmate among the 56 others. Rising to triumph above the rubble, LePoint remained determined to obtain her degrees, and continued at California State University Northridge, to study and tutor mathematics receiving the Karen, Leo and Rita Saulter Memorial Award,^[5] and graduating as 1 of top 5, of a 6,500 graduating class in 1998.

Following the completion of her undergraduate studies at the age of 21, she was hired as a mathematician for The Boeing Company,^[6] where she was a professional rocket scientist for NASA programs from 1998 to 2007.

Career

While at Boeing, LePoint helped launch NASA’s Endeavour, Discovery, Columbia, and Atlantis Space Shuttles. As a specialist supporting the Mission Control Center, she was responsible for recommending real-time solutions to ensure safe rocket launches and authorized multimillion-dollar rocket engine testing. LePoint helped design and build experimental space rockets, and to launch 28 NASA Space Shuttles from 1998-2007.^[7][8]

LePoint’s awards include: The 2004 Boeing Company Professional Excellence Award given by The Chief Technology Office; The 2003 National Black Engineer of the Year "Modern Day Technology Leader" Award;^[9] The Engineers' Council Incorporated 2001 Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award; The 2000 Boeing Company Technical Excellence Award; 2007 A-1 Toastmasters International Speech Contest Winner; The 2009 San Fernando Valley Business Journal "Top 40 Under 40" Business Leaders Award article entitled, "Age Places No Barriers to Business Ownership,"^[10] and the 2010 All Things Girl article entitled "An Inspiring Woman.”^[11]

As a CEO, keynote speaker and university educator, LePoint helps audiences address fears and aids individuals who pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. She formed the national education program, Olympia’s - End Mathaphobia Now, a system designed to promote math literacy in America. In pursuit to educate individuals, Olympia LePoint established the book publishing and educational entertainment company, OL Consulting Corporation in 2010. LePoint holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, and a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from California State University Northridge.^[12]

In 2007, LePoint made the discovery of mathaphobia and trademarked the term in 2010. Mathaphobia is a fear in the brain which prevents math literacy, basic math calculations and analytical problem-solving. In 2013, Olympia LePoint wrote the book. Mathaphobia: How You Can Overcome Your Math Fears and Become a Rocket Scientist, a self-help, educational book designed to help adults and students to overcome their math fears and to be successful without doing additional math problems.

TV and media appearances

LePoint has appeared in magazines and news publications, including recognition in 2010 as "The New Face for Math Literacy," for her Mathaphobia explanation on Oprah.com.^[13] She also appeared on Dr. Drew's Life Changers TV Show in 2012, as well as The Bret Lewis News Hour, Jump Shipp on The Halogen Network, and Christians OnDemand Episodes. LePoint uses psychology in conjunction with math and science principles to help individuals overcome adversity. Olympia LePoint is regularly featured as a guest math and science expert on TV, radio, and the social media.^[14]

Bibliography

• LePoint, Olympia (2013). Mathaphobia (Mathaphobia: How You Can Overcome Your Math Fears and Become a Rocket Scientist). CA: OL Consulting Corporation & Publishing. pp. 208 pages. ISBN 978-0988537637.  |access-date= requires |url= (help)

References

External links

• Olympia LePoint Official site
• Mathaphobia Official site
• Olympia LePoint on Facebook
• Olympia LePoint on Twitter