Ginai Seabron has made history as the first black woman to become a nanoscientist in the state of Virginia.
According to NBC12, the 22-year-old Richmond-native was among 20 graduating seniors who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nanoscience from the College of Science at Virginia Tech. Seabron told the local NBC News affiliate that she verified her historic milestone after talking to the department head who “looked it up and confirmed it.”
Virginia Tech’s program of nanoscience – the study of an object’s make-up – is one of two in the state.
Prior to her May 11 commencement, she told the school’s news site that it was “not easy at all being the only African-American in the room. It’s intimidating,” she said before encouraging future students to, “Continue to push. Rely on your family and your friends. Reach out to your professors. Go to office hours. Create your own office hours if you have to. Be social. Step out of your comfort zone. Get to know the people in your class — they could become your study buddies. You’ll think you’re the only person struggling, but as it turns out, everybody’s struggling.”
Since her graduation, photos from Seabron’s ceremony have gone viral on her Twitter account with more than 14,000 retweets and 70,000 likes.
Congratulations, Ginai!
