As part of their study of famous Black Americans, first grade students on the Bolles Lower School Whitehurst learned about the man who invented one of their favorite pool and summer fun resources – the Super Soaker.

Lonnie Johnson, an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur whose life work included a 12-year stint at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, invented the popular children’s water gun toy in 1990 and later became president of Johnson Research and Development Co., Inc. Johnson also invented the popular Nerf Gun.

Students in Jill Bobbitt’s and Karen Stephens’ classes enjoyed celebrating Johnson’s life works with a Super Soaker water gun adventure on the playground afterward.

“Lonnie Johnson is an innovative engineer who has spent his life designing new ideas,” Bobbitt said. “We can’t wait to see what our first-graders invent when they grow up!”