PLEASANT VIEW, Utah (ABC4 Utah) – Alexis Hope Elmer – or just Hope – is one remarkable young woman! The 22-year-old recent college graduate has overcome many challenges throughout her young life, including a rare childhood speech disorder (Childhood Apraxia) that left her unable to speak until she was six years old. Her first language was Sign Language.

For several years, Hope communicated using sign and a photo board. As she achieved the ability speak, Hope attended special speech therapy classes and sessions several times a week – and worked on her speech therapy at home with her family, Hope’s bigggest cheerleaders, as they supported her along the way. She graduated Valedictorian of her high school class, received a signifcant scholarship to attend one of the best aeronautical schools in the country, received awards and recognition for projects she assisted with for NASA, and now is working at Northrop Grumman as an aerospace engineer – a rare position for someone her age and for women as well – something Hope wants to help change by inspiring more women to enter STEM-related careers, especially engineering and avaiation-related areas.

Hope’s journey and interest in space developed at a very young age, partly because of her grandfathers – both members of the U.S. Air Force – and her great grandma Joye a pioneer in aero-mechanics at Hill Air Force Base.

Hope says she’s proof that anything is possible and that hard work and determination will pay off in the end. We’re excited to see the things this young remarkable woman does from here on out!

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