NORFOLK -- The director of President Barack Obama's Council on Science and Technology is from Hampton Roads.
Christyl Johnson is a graduate of Green Run High School in Virginia Beach.
She spent part of Thursday at W.R. Systems in Norfolk, where the company hosted 20 incoming female freshman science students from Old Dominion University.
They toured labs and got some hands-on experience.
Johnson says that is important.
"That's what happened to me. I went to NASA Langley for a summer, got a chance to see lasers for the first time and got a chance to see someone burn a hole in their shirt and I was like yes, this is the job for me, so it's really great to give them a hands on experience," Johnson stated. "That's the thing that excites them and ignites a passion in these kids."
The students plan to major in science and technology.
