President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Wednesday to Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
"Sally didn't just break the stratospheric glass ceiling, she blasted through it," Obama said during a press conference.
See also: We Asked Sally Ride All the Wrong Questions
Ride, who passed away in 2012, was first and foremost a scientist. Armed with a Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford, she applied for the astronaut program after seeing an ad for NASA in her local newspaper.
After her first space flight 30 years ago, Ride dedicated much of her time to promoting science and math education for young girls, a platform she championed until her death.
"I never went into physics or the astronaut corps to become a role model. But after my first flight, it became clear to me that I was one. And I began to understand the importance of that to people," Ride told Harvard Business Review in 2012. "Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can't be what you can't see."
President Obama touched on that influence by sharing his personal feelings, noting that Ride was crucial in setting the bar high for women in STEM careers.
"Today our daughters, Sasha and Malia, can set their sites a bit higher because Sally showed them the way," he said.
Ride was among several recipients of this year's award. You can watch the ceremony in full below.

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