What is a geek?  The term geek has been around for quite some time and has different meanings.   Wikipedia defines geek as a slang term for non-mainstream people, with different connotations ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a person heavily interested in a hobby.

Today celebrates National Doughnut Day!  As a matter of fact National Doughnut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of June each year.  But how did it start?

It turns out that doughnuts are a significant part of Salvation Army history.   Doughnut Day was created   in 1938 as a fundraiser by the Salvation Army to help those in need during the Depression and to honor the “Salvation Army Women” who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.  It is still celebrated today!

National Doughnut Day has become a true American tradition.

Last but not least as we recognize African American technology innovators this month is Lonnie Johnson.  On a hot summer day, we owe Lonnie a big "thank you" for bringing us the Super Soaker.  Lonnie, an aerospace engineer who loved to tinker at home, was working on creating a heat pump that used water to cool down instead of Freon -- the result, the Super Soaker.

As a young girl, I was fortunate to be encouraged by my father to pursue whatever interested me even if it wasn't a traditional field for a woman.  Not so for Valerie Thomas.  

Valerie Thomas was fascinated by technology as a young child but it wasn't until college that she was finally able to pursue her passion for physics.

African Scientific Institute

Then you should thank Marc Hannah - He's next up in our month-long recognition of African-Americans who have contributed to computer technology as part of Black History month.

Marc Hannah was one of the founders of Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI).  SGI is famous for its innovations in computer graphics and Marc Hannah is a special effects wizard.

It's Black History month and there are a number of African-America people who have made great contributions to our technology world.  This month, we thought we'd highlight a few notable persons in the computer technology space.

Maria J. Avila-López/Mercury News

 
First up, Gerald A. Lawson.