Math whiz in hit movie

This is Paul Janensch with a Treasure Coast Essay about a young resident of Palm City who will have a special interest in the Academy Awards on Sunday, February 26.  Nine-year-old Lidya Jewett appears in the hit movie “Hidden Figures,” the story of three African American women who, as NASA mathematicians, helped put John Glenn into orbit.  Lidya plays one of women as a girl.  She is not up for an Oscar, but the movie was nominated for Best Picture, and Octavia Spencer was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.  Born in Ethiopia, Lidya was adopted by Kim and Dale Jewett.  Her aptitude for math soon became evident.  She began modeling and appeared in shows on Nickelodeon.  Then she won the part in “Hidden Figures” over 3,000 other girls.  When she grows up, Lidya wants to be a mathematician.  I’m Paul Janensch.