Sophia Danenberg, born Sophia Marie Scott in 1972, is an American mountain climber best known as the first African American and first black woman to climb Mount Everest Danenberg was born in Okinawa, Japan, where her father, a member of the United States Army was stationed. When she was one, her family moved to the United States and then back to Japan when she was a toddler. Danenberg once again moved to the suburbs of Chicago at age 6 and graduated Homewood-Flossmoor High school, where she participated on the school's track team, in 1990. Initially, Danenberg studied Applied Math and Chemistry at Harvard University. After traveling to Thailand, Danenberg switched to an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences and Public Policy when she saw the possibilities of the juxtaposition of the natural environment and economy. She graduated magna cum laude. one of the first five students to graduate from this program. Upon graduation, Danenberg was a Fulbright Fellow at Kelo University in Tokyo, where she first began to rock climb. She enjoyed it, and when she returned home to the U.S., she began to apprentice a group of climbers in Connecticut to practice her skills. Eventually, she worked her way up to her first technical ascents — Mount Baker and Mount Rainier in the Pacific Northwest Danenberg decided to climb Mount Everest at age 34, only one week before beginning the journey due to monsoon conditions. She began the climb of Mount Everest unguided, choosing her own route, carrying her own gear, and making her own decisions. At 7 A.M. on May 19, 2006, Danenberg reached the top of Mount Everest. She withstood bad weather during the night that delayed some other climbers in her party, according to Pa Nuru Shpa and his brother Mingma Tshiring who were the only climbers to witness the event. At the time, Danenberg was suffering from bronchitis, a stuffed nose, frostbite on her cheeks and a clogged oxygen mask. Danenberg's achievement not only showcased her exceptional mountaineering skills but also served as an inspiration to countless individuals, emphasizing the importance of diversity and representation in outdoor and adventure pursuits. Her adventurous spirit, combined with her groundbreaking ascent of Everest, solidifies her as a trailblazer in the world of high-altitude exploration.