Charles Barkley Makes The First $100K Contribution As Part Of His $1M Pledge To Enhance Education At St. Mary’s Academy In New Orleans

Charles Barkley is fulfilling his commitment to a school that has ties to a historic math discovery.

As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson, who attended St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, LA, at the time, found an alternative way to solve the Pythagorean Theorem during their senior year. Without using circular reasoning, they were still able to use trigonometry, which had puzzled mathematicians for over 2,000 years.

“Calcea and Ne’Kiya explained it to me like this: Basically, trigonometry is based on Pythagoras’ Theorem (A^2 + B^2 = C^2, sound familiar?), so using trigonometry to prove Pythagoras’ Theorem is what’s known as circular logic,” mentioned WWL-TV 4 reporter Sam Winstrom.

The young prodigies had come to this conclusion following a math contest held at their school, which was attached to a $500 incentive.

“There was a bonus question that was to create a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem,” Johnson told PEOPLE. “Ne’Kiya and I were the only two to do the bonus question in the whole school.”

Johnson and Jackson attracted national attention for their discovery, and this also included Charles Barkley. When he appeared on “60 Minutes,” he pledged a $1 million commitment to St. Mary’s in recognition of their accomplishment.

“These beautiful Black women, man, they’re just the high achievers,” Barkley said, according to AL.com. “A lot is demanded of everybody at the school — high excellence. And these two young Black women did something in mathematics that was incredible. It just inspired me.”

Barkley has already begun to disperse the payments to the high school. According to WWL-TV, the first $100,000 payment, of 10 total, has been donated to the school. More payments will be made over the next 10 years.

“Mr. Barkley is thrilled to support St. Mary’s Academy and is very focused on transforming future generations through education and opportunities,” a representative from the Charles Barkley Foundation shared with the outlet . “He has a love and passion for what the academy stands for and how it is shaping the lives and futures of young girls in New Orleans.”

Pamela Rogers, president of St. Mary’s Academy, commented:

“We are forever grateful for Mr. Barkley’s gift and his support of our students. This transformative gift will assist students as they excel and achieve whatever dream they create within the walls of St. Mary’s Academy. His generosity supports the mission of St. Mary’s Academy and reinforces our commitment to educating young people.”