Ride 'Em Cowgirl

Photo by Ray Tanaka/PhotoPlant

Fern White can't imagine life without the rodeo. Adrenaline pumps through her veins for only a few seconds as she jumps off her horse to hogtie a steer, but the feeling has become addictive.

After more than 40 years of rodeo experience, White isn't slowing down.

White, an AP English teacher at Kohala High School in Kapaau, Hawaii, can't remember when the rodeo wasn't a part of her life. Growing up on a ranch on Maui, White rode for fun, which eventually led to island competitions and three appearances at the American Quarter Horse World Championship.

Her favorite rodeo events include team roping, where she and a male teammate rope a cow to the ground, and barrel racing, a timed event in which contestants race on horseback around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern.

A fierce competitor, White trains before school by riding one of her three horses. Then twice a week she practices her roping skills to stay sharp.

"For years the sport has been dominated by men, but now more and more women are getting involved," she says.

She has finished as high as 10th in world competition. And, for the past 13 years, she's held the title of Hawaii's All-Around Cowgirl, a distinction reserved for the rider who earns the most points and cash prizes during competitions.

But White doesn't ride for the fame or money. She rides for the love of the sport. In fact, White recently opened her own stable to train horses, teach lessons, and make riding "safe and enjoyable for all."

--Josef Sawyer

Under the Sea

Many scientists would call a trip to the ocean floor a dream come true. But for Hepsi Zsoldos, the phrase doesn't begin to capture the excitement and anticipation she felt during that voyage--the highlight of her 26-day trip last fall aboard the research vessel Atlantis.

Through her work as an Earth science teacher at Tally Middle School in Wilmington, Delaware, Zsoldos met Craig Cary, a University of Delaware professor and chief scientist aboard Atlantis.

Cary invited her to join his crew and help bridge the gap between researchers on the ship and the 41,000 students who tracked the voyage on the Web.

The ship launched from San Diego and traveled to its designated dive spot, 1,100 miles west of Costa Rica. There a three-person crew boarded the ship's miniature submarine each day and traveled one and a half miles through pitch black water searching for active geysers and animal life. Zsoldos, shown here with one of the ship's scientists, was one of the lucky few chosen from the 23-member crew to make a dive.

Above water, Zsoldos spent most of her time documenting the daily events onboard and answering questions submitted by students. Zsoldos hopes her experience will inspire other teachers to participate in research expeditions and involve their students in the process.

"This type of trip and the interaction that took place can capitalize on kids' curiosity and maximize their potential," she says.

--J.S.

All That Jazz

Tenisha Thompson plays some wicked jazz. This special education teacher-turned-trumpet player belongs to The Pinettes, the only all-female jazz band in New Orleans, Louisiana, and one of the few in the world.

The group's eight members began performing together in 1991 as high school students. They took a break after graduation to pursue college, careers, and families, then reunited in 2001. The band released its first CD title a year later.

But the group's success didn't come easily.

"Jazz in New Orleans is a male area and the guys don't want women to play, so we were turned away from a lot of our performances," says Thompson, a second-year teacher at Chalmette Middle School. "We had to play our horns and show them we were capable of doing the same things that guys can do." The group now receives plenty of local and national attention. The Pinettes have performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and at shows in Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The Pinettes completed their first European tour this summer. Thompson finds the recognition gratifying, but the real reward comes from performing with the group.

"It feels great to be around my friends, people that I've grown up with," she says. "It's like a sisterhood. It's another form of family."

--Kristen Loschert

Sharp Shooter

Skeet shooters beware: After a lengthy hiatus, retired Missouri member Karla Roberts is rested, relaxed, and ready to get back into competition.

Roberts, you see, is a former world champion skeet shooter, winning 13 ladies championships in different divisions. She belongs to her state and national halls of fame and remains the only woman ever to win five .12 gauge championships in a row.

Skeet shooting, Roberts explains, involves shooting at 25 clay pigeons launched in sequence in a prescribed course. Competitive skeet shooters shoot 100 targets in four gauges.

After trying the sport on a whim back in the 1970s, Roberts was hooked and soon dominated her division.

Why did she stop? "It's an expensive hobby," she says, "My son was going off to college, and I just got more involved in teaching and coaching speech and drama." She also gave considerable time to NEA, serving as president of the Parkway NEA in suburban St. Louis for four years.

Having recently retired, Roberts again has her sights set on honing her shooting skills. "I like it because it's an individual sport," she says. "You're shooting against your own skills, always trying to improve." In retirement, Roberts looks forward to more time traveling and competing. If her comeback is half as successful as her first shot at the sport, don't be surprised to see her in the winner's circle again.

--John O'Neil