K at 4 months, 29 days.
The date - April 1, 1988, two days after our home was ravaged by fire, leaving us homeless.
She didn't ski very far, or very fast. But as you can see, she did ski.
We helped her attain this not for our glory,
instead it was so she would know she could do
ANYTHING she set her mind to!

                  ShePrez, inside every girl at birth.

KeNyA in Star Magazine.

There she is at the ripe old age of 1 year just before her television appearance on "Incredible Sunday".  They'd seen her windsurfing picture in "The National Enquirer" (she windsurfed at 6 months and 6 days) and wanted her for a special program on Incredible Kids.  We were in the studio all day preparing for taping . . . she was asleep by the time they actually filmed:)  A film crew spent a weekend with us to get footage of her windsurfing.  On the tv show she windsurfs as the Beach Boys sing "Little Surfer Girl".

It's been so interesting.  We wanted her to set a world record as a baby; it was a family project with the idea that there'd be no stopping this kid. KeNyA went to work with Mom every day and began interacting with those who walked through our door.  The result is to the right:)

 KeNyA's somewhat the inspiration for precious little Jacqueline's incredible life.  At the age of 8 KeNyA traveled alone to Manhattan (New York, New York) to visit Mom's best friend.  After KeNyA's visit the friends decided they wanted a child of their own.  In 1999 they adopted, traveling to China to bring Jacqueline home. Jacqueline had been left on the door step of a book shop in hopes she'd be adopted. (A girl's life is not of great value in China.)  She left behind a grim future, to embrace a life where she is cherished, living in comparative luxury in Manhattan, going to the Country Club and making our friends feel like they are absolutely the most blessed people on the earth:)

That's Sherri Slone kneeling, a 2 time world record holder (water ski jumper), Our KeNyA, a former World Record holder @ 4 months/29 days, April Coble, Master's Champion,  (slalom, trick & Jump) and Jennifer Leachman, 2 Time World Record holder, (slalom skier) hamming it up after a WOW (Women of WaterSports) Clinic at our Pond in 1996. 

 
These might look like ordinary 6th graders, but they're not.  

        Mrs. Kauffman's 6th Grade Class of LBE (Los Banos Elementary)
is a very unique collection of girls, boys, teacher and volunteer.  As part of an art project (The Art of Responsibility) the class wrote a letter to President Clinton, not the standard "Hi, we're writing to you Mr. President." letter, instead they expressed their personal thoughts and feelings regarding the Lewinsky affair.  Comments ranged from "I forgive you because humans have been known to lie, just never let it happen again.", "You owe me, my family, and the entire town of Los Banos an apology." "I think you should forget your sexual problems and run the Country." "This will affect us kids the most, do you think another Country will ever take us seriously?" to "Will you please get this stuff off tv?"  They have courage, compassion, and vision.  They've chosen not to wait until they are adults to make a difference, they've started now. ( Modeling the Secret of Life . . . "If it is to be, it is up to me".) Through this art lesson they learned that in America a voice, albeit a young one, has the freedom to speak and that leaders are accountable to the public.  This photo was taken the day we received President Clinton's personal letter of apology (April,1999), and his encouragement to them to be their individual bests.  (KeNyA is in the center of the photo in the green sweatshirt, Nev-A-Mom is in the last row on the left.  (Photo courtesy of Tony Dutra - "The Paper")

MERTON HANKS - EDDIE TAYLOR FOOTBALL CAMP
 ShePrez - ready to go where other girls may fear to tread.

For the past couple years KeNyA has attended the Merton Hanks/Eddie Taylor Football Camp.  She was one of 2 girls out of 150 participants.  The campers learn skills and run drills with Merton Hanks, Eddie Taylor and other NFL players.  KeNyA had no desire to play organized football, she just wanted to be a first round pick at recess football:)  As you can see, her photo is used in the brochure for the camp.  Each camper was given a commemorative T-Shirt that says "BAD BOYS" on the front; the minute KeNyA got home she crossed out "BOYS" and wrote "GIRLS" in permanent marker:)  Merton & Eddie offer a good value for an awesome experience.  If you're interested in their camp for your youth, or to help support it phone them at (408) 432-7212 . . . of course tell them KeNevA sent you!  Nah, tell them KeNyA sent you:)

ShePrez is more than brawn, she's brain too . . . and not afraid to show either one.

(Check out our brawney-brainer in below picture, she's in the center of the second row with her sleeves rolled up.)

AAUW Tech Trek 2000 was a math/science/technology camp sponsored by the American Association of University Women.  (AAUW funded research has proven that 1 year of college science or math will increase a woman's starting salary by $10,000!  This program fuels interest in those subjects.)

Of the 214,655 7th grade females attending California's public schools during the school year 1999-2000; only 278 (.13%) were chosen to attend a week long program at either Stanford, Fresno State or San Diego State University the summer before they entered 8th grade.  KeNyA went to Fresno State along with 77 other girls from the Central Valley.  The Los Banos AAUW hapter chose KeNyA as their scholarship recipient. The students lived in a dorm room with 5 girls they'd never met, along with an AAUW volunteer dorm Mom staying in each dormitory building. (KeNyA had no ordinary dorm mom - Merlyn was an "Apprentice Goddess Dorm Mom" who helped the girls transform into "Mini Apprentice Goddesses".)  Tech Trekkers made rockets, an edible model of a cell, a DNA model, discussed the Theory of Motion and other "girlie" stuff.)  KeNyA made friends with a girl in snow country; KeNyA visited her during the winter for snow-skiing, and Courtney plans to visit KeNyA in summer for waterSkiing:)  KeNyA set another record at College . . . she left a message on our recorder 5 hours after we left her there.  "Hi Mom, Dad, I love college, I'm getting along great with my dorm mates, will you send money?"  But seriously folks, Tech Trek is a phenomenal opportunity for adolescent girls, please support your local AAUW Chapter with either donations for Tech Trek or through whatever fundraisers they host to support it themselves.  The world thanks you:)

March of 2001 we traveled to Australia with the US DisAbled Ski TEAM, click on "My Aussie Experience" below to read KeNyA's story.