WHS graduate dances in $200,000 fundraiser

Bristel Bowen A Ventura County woman plunged into volunteering at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill as she has in many Caribbean and Central American scuba dives. Westlake High School graduate Bristel Bowen danced in a 24-hour fundraiser from Feb. 24 to 25 to raise money for the North Carolina Children's Hospital.

The UNC dance marathon required dancers to stay on their feet in a sea of more than 750 students packed into the school's gym. Live bands performed for the students, who were clad in brightly colored T-shirts, and music filled the air.

"I could bust out some swing moves-maybe put in a little salsa," said Bowen, 18, at the beginning of the event.

The annual all-nighter started in 1999 and has raised more than $1 million since its start. This year, the event raised more than $201,000 for children and families who otherwise could not afford services at the local hospital.

"When I'm at hour 23, that's going to push me all the way to the 24th hour," Bowen said.

Bowen, who was passionate about helping North Carolina children, is also a devotee of diving. She was certified at age 13.

"I like that we can go chill under the ocean and see sharks and turtles," Bowen said. "I love tropical culture. I love the ocean and being in the sun."

During high school, Bowen traveled to the Virgin Islands for a three-week course. She became certified in rescue, wreck, advanced open water diving and as an underwater naturalist, training to identify sharks and turtles.

"I'm really proud of it," she said. "It's something different than most people my age."

The Caribbean trip was the first time Bowen went wreck diving. She ventured around the RMS Rhone, an old British steamer submerged in almost 80 feet of water.

"It was a really difficult dive because there were really strong currents and it was really deep," Bowen said.

Bowen's favorite place to dive is off the coast of Belize, the country that has the second-longest barrier reef after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. She said Belize is untouched by tourism and has warm water, great visibility and plenty of sharks and rays.

A freshman journalism student, Bowen said that after college she might want to travel as a diving instructor. But eventually she wants to work in California's entertainment business.

"I think it's a great business to get into," she said.

This story was provided by the Carolina Community Media Project at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Jill Canada is a UNCChapel Hill student.