“We can relate to the students’ commutes in the article,” says Sophia DePaul, one of Plowman’s students. That’s because she and her classmates endure an extreme trek of their own. To participate in after-school activities, they take a 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) ferry ride to De Tour Village, Michigan. In the winter, that means braving icy winds, waves, and temperatures well below -18°C (0°F).
Plowman’s entry earned her a $1,000 grand prize. With the money, she treated her students, at their request, to comfy new chairs for their classroom—and a pizza party.