America Caving Research Association

I, Ayrien Johnson, am very happy to receive the Best Spelunker award from the America Caving Research Association, commonly known as ACRA. I would like to thank the ACRA for this distinguished honor. I would also like to think my father for introducing me into spelunking, my mother and all of my friends for all of their support, and Dr. Thomas from Lyons College for my further education in caving. I have received this award for my amazing skills in spelunking and for discovering the Lechuguilla cave in New Mexico that is entirely made out of gysupum, which is very fragile crystals, and is the sixth longest cave known to man. I have overcame many obstacles in the many of the caves I have went spelunking in. In order to receive this award I have taken many chances. Any time I am spelunking I could easily get lost, have my lights go out and get stranded, be crushed by falling rocks, or fall and break several bones in my body. I also had to overcome many fears. For example, I am scared of heights and I have had to suspend myself hundreds of feet below the earths surface and I have had to climb up the tallest mountains to enter several caves. With this award I am allowed to go spelunking in any cave I want and can go several miles past the farthest part the cave has been explored. This means I have the opportunity to discover new cave microorganisms. Many cave microorganisms are used in medicine so therefore I would be improving the whole medical area. With this award I also am allowed to test caves and see if they can be bomb shelters. As U.S citizens we are all aware of Nuclear bomb. Not that we are threatened right now but it is very important for us to be prepared. There are many caves that we can use as bomb shelters and avoid all of the radiation that occurs after a nuclear bomb. Also with me being able to enter any cave I please this allows me to have the opportunity to uncover many facts about Earths past. In many caves we find skeletons of native Americans and learn something new about them every time we discover their bones. Therefore allowing the whole world to understand the Earths past far better then they do know. I would once again like to think everyone who helped me along the way but would like to especially thank the ACRA for the many opportunities this award has opened up to me. Thank you all so very much.