If you surfed here looking for bikini-clad beauties, move along.  As a counter-point to such reviews, I offer my nominations for interesting Girls of Summer:

Cody Unser photographed by Karen Kuehn

Starting in the traditional summer sphere of water sports, how can one not be inspired by the story of Cody Unser, who learned to scuba dive after being paralyzed from the chest down (by transverse myelitis) at the age of 12.   July’s issue of Readers’ Digest explains, “something clicked as she felt her body become weightless in the water.”  Now, at age 22, in addition to being a college student, she runs a foundation that helps other physically challenged folks have that experience.

Kimberly Anyadike

Moving from the water to the air, 15-year-old Kimberly Anyadike this summer became the youngest African-American female to fly across America.  Anyadike dedicated her quest to the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII.  The NY Daily News reported that when the director of the aeronautical museum where Anyadike learned to fly warned her that she would face a daunting task, she replied “Put it on.  I got big shoulders.”  Hat tip to Kaija for the information.

Barbara Mulford, photographed by Nick Iodice

While we’re in the sky, check out this entrepreneur who is building a business by capturing the energy of the summer sun.  After Barbara Mulford’s banking career fizzled, she enrolled in a local state college aiming toward a bachelor’s degree.  When she emerged she was an entrepreneur with a prize-winning business plan, reports the MetroWest Daily News.  Now her company, Watts Green, is up and running, selling and installing photovoltaic systems.

Gaelyn Olmstead

Coming back down to planet earth, among the most popular summer tourist destinations is the Grand Canyon.  One of the park rangers there, Gaelyn Olmstead, discovered her career after experiencing life as a wife, mom and craft business owner, and then returning to school for a BS in Environmental Education.  She told Adventurous Woman Blog that she first worked at Mount Saint Helens, where “they paid me to talk, something I’ve gotten in trouble for all of my life.  I was hooked.”

Brittany Pharr

Staying out west, summer is also the season for rodeos.  As of this writing, the leader in the leader in Women’s Professional Rodeo standings is Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, the 2007 Barrel Racing champion, who has earned over $100K in prize money this year.  Describing Pharr to the Houston Chronicle, her father said, “She’s a 95-pound ball of determination and always on the go.” Her husband said, “She is so mentally prepared; she has the ability to block out adversity.”

Hetty Fox, photographed by Tobdzic/CPL Media

From the wide-open west we cross the country to the confines of New York City, where Hetty Fox is spending the summer — as she has for the past 33 summers — providing safe play space for children on Lyman Place in the Bronx.  The New York Times reports that Fox “has made sure the cars are banished, the barricades are out and the basketball hoop, Nok Hockey table, checkerboard and assorted crafts are ready.”  One of the beneficiaries, seventeen-year-old Reginald Taylor, said, “As far as being able to have fun somewhere in the summer, this is it, so we cherish it.  It’s good to be around positive people.

Monica Ramirez

Finally, let’s not forget those  for whom summer is not a time of vacation, but of back-breaking labor:  farm workers.  Monica Ramirez works with the Southern Poverty Law Center to bring light to the widespread sexual harassment and assault of farmworker women.  In one project, women decorate bandannas that are displayed on line and exhibitions to raise awareness.  Ramirez says “These bandannas offer a message of hope and solidarity for women who often suffer in silence.”

I can’t claim to have used any objective criteria in compiling this list of the Girls of Summer.  These are simply the stories that caught my eye.  I’m sure there are many other candidates worthy of mention.  Readers, who would you nominate?