The Real 'Soul Surfer' Once Visited Bergeson Elementary School

Bethany Hamilton, the young woman whose courageous story is being told on the silver screen in the film " has some local connections.

Bethany paid a visit to the students and teachers at Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel in 2005. Hamilton grew up in Hawaii where she still lives, and, according to local resident Elizabeth von Gremp, who forwarded the photos from the school's 2004-2005 yearbook,  she made a great impression.

"I think she was on a tour to promote her book and was a sponsor for Xtreme Nutrition," von Gremp said. "She was an amazing kid and quite an inspiration to 'get right back up on that horse.'  Most of us would never get in the water again!"

The film is now playing. See Lis Peery's review today of  for more details.