Voices of the
BIG BEND
Jim Glendinning continues the tradition of his popular radio interviews from “Voices of the Big Bend,” an original production of KRTS,
Marfa Public Radio. The program continues to be broadcast occasionally throughout the region at 93.5 FM.
by Jim Glendinning
SHELLA CONDINO
The first of eight children of Simlicio
and Teresita Rivano was born on Sept.
1, 1972 in the town of Tiaong, Quezon
Province in the Philippines and named
Shella. Life in the family home was
hard, with no electricity and water that
required hauling. Much of Shella’s time
was spent looking after her siblings.
At age 12 she traveled on her own to
her grandmother’s house in the city of
Lucena City, near Manila, where she
enrolled in high school. Studying under
a kerosene lamp, she graduated valedic-
torian, the first of 172. Already ambi-
tious, she loved science and math, since
these subjects were more challenging.
Her siblings followed her to Lucena
City, and she found she was caring for
them again. But her efforts kept the fam-
ily together. In 1989 she enrolled at the
Philippine Normal University in
Manila, graduating with a B.A. in
physics followed by an M.A. in science
education in 1993. She taught chemistry
and physical science in local schools for
the next eight years. In 1998 she mar-
ried Darwin Condino, whom she had
met at college, in Manila.
In 2002, Condino flew to the United
States on a non-immigrant visa as a
teacher. Her assignment was at
Eastwood High School in El Paso,
where she taught eighth grade science.
She recalls the culture shock of arriving
in the States, particularly the lack of
classroom discipline.
In 2006 Condino moved to Presidio
High School. In addition to teaching
physics and chemistry, she initiated a
rocketry and robotics program, where
the students designed and built working
model rockets. Personally fascinated by
12
Photo by Jim Glendinning
SHELLA CONDINO
Presidio
aerospace, she started the course after
reading a rocketry challenge flyer offer-
ing a $60,000 prize.
In a short time, the results have been
startling. In national rocketry competi-
tions Presidio teams have been finalists
three times out of 700 competitors, win-
ning $3,000 in 2010. At the NASA
Student Launch Initiative in 2010, 2011
and 2012, two teams from Presidio com-
peted, out of 18 finalists. In February
2012 a Presidio team was invited to the
White House Second Science Fair in
Washington and met the president, who
singled them out for praise and gave
them a hug.
Condino herself was honored in
2011 as National Aerospace Teacher of
the Year at the National Aviation Hall of
Fame, where she met Neil Armstrong. In
Cenizo
Second Quarter 2012
Photo by Jim Glendinning
TIM JOHNSON
Marfa
2012 she was named as Discover
Educator of the Year by the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers in
Washington, D.C.
During summer vacations she loves
to travel with Darwin, who works as a
correctional officer in Fort Stockton, and
her three children, Gwynelle, 12, Gwyn
Vladimir, 9, and Gwyn Aerrielle,7. The
family takes road trips, which she describes
as adventures – so far to 33 states.
Condino’s aim is to open young
minds to future possibilities. “Dream
big, work hard, live right and do the best
you can” is her formula for life. Her stu-
dents’ obvious affection and respect for
their teacher, the $3,000 prize and a
presidential hug are evidence that the
formula is working.
Photo by Jim Glendinning
PAT MARTIN
Marathon
TIM JOHNSON
Tim Johnson was born on Jan. 10,
1978 in Nashville, Tenn., the elder son
of Kathleen and Okey Johnson III. Two
years later Colin was born. Early child-
hood memories include walks with his
mother to Radner Lake in Nashville, an
early introduction to the world of nature
and, with both parents, listening to blue-
grass music.
His father’s work was in the family
business, which involved steel products,
and in 1989 the family moved to
Houston so Okey could supervise the
company’s operation there. They lived
in the Champions area of north
Houston and took advantage of
Houston’s music and art scene. At high
school Johnson describes himself as “a