Argonaut Alumna: Katie Keller

"Going on an expedition with The JASON Project helps set in motion what we can become and do now and in the future," said Katie Keller, an engineer with a dedication and great appreciation of our land and water resources.

As a ninth grader from Connecticut, Katie was drawn to biology. Her selection as a Student Argonaut allowed her to pursue it in ways she never imagined.

Katie, along with other student and teacher Argos, embarked on a 10-day research adventure in Peru studying rainforests and oceanic activity in 1998. Not surprisingly, Katie most enjoyed swimming in a tributary of the Amazon River and climbing in the longest canopy walkway in the world.

Now president of the Argo Alumni Association, Katie has turned her adolescent "interest" into a lifelong career. After majoring in Biological Systems Engineering with a concentration in Land and Water Resources Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), she is working for a design team creating environmentally friendly "rain gardens" for residential plots.

Katie says of her fellow Argonaut Alumni, "We all share a common experience. We have a love for science, technology, and going beyond the basic requirements in life."

Argonaut Alumnus: LaQuen Holcomb

LaQuen Holcomb's thirst for adventure came to light when the eighth-grader living in the inner-city of Milwaukee applied for the Student Argonaut program.

Soon after, the quiet and sensitive LeQuen, along with other students and teacher Argonauts from around the world, headed to Hawaii to study volcanic activity, tropical climates and desert environments. Led by a team of highly experienced researchers, LeQuen was amazed by the exotic mix of lush green jungles accompanied by pockets of dried, desert-like lava fields.

The JASON experience has profoundly impacted on LeQuen's life. Inspired by his travels and research in Hawaii, LeQuen joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Subsequently he joined Generac Power Systems in Waukesha, Wisc., where he works in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machining Centers. He attributes his career in engineering to the discipline and rigor that he learned from his studies in science and his experience as a JASON Student Argonaut.

"Being a young kid from the projects of the inner city, then becoming an Argonaut in Hawaii, made me a better student, soldier and son, and now as a father and provider." LeQuen added, "I appreciate the memories and friendships."

Argonaut Alumna: Whitney Brown

Living, teaching, and volunteering in Guatemala and studying human evolution and ecosystems in Tanzania may all sound like the workings of an experienced and seasoned scientist.

But for Whitney Brown, these are just a few things she has been busy with since she was chosen as a Student Argonaut in 2000.

Whitney, her fellow Student and Teacher Argonauts, and a team of elite scientists deployed to Key Largo, Fla. and Houston, Tex., for a weeklong study of various types of ecosystems. In particular, the Argonauts focused on extreme habitats and the abundance of exploration and scientific discovery opportunities within them.

The trip tapped into Whitney's curiosity and zeal for science. Upon graduating from high school, Whitney enrolled at University of Chicago, where she is studying anthropology and biology. She has worked in several research labs and is now conducting research to contribute to her honors thesis.