LEEDS – Kendra Elie, a 10th grade student at Leavitt Area High School, has been selected as a National Student Argonaut and will participate in a two-year internship with The JASON Project, a nonprofit subsidiary of National Geographic Society. She is the daughter of Jonathan and Melissa Elie of Leeds.

One of nine students and four teachers selected through an international competition, Elie and her colleagues will take part in field expeditions led by top scientists and researchers from NOAA, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic and other organizations. Their work will be featured in JASON’s upcoming curriculum units in Space, Climate, and Forces and Motion, scheduled for release in 2011.

To prepare for their fieldwork, she will attend “boot camp” from July 11 to 22 in Washington, D.C. and other locations, to study the science content and learn protocols for scientific investigation.

After the expedition, Elie will work with JASON staff to help develop, review and eventually launch the new curriculum units.

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to become a part of the JASON team and can’t wait to get started,” she said.

The Argonaut application consists of essay questions, faculty recommendations, a personal video and interviews. Candidates must demonstrate a passion for science, strong leadership skills and an ability to work as part of a team.

Complete JASON curriculum units, including all interactives and multimedia, are available free at www.jason.org.