Published On: April 25th, 2019By

Aldine ISD Student, Teacher Chosen as 2019 National JASON Learning Argonauts

The Argos will head to Costa Rica to experience a week-long adventure with researchers and educators.

Carolyn García (center) has been selected as a JASON Learning Argonaut for 2019. The Aldine ISD junior is a student at Victory Early College HS. Carolyn is pictured with her parents alongside campus- and district-level leaders, including AISD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Selina Chapa (in red jacket).


Congratulations to Victory Early College HS student Carolyn García and Aldine Ninth Grade School biology teacher Sheena Nichols! They have been selected as Aldine ISD JASON Learning Argonauts. They will be working alongside scientists studying bees and pollinators.

Sheena Nichols (center, holding banner) has been selected as a JASON Learning Argonaut for 2019. Nichols teaches biology at Aldine Ninth Grade School.

Carolyn, an 11th grader had no idea what to expect when a small crowd of district-level administrators held a meeting for her and some of her peers to attend. Once her name was called, her face told the story. She was shocked and as she walked from the back of the room, it was then she noticed her parents sitting in the front row. Carolyn had just heard she was headed to Costa Rica this summer as a 2019 Argo. She is the second student from Victory Early College HS to be selected to the program. In 2017, Diego Garza was named an Argo. His excursion took him to the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba, Canada. Garza will graduate this year from Victory ECHS.

Ms. Nichols was just as surprised at the announcement. Both she and Carolyn will be working and studying in Costa Rica from July 27 – August 2, 2019.

One of the most unique and exciting features of JASON Learning’s comprehensive approach to transforming K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teaching and learning. JASON’s Student and Teacher Argonauts — named after the band of explorers in Greek mythology who accompanied Jason in his quest to find the Golden Fleece — travel to research locations around the world to work side-by-side with scientists and engineers.

Chevron sponsors the JASON Learning program at eight Houston-area school districts, including Aldine ISD. Funding provided by Chevron assures that all travel is covered for Houston-area Argos. This includes lodging, food, programming and equipment costs.


Chevron-Logo-12019 Expeditions

Caterpillars & Climate Change, Nevada
Dates: (TBD)

Forest Owls, Arizona
June 27 – July 3, 2019

Sea Turtles, Bahamas
July 13-20, 2019

Bees & Pollinators, Costa Rica
July 27 – August 2, 2019

Amazon Rainforest, Peru
October 19-27, 2019

Design Thinking
November 10-15, 2019


Aldine-ISD-2017-JASON-Learning-Argonoauts-in-Canada-1

Aldine ISD 2017 JASON Argonauts teacher Chirmekia Washington and student Diego Garza went to Canada.

The Argos become the eyes and ears for their peers back home, experiencing firsthand what it’s like to pursue a STEM career, sharing that knowledge when they return to their local communities, and making critical real-world connections to the STEM topics they’ve learned about in the JASON classroom curricula.

The Argonaut expedition is an incredible adventure and can be a truly life-changing experience for participating students and teachers. As such, each spot on the team is highly coveted. Every year students and teachers apply for the program through JASON, competing against their peers around the world for the chance to be on the next JASON Argonaut team.

IMG_1375-Aldine-ISD-Keilah-South-Chevron-JASON-Learning-Nat-Argonauts-2018

AISD 2018 JASON Argo student Keilah South in the Bahamas.

A committee of JASON staff, educators, and school administrators familiar with the program score the applications and make the final team selections.

Argonauts collaborate with the JASON team to document and share their expedition experiences with their communities back home and others throughout the world through a mix of photos, videos, blogs, and live events. Expeditions are shared via social media and the JASON website, generating awareness and excitement about their adventures.

Enjoy your summer adventure!



The JASON Project connects students to real science and exploration. The goal is to inspire them to pursue careers in the STEM fields. AISD unveiled the curriculum in 2012-2013, the result of more than a $250,000 grant from Chevron.

Read about the AISD 2013 JASON Argos.
Read about the AISD 2015 JASON Argos.
Read about the AISD 2016 JASON Argos.
Read about the AISD 2017 JASON Argos.
Read about the AISD 2018 JASON Argos.

About the Author: Leticia Fehling

Director of Internal Communications