Molly Shore
Burbank High School senior Kelsey Browne will have many
interesting stories and photos to share with friends when she returns
to school in September.
Kelsey, 17, is one of 76 high school students nationwide selected
to participate in Earthwatch Institute's 2002 Student Challenge
Awards Program.
"I'm going to study the endemic fishes of Cuatro Cienegas,
Mexico," Kelsey said before she left July 13 for the two-week
program.
She joined eight other students assigned to the expedition of Dean
Hendrickson from the University of Texas and Mexican educator
Francisco Garcia de Leon.
Kelsey spends two to three hours a day in 70- to 98-degree water
where she snorkels and does shallow skin diving as part of her
research, which includes tagging fish and observing trends in their
population.
"I've been snorkeling before, so to do two weeks in Mexico is
great," she said.
The students' accom- modations aren't exactly Club Med.
They are staying in a house with no electricity, little running
water and only one shower.
Primitive conditions aside, Kelsey is excited to learn about the
area's local customs and traditions.
When she returns from Mexico, Kelsey will spend one day at home
before jetting off again.
She will go to Rohnert Park, north of San Francisco, where she
will participate in the California Junior Miss pageant.
Kelsey is one of eight Los Angeles County Junior Miss contestants
competing for the state title and the scholarship money that goes
with it.
To qualify, Kelsey said she had to raise $500, money given to her
by Noon Kiwanis, Kiwanis For Fun Club, Woman's Club of Burbank, and
the Foothill Civitan Club of Burbank.
