RM-AMP Student Jada Antelope Summits Kilimanjaro

Jada Antelope, a Northern Arapaho student enrolled at Central Wyoming College, joined six other students from throughout the United States on a twenty-seven-day, multi-faceted expedition to Tanzania to conduct microbiome sampling and high elevation research. During the first week, Jada lived and traveled with Maasai tribespeople in their village and immersed herself in the culture and language. Before undertaking the scientific aspects of the expedition, Jada designed an individual research project and hypothesis (Is there a negative correlation of drug-resistant bacteria with elevation gain?), which was refined and tested on Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341’). Of the experience, Jada said, “If you think you can and believe you can, then your body can carry you anywhere. It taught me how to be mentally strong, how to push through and obtain this huge goal.”