About us:

 

Jason Heller:

 

            I worked on this project my junior year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the school year 2004-2005.  I was immediately interested in working on this project after reading the description.  I’ve always been interested in medieval warfare and the chance to work with primary sources, in the form of the master’s fighting books, was exciting.

            I was born in Greenfield, Mass. on October 12th 1983 and have spent nearly my entirely life in Massachusetts.  I went to Deerfield Elementary school for grades one through six and to Frontier Regional High School in Franklin County Massachusetts for grades 7 through 12.  At Frontier I was a three sport athlete in football, wrestling, and track, earning eight varsity letters.  I was captain of both the football and track teams my senior year, having left wrestling my junior year due to injury.

            I was a founding member of the Community Service Club, on the debate team for two years, the National Honor Society for two years, and treasurer of the Student Advisory Council for two years.  I was also on the Prom Committee and Chorus for one year.  In addition to this I was very active in my class’ student government. 

I came to WPI in the summer of 2002 to play football and pursue an engineering degree, while on scholarship from Air Force ROTC.  During my freshman year I pledged and was accepted into Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where I took bit jobs from year to year.  I eventually dropped football after my first year and became more involved on campus, running for and being elected to the student senate.

I will graduate from WPI with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering in May of 2006.  At that point I will be commissioned into the US Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant.  I hope to either go straight to graduate school at the Air Force Institute of Technology to pursue my master’s degree, or go into research and development.

 

Jonathan Longabucco:

 

I’m a junior attending Worcester Polytechnic Institution. My major is Mechanical Engineering with a Material Science concentration. I have a fascination with ancient history and that is why I decided to work with Higgins Armory for my IQP.

For six months of the year I am an Alpine Skier. This year I was the president for the WPI Ski Team. Thinking of ski racing keeps me sane during the long and tedious hours of study at WPI. There is nothing like the feeling of adrenaline pumping through your system as your cruising down the slopes at sixty-five miles per hour, because you are on the verge of success, but also the edge of disaster.

During the off-season I like to hacky sack, play soccer, and swim. In my humble opinion the only place to be when not on the slopes is at the beach having fun with your buddies. The only thing I have left to say is that Massachusetts needs to create a culinary arts school. New York pizza rules!

 

Tom Rosborough:

           

Tom is a member of the class of 2006 and is a Chemical Engineering major. His area of focus for this project was the dagger and he also directed the armored combat sequences.  Tom loves

athletic activities and is also a member of WPI's premiere sketch comedy group, Kilroy. He enjoyed working on this project immensely and has recently become interested in many styles of hand-to-hand combat.

 

Ian Ruscak:

 

Ian was born and raised in Maine, New York. He graduated from Maine Endwell Senior High in June of 2001 with honor and distinction. He attended several colleges before coming to WPI in the fall of 2003. He will be graduating in the fall of 2005 with a major in Mechanical Engineering Design as a member of Tau Beta Pi. His hobbies are mostly centered around working on, and riding, motorcycles and just hanging out with his friends.

 

Brandon Vogel:

 

            Brandon Vogel lives a life of sketch comedy, Ultimate Fighting, and video games. He took a break from this busy schedule during his junior year to complete his IQP at Higgins Armory in Worcester, MA, just minutes away from his college. He is a Mechanical Engineering major, and is not entirely sure if he'll be pursuing a Materials Science concentration. One thing is certain though...he looks damn good in armor, especially with that red arming doublet underneath. Be sure to check the bonus features on the DVD for his exhibition of a flying roundhouse kick in full plate.