Keeley Whitmer inspects the cable housing of a donated bicycle Feb. 18, 2026 while volunteering with the Recycle Your Bicycle program at SIU's automotive facility in Murphysboro, Illinois. Historically, automotive and engineering have been male-dominated fields, but this fact does not deter Whitmer from pursuing her passions. “My engineering brothers and my automotive brothers are like family,” she said. “When they see that you’re passionate about it, and you see that they’re passionate about it, we’re a team.”
Keeley Whitmer changes the brake cables of a bike while volunteering with the Recycle Your Bicycle program at SIU.
Keeley Whitmer takes apart a miniature engine to add grease to it Feb. 26, 2026 in the engineering building on SIU's campus in Carbondale, Illinois. The engine is a part of her paid research to craft magnetic gears that will reduce the amount of maintenance required for an average car.
Keeley Whitmer uses a syringe to grease the crankshaft of the miniature engine she's using for her research. “How everything works together on a car is phenomenal," she said. "There's so many different things that go on at the same time, and that's what fascinates me."
Keeley Whitmer laughs with her classmate and friend Jasilyn Westerfield Feb. 19, 2026 while attending their senior design course for engineering at SIU's campus in Carbondale, Illinois.
Cay Gerlock and Keeley Whitmer discuss the potential problems of a bicycle while volunteering for Recycle Your Bicycle at SIU. Gerlock helped kickstart the volunteer program and convinced Whitmer to participate.
Keeley Whitmer takes a refurbished bike for a test-ride while volunteering for the Recycle Your Bicycle program at SIU. The restored bicycle will be given out to an SIU student in need.
