Academics
Campus Weather Service
Since joining the Campus Weather Service (CWS) at the start of my very first semester in August 2004, I have been lucky enough to gain experience both in compiling and writing weather forecasts as well as broadcasting them for various radio and video outlets across the state of Pennsylvania. As of my Spring 2006 semester, I have been involved in three different facets of CWS -- radio, ComRadio, and video.
Campus Weather Service ComRadio
The CWS ComRadio shift began in September 2005 when Penn State ComRadio, the university's NPR affiliate, became CWS's newest radio client. The aim of the new shift was to create a ~90-second forecast to be broadcast during the station's student-run rush hour news program every weekday at 5:30 PM. One student per day would perform a solo shift and write up a detailed forecast, containing a weather discussion, current conditions across Pennsylvania, a complete five-day forecast, and either a business travel forecast or special event forecast. Then the student would record the forecast in the CWS radio booth and export it to the ComRadio studio.
For its inaugural semester -- my third semester at Penn State -- I was tapped to be one of the original five forecasters for the ComRadio weather segment and I have been with the program ever since. During the Spring 2006 semester, I am in charge of Wednesday afternoon ComRadio forecasts, occasionally substituting in on other days, as well.
October 11, 2005 ComRadio Package: Highlights (MP3, 346 KB) | Forecast (MP3, 3.08 MB)
November 10, 2005 ComRadio Package: Highlights (MP3, 346 KB) | Forecast (MP3, 3.23 MB)
Campus Weather Service Video
The CWS video department serves two main purposes, producing video forecasts for general education meteorology classes and for C-NET, or Centre County Television. General video shifts are open to all students to get a feel for what it's like in front of a camera and a "green screen." Every week, a team of about 4-6 students drafts a forecasts and creates graphics for a video forecast using WSI software. The "student meteorologists" then enter the Walker Building studio to record forecasts for Meteo 003 lecture, the general education class in the meteorology department. Some shifts also record QuickTime forecasts for the CWS website. I joined my first CWS general video shift during my third semester in August 2005, and it has truly been a pleasure to work with the graphics software and then present my work on tape for others to watch.
In January 2006, I began recording forecasts for C-NET, the local State College/Centre County network. About once every three weeks, I individually prepare a forecast for the Centre Region of Pennsylvania, complete with graphics, radar and satellite, and other features. A crew of two students then assists me in the weather studio by monitoring and recording the forecast on tape as I deliver it. The tape is taken down o C-NET's State College office, where they broadcast it daily at 5:55pm on campus channel 24 and C-NET channel 7 "elsewhere in the Centre Region."
CWS video gives meteorology students, especially those interested in communications, a great opportunity to get crucial and vital experience in front of and behind the camera very early in their college career.
Click here to watch me give the CWS video web forecast on February 14, 2006
(MOV, 7.67 MB)
Click here to watch me give the CWS video web forecast on April 25, 2006 (MOV, 6.83 MB)
Campus Weather Service Radio
Most CWS radio shifts consist of about 4 to 8 people who write forecasts for each of the state's eight different zones, split up according to relative geographic location to State College, PA. I have also volunteered time over holiday vacations to run solo shifts out of my home, writing forecasts and calling all radio clients on my own.
Since joining CWS radio during my first semester in August 2004, I have written and broadcasted weather forecasts for the following radio stations, web recordings, and phone services as of November 2005:
WATS |
Sayre, PA |
|
WCNS |
Latrobe, PA |
|
WEEO |
Chambersburg, PA |
|
WERG |
Erie, PA |
|
WFRM |
Coudersport, PA |
|
WFSJ |
Indiana, PA |
|
WGMR |
State College, PA |
|
WPTC |
Williamsport, PA |
|
WRXV |
State College, PA |
|
Sunbury Daily Item |
Harrisburg, PA |
|
State College, PA |
||
Media Tech TIPS Line |
State College, PA |
Click here to hear me give the CWS Web Forecast on May 6, 2005 (MP3, 939 KB)
Click here to hear me give the three-day forecast for WRXV on May 6, 2005 (MP3, 939 KB)
Campus Weather Service
EMS Student Council
Distinguished Speaker Series
Travel