WKU is home to the first and largest bachelor of science degree in meteorology in the state of Kentucky, according to WKU’s meteorology program’s website. This four-year-long program emphasizes student-focused, hands-on learning experiences, meteorology professor Dr. Josh Durkee said.
“Since 2008, the meteorology program has become a pillar of excellence within the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences and the Ogden College of Science and Engineering, “ Durkee said.
Durkee said that while the department is small, it has grown to offer over 100 majors this year and many innovative opportunities.
“The program includes the award-winning service model of White Squirrel Weather (WSWX) and the state-awarded hazard mitigation and operation initiative Disaster Science Operation Center (DSOC),” Durkee said.
Durkee said DSOC is an organization composed of students and faculty who provide critical decision support for potential disasters across public, private, government and academic sectors. On the other hand, Durkee said WSWX was established in 2016 and is a student focused weather service. He said WSWX acts as a professional training service for students.
Junior meteorology major Wyatt Crutcher from Clinton, Illinois said that his experience with WSWX and DSOC included being behind the scenes working a mobile unit and analyzing the weather forecast for major events like campus football and basketball games.
Durkee said DSOC also manages the White Squirrel Weather Instagram account and provides students with scholarships, certification in emergency management disaster service and professional experience within the homeland security sciences.
Junior meteorology major Sarah McClanahan said that there are also many internships and conferences available through the program.
During her freshman year, McClanahan said her first conference took place within the first three months of being in the program. She said that at KenTenn, a double-state weather conference, she presented her research project to weather professionals from Kentucky and Tennessee.
“I got to present my research on how to make weather safety accessible for kids, the impoverished and those with intellectual disabilities,” McClanahan said. “Being able to have these opportunities so early in my time being in the program felt encouraging and welcoming.”
In part of her research, McClanahan said she is dedicated to raising awareness among middle schoolers and children about the weather. She said she started her research project in high school and plans to continue her research in graduate school.
Junior meteorology major Nick Zrelak from Wadsworth, Ohio said that he got the opportunity to experience how weather forecasting is portrayed through broadcast media.
“The News Channel 12 Broadcasting show here on campus has a group called WKU Storm Team where meteorology students and other coinciding majors get to do the forecasting for the show,” Zrelak said. “I think it’s amazing to have these opportunities in such a small program.”
Junior meteorology major Alexis Fugatt from Knoxville, Tennessee said that involvement in the program also gives students a chance to travel to gain outside experience at events such as the Chicago Marathon.
Fuggat said that at the Chicago Marathon, WSWX partners with the Chicago Police and other national organizations to monitor weather and other inputs on race day.
“Durkee chooses students to go to the Chicago Marathon that he feels are going to represent their best for WKU and White Squirrel Weather,” Fugatt said.
Fuggatt said that not only has being in meteorology at WKU given her exposure across a variety of opportunities, but also a chance to feel at home.
“I took a tour of campus and immediately knew then that I wanted to go to WKU,” Fugatt said.“I’m endlessly grateful that I chose to come here because the amount of hands-on experience, opportunities, professional growth, and networking is absolutely incredible.”
