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`The actual weather might be getting colder, but the weather department at Millersville is looking better than ever. Millersville’s meteorology club took best student chapter for the second year in a row. In January, three of the group’s senior officers will accept the award at the 89 annual meeting of the American Meteorology Society in Phoenix, Arizona.
“The award helps MU bolster its reputation as one of the top meteorology programs in the nation,” said Jim Kurdzo, President of the meteorology club at Millersville.
Millersville impressed the American Meteorology Society for several reasons. According to the statement from A.M.S., some of these reasons were the group’s willingness to try new things, the mentoring program and the openness that the group shows for involvement from all members.
“We recognize that Millersville has a well established highly successful local chapter, yet they are willing to try new activities as opposed to resting on their past achievements,” said the statement from A.M.S.
“Being a senior it meant a lot more to win,” said Sam DeAlba Vice President of Millersville’s A.M.S. chapter. DeAlba is particularly pleased with the mentoring program that the chapter has developed. “The program lets freshmen get to know all of the upperclassmen and it also gets them that one on one interaction in case they have questions,” said DeAlba.
This year the chapter planned several social events, including a Barnstormers game, to help younger students get to know the upperclassmen.
This year the group focused on getting input from all members.
Members of the 2007-2008 American Meteorological Society have won this recognition for the second year in a row. Photo courtesy MU-AMS.
“We have a great set of officers. Everything was organized this year. We had open meetings and any member that wanted to get more involved was able to come,” said DeAlba.
The Millersville meteorology program will gain national respect because of this award.
“This award has helped cement the position of Millersville University as a formidable player in the earth sciences on the national stage,” said Kurdzo. “Our students can be confident that they are in an extremely strong program that can be competitive with any of the big-name schools out there.”
The group will receive a banner that will be hung in Caputo Hall.
The meteorology club is very proud of their back-to-back awards.
“This is the top award that our department and organization can be given, and it is a source of tremendous pride amongst the students,” said Kurdzo.
All senior meteorology majors will attend the A.M.S conference in January where they will see the awards ceremony.
Millersville will not be eligible to win again next year.
“Once we have won this award two years in a row, we must be put on hiatus for a year and are not eligible to win. Although, we can win ‘chapter honor roll’ status,” said Kurdzo.
This is not stopping the group from reaching higher. “We feel that 2008-2009 will be our best year yet,” said Kurdzo of his plans for the organization. The group plans to continue the mentor program and the speaker series that they sponsor. “We are bringing in a number of very big names in our field, highlighted by Dr. Chuck Doswell, a prominent research scientist who studies tornadoes,” said Kurdzo.
Kurdzo recognizes the combined effort that it took to win this award.
“Millersville students have put in an extraordinary effort over the past two years,” said Kurdzo. “The commitment that our students have made has helped us grow into one of the best programs in the country. No, one individual could possibly achieve this goal.”