_{PENN STATE'S WEATHER STATION PROVIDES ACCURATE FORECASTS - AND TRAINING FOR STUDENTS
On the sixth floor of Walker building, busy forecasters keep watch over the weather by scrutinizing satellite data to prepare forecasts for radio, television and the Internet. This is the Penn State Department of Meteorology's Weather Station, a state-of-the art facility that serves as a National Weather Service cooperative observation station, teaching resource and a community outreach tool.}

_{The majority of the forecasting here is done by more than 100 Penn State meteorology students who staff the Campus Weather Service. These dedicated students work four two-hour shifts on weekdays and two shifts on weekends during the school year, and even two daily shifts over holidays. In the event of threatening conditions, members of a Severe Weather Committee are on call 24 hours.}

_{The results of this dedication include free forecasts for the Daily Collegian student newspaper, 10 Pennsylvania radio stations, a local cable access channel, introductory meteorology classes, and the Campus Weather Service web page.}

_{"A correct forecast is the result of a very complex process of data interpretation, computer modeling and communication, with the ultimate goal of being able to present the forecast to the general public in an accurate, yet concise way," says Bill Syrett, coordinator of the Penn State Weather Station.}

_{Senior students like Matt Cerrato and Kristie Kubovic, director of radio and television services, spend many hours per week at the Weather Station, but they say the effort is worthwhile.}

_{"Learning to forecast takes a lot of practice," Cerrato says, " but it's a lot of fun for us."}

_{The volunteer effort has paid off for Travis Koshko, a weather service member who was recently hired as a weekend weather forecaster for two local television stations. He attributes his success to experience with the weather station's advanced facilities, saying "They really cater to students and they're always striving for the next level of technology."}

_{Although the weather station enhances student training, Bill Brune, head of the meteorology department, notes that public service also is a top priority.}

_{"The station has given Pennsylvanians weather information that wasn't available," says Brune, "and it's still our way of providing expert opinion to the community."}

_{After 20 years of service, the Campus Weather Service promises to keep that tradition going far into the future . "There is a lot of interest in what we do," says Syrett. "And we enjoy the chalennge of communicating our science to the public."}