Announcement

Student Volunteer Program at NWS in Sterling, VA

My name is Sarah Allen and I am a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Sterling, VA. I work with our Student Volunteer Program. I would like to ask for your assistance in getting the word out about our summer program to interested students.

As you are aware, competition for Intern positions within NOAA's National Weather Service has greatly increased in recent years. It has proven beneficial for recent college graduates to have prior NWS job experience when they apply for positions within the NWS. Hence, we have developed a student volunteer program at the NWS forecast office in Sterling, Virginia, aimed at allowing selected college students to gain first-hand knowledge and experience of operations within an NWS forecast office. Because of resource restraints, only a few students are selected to the student volunteer program at NWS-Sterling through a competitive application process.

During a student’s time at our office, they will be exposed to the operational side of meteorology as well as the research opportunities within a forecast office. Each student will work with a forecaster on a research project for our forecast area. Most of these projects involve data collection and analysis. Other projects involve web design and other computer programming elements. Students are also encouraged to have experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.

I am including a brief list of potential project ideas for the students. Selections will be made in part by a student's potential ability to pursue these projects. Please feel free to share this list with any interested students.

1. Webpages (Necessary Skills: JAVA, Webpage Design)
2. Hydrology
3. Database Creation
4. Verification (Necessary Skills: Statistics)
5. Weather Event Research
6. Climatology of weather elements as well as advisories, watches and warnings

Students wishing to apply to the student volunteer program at NWS-Sterling must submit an application (found on our website.) This online application includes 1) a resume, 2) a transcript (unofficial is acceptable), and 3) a cover letter. Prospective students are asked to present available work days/times (including when classes end and begin) and be in good academic standing. Students are also asked to include a cover letter. This letter often involves a brief introduction and how a student became interested in the weather.

This is only the second year for this program at NWS Sterling. Last summer, three students worked with us from Penn State, Millersville, and Ohio State Universities. We are also working with a graduate student from Howard University and a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

More information about our program can be found on our Student Volunteer Webpage. http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/outreach/Student_Volunteer_Webpage.htm

Questions about the program, may be directed to Sarah.Allen@noaa.gov.

Sincerely,
Sarah Allen
NWS Baltimore/Washington DC
Student Volunteer Program