On the Saturday morning of September 21, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon Atmospheric Sciences students got an alumni visitor by the name of Kevin Skarupa. Skarupa is the chief meteorologist at WMUR in Manchester, New Hampshire as well as a Lyndon State alumnus of the class of 1995. Skarupa spoke on his television experience that he has accumulated over the last twenty-four years. Having gone from small towns in Iowa to WMUR in the Boston market, Skarupa has seen it all. His overall passion for the weather made him a captivating speaker, drawing even the families of those in the department at the early hour of 9:00 AM.
With a passion for weather and its history, Kevin showed the students maps of storms, including the Hurricane of 1938, which took out 2 of every 3 trees in New England. Students attending the speaker session got the true taste of what it’s like being on television. Skarupa gave an understanding of how meteorologists are often the station scientists, allowing them to become well-versed in science phenomena outside of standard storms.
During the Q&A session, he was asked: “What makes a truly successful broadcaster?” The response was simple: be yourself, he said, perspectives have to find what makes them, them. This sentiment will truly set students up for success, being themselves. Skarupa’s presentation was truly one to be remembered and we were glad to have him along with the rest of our alumni back to campus.
Featured Photo provided by Bobby Saba