Biology

Ryan Difani of Pocahontas, Ark., and James Austin Boys of Greeneville, Tenn., both seniors in the WKU Meteorology Program, recently received multiple national scholarships to support their education.

Boys was one of 37 nationally selected winners of the Phi Eta Sigma Distinguished Member Undergraduate Scholarship worth $6,000. He also received the Carl W. Kreitzberg Scholarship in Meteorology from the American Meteorological Society worth $2,000.

Difani received the Ken Reeves Scholarship in Meteorology from the American Meteorological Society worth $2,000. Only 22 American Meteorological Society scholarships are available each year and WKU was one of only four universities (Rutgers, Oklahoma and Iowa State) to have more than one awardee. Difani also was awarded the Dr. Roderick A. Scofield Scholarship in Meteorology from the National Weather Association worth $1,000.

Dr. David Keeling, head of the Department of Geography and Geology, noted that “these national awards are continued evidence of WKU’s high-quality Meteorology Program. The Meteorology Program has a successful record of producing highly skilled and competitive students who present research at professional conferences around the country, publish research in peer-reviewed journals, and win multiple research and other relevant awards for excellence. With the added recognition for the annual summer field course in severe storms forecasting, WKU meteorology students have an incredible degree of experience under their belts at graduation. It is wonderful to see our meteorology students rewarded for their educational efforts.”

For information about the Meteorology Program at WKU, contact Dr. Greg Goodrich at gregory.goodrich@wku.edu or (270) 745-5986.