At MSRC’s convocation ceremony this morning, ITPA Director Minghua Zhang presented the 5th annual Udelhofen Memorial Scholarship to Katherine Rojowsky, a junior majoring in Atmospheric/Oceanic Sciences with a concentration in Meteorology. The $500 scholarship is awarded annually to a junior in the Marine, Atmospheric, or Environmental Studies programs in memory of Petra Udelhofen, who was an Assistant Research Professor in ITPA and MSRC. Petra was a distinguished researcher, devoted teacher, and active member of her community, and the award is given to a student who embodies her work ethic and commitment to helping others. Katherine was an ideal candidate for the award, with outstanding academic performance, numerous honors, internship experience, and commitment to serving her community.
When asked how she became interested in meteorology, Katherine replied, “Meteorology chose me- I didn’t choose meteorology.” Her interest in the field may have been sparked when, as a child she was nearly struck by lightning outside her family’s home in Brooklyn! She always enjoyed watching the forecast on the news and reiterating the weather report to her family. When it was time for her to attend college, she knew she wanted to study meteorology, and selected Stony Brook partly on the basis of its strong program in the field.
In Katherine’s sophomore year at Stony Brook, she helped reestablish the Meteorology Club and became President. She interned last year at Weather2000, Inc., working on climate reports and on a program 
called Expert Weather Investigations, which prepares meteorological data for forensic investigations. Data Katherine collected on ice conditions was used in litigation over a slip-and-fall accident.
This summer, Katherine will be interning at WCBS-TV, where shell be trained in forecasting and using graphical weather programs. She will also be working for Metro Weather Service, Inc. preparing forecasts for television and radio broadcasts, and will occasionally give her own live radio feeds. Next semester, she will begin a research project with Associate Professor Brian Colle examining the waterspout that formed over Lon Island Sound in September 2006. Katherine would eventually like to work for a federal organization such as the National Weather Service or Federal Emergency Management Agency preparing for hurricanes and other natural disasters.
In addition to her interest in meteorology, Katherine loves learning about other cultures. She has taken a number of classes on world religions, cultures, and dances, including studying Sanskrit this semester! Her parents are both of Ukrainian descent, and she has been very active as a counselor in the Ukrainian American Youth Association. She visited Ukraine with her family for the first time last year.
Associate Professor Brian Colle, who has taught Katherine for several years and supervises the Meteorology Club, commented, “Occasionally, an undergraduate program is blessed with an exceptional and outgoing student, and Katherine Rojowsky is that person. I believe she represents everything that the Udelhofen Scholarship should be.”
