The NWA Cassens/Phillips Family Undergraduate Scholarship for Meteorology (Application is linked at bottom of this page)

Thanks to a generous donation from the Cassens and Phillips Families, the National Weather Association Council established a college scholarship fund to begin this year.  As such, this is the first time this scholarship is being offered.

Offering: One scholarship per year of $1000.  The NWA may ask the winner of the Cassens/Phillips Scholarship to present research work at a local or annual NWA meeting; the NWA may provide additional funding for required travel and accommodations for such a presentation.

Administration: The scholarship selection is administered by the NWA Education Committee. The NWA office announces the call for applications for this scholarship in August each year.  Applications for 2009 must be postmarked by October 25, 2009 and sent to the NWA Office.  The scholarship designee will be notified in mid-December.

Eligibility: Undergraduate students only. Currently enrolled freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors entering their final semester in January 2010 are eligible. (Note, graduate students are not eligible for this scholarship)

While students are encourage to apply for multiple NWA scholarships, the NWA will not award a student multiple scholarships in any given academic year.

Award Criteria: The scholarship is awarded based on:

1. Academic achievement/merit (transcripts) - (Student copies of official university transcripts are acceptable, however copies obtained from the Internet are not acceptable.)
2. Two letters of recommendation (one from a current or former meteorology professor, and one from media personnel)
3. A one page statement explaining why the applicant is applying for the Cassens/Phillips Scholarship.

Logistics: Scholarship money will be transferred following the financial guidelines of the college or university involved. If there aren't any financial guidelines from the school, NWA will make the $1,000 check payable to both the student and the education institution at the beginning of the January 2010 semester.

About the Cassens/Phillips Scholarship:   The NWA Cassens / Phillips Family Undergraduate Scholarship for Meteorology is offered by Kathryn and Ryan Phillips of Hollywood, FL, and their extended family.  It is supported by Sharon and Eddie Cassens of Spokane, WA and Patricia Phillips of Zanesville, OH. 

Ryan is currently a broadcast meteorologist at WTVJ in Miami, FL and has been a member of the National Weather Association since 1997.  He has held the Association’s Seal of Approval since 2002.  He is an Ohio native and a graduate of Ohio University with a B.S. Degree in Geography / Meteorology.  Ryan has worked for KHGI-TV in Kearney, NE and WZVN-TV in Ft. Myers/Naples, FL over the past decade.

Kathryn works with the executive staff of a Hedge Fund of Funds in Coral Gables, FL.  She is a native of Spokane, WA and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Public Relations & Marketing from the University of Idaho where she played golf for three years on scholarship.

Kathryn and Ryan are supporters of the Humane Society of Greater Miami and serve as volunteers in their “Pet Therapy” program, serving with their Shih Tzu, “Mr. Big.”

This scholarship was created out of the desire to give direct assistance to a focused and aspiring meteorologist completing his or her undergraduate degree.   It is also offered in honor of the late Patrick R. Phillips (1947-2007) who, as an avid outdoorsman, gave Ryan his first lessons in weather. 

Application Process: The application form (Linked Below) and all enclosures must be postmarked by October 25th.  Again, student copies of transcripts are acceptable.  Recommendations from those that will not provide the recommendation directly to the student should be submitted such in a sealed envelope.

Please contact the NWA office if you have questions.  Telephone: (919) 845-1546, Fax 919-845-2956 or via e-mail:  exdir@nwas.org

Please Check Back this Summer to apply for this scolarship