UNL grad Casey Griffin awarded $24,000 fellowship

            A May University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate has been granted a $24,000 fellowship to pursue graduate studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

            Casey Griffin of Omaha was awarded the AMS 21st Century fellowship from the American Meteorological Society. The award, one of only 14 given this year, will provide support while Griffin  attends his first year of graduate school. The grant also funds travel for the recipient to the AMS annual conference.

            A meteorology and mathematics major at UNL, Griffin was enrolled in the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences (UCARE) program. Under the tutelage of Clinton Rowe, professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Griffin performed research on precipitation climatology, more specifically, the isotope content of precipitation. Griffin was a Regent's scholar and a member of the Nebraska Storm Chase Team.

            Griffin also served on the UNL chapter of AMS under adviser Adam Houston, who spoke highly of Griffin and wrote a nomination letter on his behalf.

            "Casey is the top student in his class and may very well be the finest undergraduate to pass through the meteorology-climatology program in the seven years that I have been at UNL," said Houston, associate professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences.

            Griffin said his time at UNL was invaluable and that he will use his research, class and field experiences gained at the university to continue to study severe weather in graduate school.

            "The research I was able to do was unique as an undergrad," Griffin said. "We have a great department. Our professors do a lot of research, but they are really focused on teaching and that's really important in an undergrad program."

            Griffin said the fellowship will allow him to focus solely on his studies at graduate school.

Writer: Deann Gayman, University Communications