Spring 2025 Student Volunteer at NWS Hastings
Applications for the Student Volunteer at NWS Hastings are being taken until Monday, September 30th! NWS Hastings is specifically recruiting from UNL for the Student Volunteer position, so the applicant pool is very small. Interviews for Spring 2025 Volunteers: At UNL - In Person, Monday, October 7, 2024 ~ 10am-1pm
Goal: To gain experience and increase understanding about the National Weather Service and their daily operations.
Sessions to Volunteer and Application Deadlines
Spring Semester 2025 (Approx Jan - May) - Monday September 30, 2024
Summer 2025 (Approx May - Aug) - Mid March 2025
Fall Semester 2025 (Approx Aug - Dec) - Mid March 2025
Options:
a) Fully In-Person
b) Hybrid Option - Part time Remote and Part time in-person
Fully In-Person Option:
a) Time Commitment: Students should expect to spend 4-8 hours per week volunteering at the NWS Hastings.
b) Project: During the first weeks of the experience the student will identify a project that they can work on that is of interest to them with the expectation that the project can be completed and either presented or shared with the staff at the end of the volunteer period.
c) AFD Writing: Beginning Week 3 - students will be expected to write 2 AFDs per week focusing on the impacts and confidence, general weather pattern overview, and a deeper discussion of any uncertainty.
Hybrid Option:
a) Time Commitment: Students should expect a schedule of alternating time spent remotely at their home/school and in-person at the NWS Hastings. Approximately 4 to 6 hours per week of volunteering time.
b) In-Person:
i) It is recommended that the time for in-person volunteering be during the daytime hours of the work-week, we understand that that may not be possible.
ii) We encourage at least one time during the session that the student be present during the daytime work-week hours for the best experience.
iii) Approximately 4 to 6 hours for the in-person portion is encouraged depending on the schedule of the student and the drive time to Hastings.
c) Remote:
i) It is recommended that this be the same time each week, but understand varying needs of the student’s schedule.
ii) Virtual meetings will be harnessed to connect the student to the forecasters and learn different techniques and forecast processes.
d) AFD Writing: Beginning Week 3 - students will be expected to write 1-2 AFDs per week focusing on the impacts and confidence, general weather pattern overview, and a deeper discussion of any uncertainty.
e) Project: During the first weeks of the experience the student will identify a project that they can work on that is of interest to them with the expectation that the project can be completed and either presented or shared with the staff at the end of the volunteer period. Remote or In-person time could be spent on the project.
Other Details
Requirements for Application
● U.S. Citizenship
● Undergraduate (going into junior or senior year) or graduate college student
● Students should have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
● Successful Completion of Sophomore Year Meteorology Courses
● Be able to provide fingerprints and pass a background security investigation
Application Process
Students interested in applying to a volunteer position at NWS Hastings need to complete the following to be considered:
● Application Form (Google Form)
● Submit a 1-2 page resume
● Submit a current college transcript (An unofficial transcript is acceptable, but we may ultimately need an official copy if you are selected)
● Cover Letter (Optional)
Once the deadline for applications has passed, we will review all the submitted applications and make a selection. An interview by phone or Google Meet or even in person may be requested as part of the selection process.
If you are selected, you will need to submit fingerprints and pass a background security investigation. This is required for all volunteers or potential employees at federal agencies, and can take up to 6-10 weeks. Once the background check is complete, we will contact you to discuss a schedule for your volunteer period.
Additional Expectations
● Students will become familiar with NWS operations, policies and procedures, software and computer systems, and hydrological/meteorological products
● Assist meteorologists during severe weather operations
● Students may join NWS staff for COOP visits and other NWS site visits (River Gauges, 88D-radar, etc.)
● Opportunities to participate in post-event severe weather verification may occur
● Students may be able to get college credit for their volunteer hours