Thirty-one students from Southeast Missouri State University’s meteorology course became certified storm spotters on March 3, 2025, marking the culmination of a unique hands-on learning experience that blends classroom knowledge with real-world application.
SEMO students attended a National Weather Service (NWS) storm spotter training session led by a professional from the NWS. The training provided students with practical skills for identifying hazardous weather, including cloud formations, wind patterns and the nuances of storm development. Many of the students are aviation majors or geoscience minors, making the training particularly relevant to their fields.
“The storm spotter certification isn’t just about learning how to identify severe weather, it’s about giving back to the community,” said Professor Pamela Mills, who has taught geoscience at SEMO for 12 years. “This is an important skill for everyone to have, but especially for our professional pilot majors. Understanding the role of storm spotters helps keep the skies safer, and it's a great civic duty.”
Just 11 days after receiving their certification, SEMO students found themselves applying their newly learned skills during a significant weather event on March 14, when storms struck Missouri. Many students reported a newfound confidence in recognizing warning signs of severe weather and taking the storms more seriously. One student even called in the hail size from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to the NWS, demonstrating the real-world impact of their training.
After the training, I found myself paying closer attention to wind speeds and how much the trees were bending,” said Evan Wardrop, a professional pilot student at SEMO. “I could tell when things were starting to get dangerous.”
Kylie Kinnard, also a professional pilot student, said, “To have a meteorology class, then become certified storm spotters, and then experience how our knowledge could potentially save lives—it was powerful.”
The training also reinforced key concepts for the students, including the limitations of Doppler radar, which can miss certain weather phenomena. Mills explained that having trained spotters on the ground is crucial because they help fill in the gaps that radar cannot capture.
Mills emphasized the significance of the training for the students’ professional development, especially for those in aviation.
“This kind of experience not only broadens their understanding of weather but gives them real-world tools they can apply to make informed decisions in the air,” Mills said.
For students like Devon Walker, the opportunity to hear from an NWS professional provided additional insight into the importance of storm spotters.
“It was amazing to learn from someone so passionate about their field. It really opened my eyes to how important it is to contribute to storm safety and how all our individual efforts matter.”
While no one becomes an expert after just two hours of training, the session gave SEMO students a valuable foundation in storm spotting and weather awareness, underscoring the power of practical, experiential learning at SEMO.
To learn more about SEMO’s aviation programs, which include courses like meteorology, visit semo.edu/pilot.