Graduate Student Chosen for American Meteorological Society Summer Experience

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Claiborne Forbes Tompkins, a Florida Institute of Technology master’s degree student in meteorology, is one of just 10 students in the
nation selected to be funded for the 2009 American Meteorological Society Summer Policy Colloquium. The 10-day experience runs May 31-June 9 in Washington,
D.C.

The career-enhancing colloquium gives participants practice in collaborating to solve complex problems; access to individuals at high levels in the
community and government; and expands knowledge on how government works.

His selection letter read, in part: “You are to be congratulated on the achievements, demonstrated potential and personal qualities that have earned you
this recognition.”

Tompkins, a resident of Alexandria, Va., graduated with a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Florida State University in 2007. While an undergraduate,
he was a weather intern at WCTV Channel 6 in Tallahassee, Fla., and an intern at the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md.

At Florida Tech, he is a research assistant in the Department of Marine and Environmental Systems and a teaching assistant for weather briefings. In spring
and summer 2008 he was a teaching assistant in that department for marine field projects, mentoring students, installing and maintaining weather stations
and analyzing data.