DUNMORE, Pa. — Matthew Howard, a fourth-year Penn State student who began his academic journey at Penn State Scranton and is now finishing his degree at Penn State University Park, spent his summer gaining significant practical experience in meteorology during an internship at local news station WBRE.
Howard’s interest in weather developed during his childhood. “When I was little, I was afraid of thunder and lightning,” Howard said. “But as I got older, I started loving them. I grew up downloading all these weather apps and felt a strong urge to understand and forecast the weather.”
Pursuing his passion at Penn State
His decision to start at Penn State Scranton was influenced by his family’s connection to the campus. “My mom went to Penn State Scranton for nursing,” Howard said. “I wanted to experience a new environment that wasn’t too far from home but still offered a fresh start. Penn State’s renowned meteorology program was a huge draw for me.”
During his time at Penn State Scranton, Howard was actively involved in campus life. He served as president of the Lion Ambassadors Organization, participated in the campus Music Program, and took on roles as a New Student Orientation (NSO) leader, Peer Tutor and Peer Mentor. He also contributed to THON, the Campus Activities Board, and the Nittany Cub Summer Camps.
"Getting to know everyone on campus and interacting with students, staff and faculty made my experience at Scranton incredibly rewarding. The people I met here made it a welcoming environment that I truly valued."
Howard transitioned to Penn State University Park as part of Penn State’s unique 2+2 degree plan, a process he found smooth due to the support from friends made at Scranton. “I still keep in touch with the friends I made at Scranton,” he said. “The 2+2 transition felt like we were all in it together, which made adapting to University Park much smoother.”
At University Park, Howard participated in “Weather or Not,” a 15-minute show that airs on Center County television. “We rotated roles weekly -- from hosting to creating forecast maps and composing news stories,” Howard said. “It was an excellent opportunity to learn how to present weather information in various formats.”
This fall, Howard will contribute to “Weather World,” a show that airs Monday through Friday. He is also active in the Weather Service Club, the Penn State branch of the American Meteorological Society, and the Penn State Storm Chase Team. Additionally, he serves as president of the Weather Outreach Association and treasurer for Chi Epsilon Phi, the national meteorology honor society.
Working the weather at WBRE
Howard’s internship at WBRE, which began in May 2024, involved creating seven-day forecasts and comparing them with historical data. He worked closely with meteorologist Logan Westrope. “Logan and I often compared forecasts and discussed discrepancies, which was a valuable learning experience,” Howard said.
The internship also provided Howard with insight into the news station’s operations. “It was fascinating to see how the station handles breaking news and special reports,” he said. “I also learned a lot about the production side, including how they switch between cameras.”
Howard appreciated the feedback he received during his internship. “Logan was a great mentor, providing constructive feedback and involving me in various aspects of the station’s work,” he said. “I also enjoyed interacting with others at the station, such as morning news anchors Kelly Byrne and Tom Williams, PA Live hosts Chris Bohinski and Rachel Malak and learning from the production assistants.”
During his internship, Howard also got to meet other news professionals, including WBRE's morning anchors Tom Williams, left, and Kelly Byrne, right.
Howard experienced many aspects of working at a local TV station. Here, he poses on set with local PA Live talk show hosts Chris Bohinski, center, and Rachel Malak, at right.
Despite his busy schedule, Howard remains connected to Penn State Scranton. In addition to his internship, he has returned to assist with the campus’ Summer Bridge Program Math Academy this past summer and kept students engaged in online tutoring. “I love coming back to Scranton and helping new students,” Howard said. “Staying connected with Penn State Scranton has always been important to me.”
Howard is now focused on a career in broadcast meteorology. “This summer’s internship confirmed my interest in this field,” he said. “I want to continue honing my skills in communication and weather forecasting.”
Howard’s experiences at both Penn State Scranton and University Park have significantly impacted his personal and professional development. “Penn State Scranton’s small class sizes and approachable faculty allowed me to connect with professors on a personal level,” he said. “At University Park, finding friends in my program has been crucial for academic success and personal enjoyment.”
