e-mail this story Printer-friendly version Thursday, May 12, 2005 Meet the 2005 storm chasers The Roanoke Times

DAVE CARROLL
Age: 43

Hometown: Blacksburg; native of Roanoke
Occupation: Pulaski County High School meteorology/earth sciences teacher.
Storm chasing experience: Numerous chase trips over the past 20 years.
Other interests: Rock climbing, hiking, backpacking.

Hometown: Aiken, S.C.
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom; former high school science teacher.
Storm chasing experience: Skywarn spotter; 4 Great Plains storm chase trips
Other interests: "Artsy" projects -- painting, pottery, papercrafts, woodworking, sewing. Also, gardening, cooking/baking, reading, going to church, working out and watching college sports.

Hometown: Blue Ridge; native of Arkansas
Occupation: Roanoke Times copy editor, weather columnist
Storm chasing experience: Seen 6 tornadoes, including 3 in storm chases in Arkansas.
Other interests: Hiking, nature, dogs, prayer ministry.

School: University of North Carolina-Asheville, sophomore; Blacksburg High School graduate
Career goals: Meteorologist/weather prediction; majoring in meteorology at UNCA.
On the storm chase trip, because: To learn more about meteorology and to experience severe storms.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: 1 year of meteorology classes at UNC-Asheville; will be volunteering for National Weather Service this summer.
Other interests: Paintball, saltwater fish aquariums.

School: Radford University, freshman; 2004 Pulaski High School graduate
Career goals: Work at Epic Games, creator of Unreal
On the storm chase trip, because: It's great fun.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: 2004 storm chase, Skywarn spotter
Other interests: Computer programming, games, anime, etc.

School: Virginia Tech, second-year graduate student
Career goals: Pursue a career that combines weather forecasting and geographic information systems.
On the storm chase trip, because: To personally view the storm dynamics and structure that I learned in the classroom during my four years of meteorology at Penn State.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: 2004 storm chase trip; bachelor of science degree in meteorology at Penn State in 2003.
Other interests: Bowling, golf, geographic information systems, music, running, watching sports.

School: New River Community College, 3rd year
Career goals: Become a teacher
On the storm chase trip, because: I love the weather and have always been intrigued by it, especially tornadoes.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: None.
Other interests: Playing piano, music, movies, hanging out with friends.

School: Pulaski County High School, senior
Career goals: Doctorate in atmospheric sciences, hopefully teach as a professor at a university
On the storm chase trip, because: To learn about, and see up close, severe storms
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: Skywarn spotter.
Other interests: Birdwatching, outdoors stuff.

School: Virginia Tech graduate (as of May 14)
Career goals: I would like to teach materials science and engineering at a university.
On the storm chase trip, because: I get to combine my interests in radio and meteorology.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: 2003 and 2004 storm chase trips; local chasing in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Delaware since 1997.
Other interests: Amateur radio, meteorology, geology, classic cars, being a pirate.

School: Pulaski County High School, junior
Career goals: Pursue a career in biology or biomedical research; hold a political office later in life.
On the storm chase trip, because: To see the U.S., experience the power of nature.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: None.
Other interests: Politics, listening to music on my mp3 player, playing cards and starting small fires.

School: Virginia Tech, junior
Career goals: Civil and environmental engineering, structures, construction, foundations
On the storm chase trip, because: Never been out West. Wanted the thrill of seeing big-time storms, while traveling the country, simultaneously.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: A meterology class at Tech.
Other interests: Playing drums, playing guitar, watching/playing sports

School: Pulaski County High School, junior
Career goals: Finish high school and go to college.
On the storm chase trip, because: Going to see if this is the profession that I'd like to go into.
Previous storm-chasing or weather experience: None.
Other interests: Going to church, youth outings, shopping, going to the movies.