UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Members of the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science in Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences won four 2025 Professional Keystone Media Awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association. The winning entries submitted by three faculty members and one recent graduate won first place in two categories and second place in two categories. Winners will be honored at the Keystone Media Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 16, in Harrisburg.
Penn State’s awards were in the TV II division that includes all television stations throughout the commonwealth outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Jon Nese, teaching professor in meteorology and atmospheric science, Marisa Ferger, assistant teaching professor in meteorology and atmospheric science, and Benjamin Reppert, lecturer in meteorology and emergency management, took first place in the Best Public Service category for “Pennsylvania Fire Weather Awareness Week,” which discussed wildfire season and causes, fire weather safety and how multiple agencies work together to forest wildfires in Pennsylvania. All three are also hosts on “Weather World.” The segment was produced with the help of the National Weather Service.
Reppert also took first place in the Best Feature category for “Hurricane Ivan — 20 Years Later,” which recapped one of the most memorable weather events in Pennsylvania history in September 2004.
Ferger also took second place in the Best Enterprise Reporting category for “Halfway to Groundhog Day." Groundhog Day happens on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and Ferger traveled there to find out what happens during the other days of the year.
Second place in the Best Weathercast category went to Tyler Hughes, a 2025 graduate for his Centre County Report weathercast produced on Nov 19, 2024. Hughes is now a weekday morning meteorologist at WLNE ABC6, serving the New England area.
“Tyler’s win is very impressive since he competed against meteorologists in the Altoona and Harrisburg markets,” said Rob Lydick, “Weather World” executive producer and meteorologist.