College of DuPage’s meteorology club members participate in the yearly American Meteorology Society (AMS) public tournament, where anyone can enter and compete. COD’s club is currently ranked in seventh place out of 51 competing chapters across the country. In past years, the club has not fallen out of top ten while both the COD forecasters as well as their competitors are among some of the best in the country.

The WXChallenge is an annual event where aspiring forecasters from all over the country compete. They look at weather simulations for different cities across the country and try to predict the forecast in a given city.

This year there are 12 COD students who will be competing in the tournament. While this competition is open to anyone, it is recommended that a meteorology course be taken to better succeed.

AMS is made up of different groups/teams of college-aged meteorology students across the country. COD’s chapter is one of many in the United States who participate in the yearly forecasting tournament.

Advisor and meteorology professor Paul Sirvatka explains that the AMS club at COD organizes speakers to come and talk to students, takes trips to go to meetings pertaining to meteorology and helps raise funds for different scholarships for students with this major.

Sirvatka feels that the AMS program here at COD is a great program for Meteorology majoring students and gives them a great advantage and connections to start their careers.

“I am proud of the AMS group as they work hard to give students the greatest opportunities to network and become connected to the professional community. I would love for people to know how unique of a program in meteorology COD has. We offer a huge variety of classes and this is a great place to start a meteorological career.”

Treasurer Amanda Goluszka feels that being in AMS will help better her chances in the future for where she wants to be in the meteorology field.

“I believe, [AMS] can help me in the future by being able to meet people in my field,” Goluszka said. “Making connections and possibly allowing me to be able to get to the place I want to be, which is at The Weather Channel headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.”