• CORRECTION: Karen (Schannauer) Richie ’83, Menomonee Falls, Wisc., is a national board-certified teacher at Menomonee Falls High School. • Craig L. Kauffman ’85, Landisville, will serve as the president of the Safari Club International (SCI). He has been a member of the SCI Executive Committee since 2008. • Johnna (Pinney) Taylor ’85, Noank, Conn., accepted a position as senior vice president and chief credit officer at Dime Bank in Norwich, Conn. • Wendy L. (Orner) Young ’85, Leesburg, Va., received her doctorate degree in education from George Mason University in May. • Dara E. (Blank) Trout ’87, Glenmore, opened a Seniors Helping Seniors office, providing in-home services to seniors in western Montgomery and upper Bucks counties. • Allen Boyer ’88, Palmyra, has written three young adult novels for Perfection Learning, a national publisher out of Iowa. He is currently writing an adult mystery series for Cozy Cat Press. To learn more about his publications, visit www.allenbboyer.com. • Ned Bustard ’89, Lancaster, published a new book called It was Good Making Music to the Glory of God. It is published by Square Halo Books, Inc. • Luanne Lawrence ’89, Columbia, S.C., was hired as the associate chancellor of strategic communications at the University of California at Davis. • Melvin L. Sensenig ’89, Reading, received a doctorate degree in religion (Hebrew Bible) from Temple University in May. He credits his academic success to his advisor at Millersville
Forecasting for the Susquehanna Valley Meteorologist Christine Ferreira ’04 worked in nearly every type of climate throughout the country before returning to Lancaster County to work for the local news station…and raise chickens. “Yes, I have nine chickens and love them dearly!” said Ferreira. “They all have different personalities and are funny to watch. Also, I have a guinea pig named Skipper.” Ferreira, who hails from Chester County, decided to become a meteorologist after the Blizzard of ’93. “I remember being stuck inside and watching the weather nonstop,” said Ferreira. “I was fascinated that people could know what (weather) was coming. I became interested in forecasting.” Ferreira’s first job out of college was in Victoria, Texas. She arrived just as one of the biggest weather events of the decade was about to hit. “After Hurricane Katrina a lot of the people who lost their homes came to Texas,” said Ferreira. “Then Rita hit. It was like a one-two punch for those people.” Despite the mandatory evacuations, Ferreira stayed to cover the hurricane. “It was a minute by minute situation,” she explained. “When a category five is headed towards your tiny town, you begin to think doomsday is here.” Fortunately, Rita shifted her course and was downgraded to a category three before making landfall. Ferreira spent two years in Texas before landing a job in Portland, Oregon. After three years in Portland, she was tapped to work in a different climate known as Cleveland and experience lake-effect snow. “I love day-to-day forecasting,” Ferreira explained. “I walk outside and the first thing I do is look up! I love the excitement of daily weather. It always changes and there’s always a challenge.” After nearly a decade of experience in three different cities, Ferreira felt it was time to come home. She had completed three internships at the local WGAL-TV station while she was a student at Millersville and jumped at the opportunity when a position became available. “This area has every kind of weather—Nor’easters, tornadoes, hurricanes,” said Ferreira. “Everything I experienced around the country is right here.” Ferreira lives in Millersville and enjoys jogging around the campus. She also returned to Lancaster just in time to enjoy her “fair share” of Lancaster County sweet corn. Ferreira said she appreciated the hands-on experience she received from Millersville professors and felt it better prepared her to become a successful meteorologist right out of the gate. “I loved all of my meteorology professors. We still keep in touch and it’s great that they care and follow up with alumni,” Ferreira added. “My class was very close-knit, too. Everyone reminisces about their time at MU. It was really one of the best experiences of my life.” Ferreira said her favorite type of weather is snow, although she rarely gets to enjoy it because she usually has to work. “I think the only weather I don’t like is a super windy, cold day. I instantly freeze!” She also enjoys going out into the community and teaching both the young and old about her passion for meteorology. “The thing about weather is it’s always something people want to talk about,” Ferreira noted. “It’s a great way to start a conversation.”
Class Notes Fall 2013 29