Note: The author is a member of the Penn State Storm Chase Team, but because he constantly takes breathtaking sunset photos for us, we let him promote this awesome Penn State org.

Since their formation last Spring, the Penn State Storm Chase Team has been hard at work preparing for their summer trip to the Midwest to chase storms and try to see a tornado or two. In addition to a preliminary trip this past summer to train the officers, there have been several small trips in the fall when severe weather threatened near Happy Valley.

Today, the team is in the midst of a one-day “blitz” fundraiser to help to continue chasing not only storms but dreams as well. Storm chasing requires a significant investment. Travelling around the Great Plains requires a good deal of gas, and each night chasers must stay in a hotel wherever they may have ended up over the course of the day. As a Penn State club, the team is trying to keep the cost of the trip as low as possible so that poor college! students in the club have the opportunity to attend.

“Meteorologists are some of the most passionate people out there. It’s a dream of many so-called ‘weather weenies’ to go out to the Midwest and chase storms,” says PSU Chase webmaster Devin Boyer. “I’m grateful that we have the opportunity to try and keep the cost as low as possible for our members through this fundraiser. I know this will be an amazing experience.”

“The storms you’ll see in the Midwest are like nothing else,” said Treasurer Matthew Brothers. “Every meteorologist deserves the chance to get an experience like this and as one of the top meteorology programs in the country, we are trying to bring this to the students here at Penn State.”

If you can spare a few dollars to help this worthy cause, please donate by midnight tonight here: Gigawatt – PSU Storm Chase Team.

Coach James Franklin may be busy dominating the state, but with your help, this summer, the Penn State Storm Chase Team will be able to Dominate the Storm!

For the latest on our storm chasing adventures, follow the Penn State Storm Chase Team on twitter at @PSUStormChase or like the PSU Storm Chase Team Facebook Page.