For third graders at Burrowes Elementary School, science came to life in a new way during a field trip to Millersville University. What began as a unit on weather in the classroom became a real world learning experience that showed students how meteorology shapes the world around them.
Inside Millersville’s meteorology facilities, students explored how weather forms, how forecasts are created, and how data helps keep communities safe guided by meteorologists Ryan Argenti of WGAL and Edward Russo of CBS21. They learned about radar systems, cloud formation, air pressure, and storm tracking. They watched meteorologists demonstrate real tools, compared their own weather predictions to professional methods, and asked thoughtful questions that connected directly to what they have been learning in class.
Teachers shared that this field trip felt like the natural next step in their unit. After weeks of learning about temperature, precipitation, and weather instruments, students were able to see how those ideas apply in real jobs. Concepts that once lived on paper quickly became real as they watched experts measure wind speed, analyze maps, and prepare reports for television broadcasts.
The afternoon expanded the experience even further. Students visited Millersville’s Education Department, where they were welcomed through a collaboration with Dr. Lara Willox, Dean of the College of Education and Human Services. This portion of the trip offered students a chance to learn how teachers are trained, see college classrooms up close, and meet future educators who are preparing to teach in schools like theirs. It also highlighted the wide community effort behind this visit. The Alumni Engagement and University Advancement teams helped support the experience, and the Pre-College Programs Department played an important role in making sure the day connected students to future academic pathways.
Strong partnerships make moments like this possible. Millersville University has been a long standing collaborator with the School District of Lancaster, providing academic experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence. It is one thing to learn about a career in science. It’s another to sit in the spaces where future scientists are trained. Field trips like this connect classroom learning to future careers and help students build confidence as young scholars.
The trip was especially meaningful because several Burrowes teachers and staff who attended are proud Millersville alumni. They shared stories about taking classes on the same campus, studying in the same buildings, and learning from professors who encouraged them to pursue their dreams. For students, this created an important message. College is not something far away or unfamiliar. It’s a place where people they know and trust once stood as learners themselves.
The trip was especially meaningful because several Burrowes teachers and staff who attended are proud Millersville alumni. They shared stories about taking classes on the same campus, studying in the same buildings, and learning from professors who encouraged them to pursue education. For students, this created an important message. College is not something far away or unfamiliar. It is a place where people they know and trust once stood as learners themselves.
This trip showed students what is possible when education, partnership, and community come together with purpose. For more photos, visit us on Facebook.
Here is a list of our staff members who attended the trip that are Millersville University Alumni:
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Leah Flick (3rd grade classroom teacher; B. Ed. 2016)
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Lisa Shopf Harris (3rd grade classroom teacher; BS Elem Education 2012// MEd 2023)
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Sofia Abbatiello (3rd grade student teacher, BS Early Childhood Ed anticipated graduation 2025)
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Kyle Elliot (MU Weather Center Director, BS Meteorology 2014)
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Ryan Argenti (WGAL Meteorologist, BS Meteorology 2024)
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Ed Russo (CBS21 Meteorologist, BS Meteorology 2009
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Tim Mercandetti (Media Productions Specialist for School District of Lancaster, ; BS Communications 2011)
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Alex Rohrer (Senior Community School Director, BA Psychology 2015)
