Disaster Relief Fundraisers
Over the past decade, OU SCAN has raised well over $10,000 in disaster relief to aid those impacted by hazardous weather. In 2014, the chapter raised funds for the Philippines after Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the area. In 2017, we raised $2,000 for hurricane relief in the US after hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria which were the costliest in US history. In 2019, the chapter once again raised $2,000 to support those impacted by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, with a sweet twist. Donation jars were labeled with the names of six different professors. The professor with the most money in their jar at the end of the donation period would receive a pie to the face. The contest ended in a four-way tie!
Keeping with the tradition through COVID-19 in 2020, we tasked professors with donations to their name to get their groove on and perform viral Tik Tok Dances! In 2021, we raised over $3,000 and dyed participating professors’ hair bright and funky colors. This past year in 2022, we raised our largest amount to date: a whopping $3,705 to go towards relief efforts in both Puerto Rico from Hurricane Fiona and Florida from Hurricane Ian! This time, student organization leaders joined the fun and were pied alongside professors!
National Weather Festival
The annual National Weather Festival highlights the many weather-related organizations and activities in central Oklahoma. Visitors can view the National Weather Center’s premier facilities, including National Weather Service forecast operation areas. This unique event features hourly weather balloon launches with local TV meteorologists, emergency response vehicle and equipment displays, children’s activities, weather superheroes – the “Weather Friends”, and weather-related information and products. Each year, we aid over 70+ School of Meteorology student volunteers at the National Weather Festival, assisting with parking, directing visitors, selling merchandise, and more. Some members even dress as our beloved Weather Friends! These superheroes challenge attendees on 15 types of severe weather safety and hand out trading cards! For more information about the National Weather Festival, please visit the NWF website.
Big & Little Event
Every spring, over 6,000 students, faculty, and staff are spread throughout Norman and Oklahoma City for a day of service. For twenty years now, students have spent a day giving back to the OU Norman & Oklahoma City community by completing service projects that can include cleaning, painting, repairing/installing fences, landscaping, and much more. Since 2021, OU SCAN now joins the Little Event, or a small scale version of the Big Event! Partnering alongside the Oklahoma Weather Lab – OU’s Premier Student Forecasting Center, we have grown to be one of the largest volunteering groups! For more information about Big Event, please visit the OU Big Event website.