Interns

Alex Carne, Summit Intern

After growing up in the Detroit suburb of Huntington Woods, Michigan, I traveled to Valparaiso University to pursue a degree in Meteorology. Some of my hobbies include skiing, hiking, cooking, hockey (go Red Wings!), and traveling to new places. I have hiked in many places across the world including the Swiss Alps, Alaska, and all throughout the western U.S. I have also skied in many places throughout the Colorado Rockies and Midwestern U.S. My interest in weather began when I was very young. I experienced a severe thunderstorm in my hometown that sparked my interest in both weather and nature. I have always been fascinated with extreme weather, which doesn't happen often where I live. This led me to pursue an internship with the Mount Washington Observatory, which I feel will allow me to experience a wide range extreme weather conditions that I have never seen before.

Luke Davis, Summit Intern

Luke is a third year undergraduate attending McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He is pursuing a B.Sc. in Atmospheric Science -- he has always shown a fascination with extreme weather, and has aspired to a career in meteorology from an early age. He plans to finish his degree in 2015, and has future research interests in cyclogenesis and cloud dynamics, which he hopes to explore in graduate school.

Growing up in central Connecticut, Luke discovered his passion for the outdoors through family outings and trips with the Appalachian Mountain Club's Teen Wilderness program. Luke now enjoys backpacking, hiking, and kayaking throughout the mountains of the Northeast, especially the Adirondacks and White Mountains, and has ascended 22 of New Hampshire's 4,000 footers -- he hopes to climb the rest by the end of the summer. He is also an avid amateur landscape photographer, and is grateful for the opportunity to hone his skills at one of the most wild and beautiful locations in the country.

Luke is excited to learn from the experienced summit staff in a hands-on environment and to have the chance to extend his enthusiasm to the public.

Kaitlyn O'Brien, Summit Intern

Kaitlyn recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology. She was also a student member of the American Meteorological Society and worked for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey as a student assistant for the Climate and Data Services team.

Originally from northwestern New Jersey, Kaitlyn first remembers being interested in the weather at age 12 when she would go outside to watch a summer thunderstorm roll through. Her curiosity grew from there and her adventurous nature led her to attend school in Oklahoma.

Kaitlyn enjoys traveling, outdoor activities including hiking and camping, and spending time with friends and family. She is eager to gain experience while working atop Mount Washington and looks forward to learning a lot over the summer.

Tom Padham, Summit Intern

Serving as a summer intern in 2011, Tom has returned to the summit of Mount Washington to learn more about this fascinating and unique place. His first internship provided real-world knowledge and experience to help him complete his senior year at Pennsylvania State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology in the spring of 2012.

Like many meteorologists, Tom discovered his passion for weather at an early age. Growing up in northwest New Jersey, he was fascinated by the ever-changing weather—especially the extremes, like the blizzard of '96 and the more recent Hurricane Sandy.

An avid hiker, Tom is a state high-pointer, with 8 high points under his belt and a few more to hopefully add to the list this summer. He is thrilled to be returning to Mount Washington, and plans to make the most of the opportunity by expanding his knowledge of the weather and the mountain, while sharing that knowledge and passion with visitors.