Forecast Is Sunny For Meteorology College Student From Plainview

SYOSSET, NY — A recent Syosset High School graduate is getting a career boast. Mark Kimoto, who just completed his freshman year at Mississippi State University, has been named a winner of the FOX Weather scholarship.

This is the second year the award was handed out to support the next generation of meteorologists.

"It's really an honor to have been selected," Kimoto told Patch. "Honestly, I was not expecting to be chosen."

A major reason for his surprise: Kimoto thought a more polished junior or senior would earn the scholarship.

But Kimoto, who is from Plainview, has quickly gained experience as a member of the East Mississippi Chapter of the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society.

The scholarship also brings a different set of experiences, as he'll get to intern at New York City-based Fox Weather. Last year's inaugural winner was hired by Fox Weather. Kimoto has also received invaluable mentoring from a local Fox meteoroloogist in Mississippi.

"I'm real appreciative of the opportunities with everybody at Fox Weather that this affords me," he said.

Not surprising, Kimoto took a shine at the sun and the rest that weather has to offer when he was a child. Although he enjoyed watched meteorologists, "it never really occured to me to do it as a career path until probably about the 10th grade of high school."

Kimoto combined his passion for public speaking and meteorologist into his degree studies. Part of the program at Mississippi State features building graphics and working in front of the green screen, as they practice the on-air style.

The forecast for Kimoto,"I'm leading more toward the television aspect, [but] I'm keeping my options open."