State College of Florida Presents SCF Weather Ready Celebration of the New Weather Station at SCF Venice

Bradenton, Fla. Oct. 13, 2026

BRADENTON, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2026) — State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) held its SCF Weather Ready celebration of the new weather station at SCF Venice on Sept. 26 during National Preparedness Month.

The weather station, named Dorothy, is one of the few professional-grade weather monitoring systems in the Tampa Bay area. Measuring atmospheric conditions at SCF Venice, local meteorologists and SCF STEM program students can use the weather station’s live data in weather forecasting and in science, mathematics and meteorology classes.

The event began with a special presentation and the official unveiling of the weather station. The morning continued with interactive activities, including SCF’s anatomy, chemistry, physical science and biology lab demonstrations, children’s activities and photos with Maverick the Manatee.

The presentation was led by Dean, Academic Success & Early College Programs and Venice Campus Administrator Heather Shehorn, Ph.D. Speakers were SCF President Tommy Gregory, J.D., Venice Gondolier Head of Growth and Strategy Brad Robertson, ABC 7 and Weather Nerdy Meteorologist Ric Kearbey and SCF Natural Science instructor Jason Barr, who was instrumental in coordinating the weather station’s installation. Barr partnered with SCF leadership and administrators, the National Weather Service (NWS) Tampa Bay, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Florida Atlantic University, which will maintain the weather station. He also worked with the college on reinstating its Introduction to Meteorology course, which he will teach in Fall 2027.

Excited about the expansion of weather monitoring and education at SCF, Barr said, “Having a weather station on campus provides live, real-time, accurate data for NOAA, NWS and meteorologists. It’s going to benefit meteorology students because we can look at the data daily and weekly and create activities and assignments. The science and mathematics departments will use the data we collect in their classes. The entire region will also benefit because Sarasota County Emergency Management will be able to tap into the data.”

Barr said he was honored to name the weather station Dorothy, drawing inspiration from his late grandmother, Dorothy, and the “Twister” film’s tornado-research instrument named Dorothy, based on “The Wizard of Oz” film’s Dorothy Gale character.

SCF Associate Vice President of Academic and Faculty Affairs Jamie Tracy said the weather station is a unique learning tool for the college’s students while making an important impact on weather preparedness in the area.

“It feels good to have the weather station on-site at SCF Venice,” said Tracy. “It’s an experience that students will not be able to get anywhere else locally. This will improve our community’s response and planning for hurricanes and other weather events.”

Community participants included the Venice Gondolier, Sarasota County Emergency Management, Sarasota County Fire Department, Englewood Area Fire Control District, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, Kiwanis Club of Venice, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Dockside Waterfront Grill and The Lemonade Express.

View the weather station’s data live online on the SenseStream website under “State College of Florida – Manatee/Sarasota.”

Photo caption: From left: SCF President Tommy Gregory, J.D., SCF Dean of Academic Success and Early College Programs and Venice Campus Administrator Heather Shehorn, Ph.D., ABC 7 Meteorologist Ric Kearbey, SCF Mathematics Department Chair and Assistant Professor Michael Bellissimo, Ed.D., (Dorothy), SCF Natural Science Instructor Jason Barr, SCF Associate Vice President of Academic and Faculty Affairs Jamie Tracy and Venice Gondolier Head of Growth and Strategy Brad Robertson.