Marina Jurica Marina Jurica - perserverance for the MARS 2020 project Marina Jurica graduated from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) with two degrees: one in Meteorology and the other in Opera Performance. She is persuing both of her passions. She worked in Orlando, Florida, before becoming chief meteorologist at CBS47 in 2016. She was the first female chief meteorologist in the USA, and is still one of the few female chiefs. She appeared as professional opera singer in the Canadian tour of "Les Miserables" and debuted her own show "Seasons of Love" on Broadway in 2018. Her father is from the island of Lastovo, and mother from the city of Opatija, both in Croatia. Marina Jurica: "... Ever since I was a child I've been fascinated with our Universe, making sense of the unknown. My passion for space came at a very young age, as did my longing to better understand the elements of weather that surround and impact our daily lives. I studied atmospheric and planetary science in school and knew I wanted to spend my life exploring and inspiring the next generation. There isn't weather phenomenon I haven't forcasted for. In 21 years I went from UCLA to Palm Springs, to Lexington KY, to Cincinnati OH, to Charleston WV, to Minneapolis MN, to Orlando FL, to being the first female Chief Meteorologist not only in Fresno, but in my home state. I spent my childhood in Vancouver, Canada (that's why I say tommorow the way I do) from a Croatian immigrant family who taught me the value of work ethic. I traveled through this great country until I finally came back home..." Source Marina Jurica: AUDIO interview Marina Jurica: "I am a first generation American, my ENTIRE family is Croatian. Growing up in a Croatian home and French immersion school, I became tri-lingual quickly." (Source)

Marina Jurica singing the USA National Anthem

Marina Jurica in 2012 as meteorologist

Marina Jurica in 2018 as a singer

Marina Jurica in 2015 as a dancer

Marina Jurica in 2011 as a magic guest

Marina Jurica singing Croatian songs Marina Jurica singing Skalinada by Oliver Dragojević, for her Dad's birthday. Marina Jurica as a cook Tonight I'm singing a song from my cultural homeland of Croatia! Lastavica is a beautiful song about a sparrow who carries messages of love over the waters and miles between us!

Marina Jurica with her teta (aunt, in Croatian) Slavka

Marina Jurica representing NASA

Marina Jurica about herself written in 2014 After digging myself out of a foot of snow and sub-zero temps, I have left Minneapolis for the sunshine state! I have always had two passions in my life - weather & singing, and I am so excited to take a different turn in my forecasting career here in central Florida. Most recently, I was at KMSP in Minneapolis, Minn., and had fun with severe weather all year round. I loved getting to experience snowstorms, thundersnow, tornadoes, thunderstorms and a very eclectic mix of weather. I also have worked in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and California, experiencing some of the worst ice storms, flash flooding and severe weather for those areas. Hopefully that doesn't mean crazy weather follows me! Bruin blood runs deep in my family as both my dad and I graduated from UCLA. I studied Sociology with an emphasis in communications and also music. Marina Jurica representing NASA After being close to the epicenter of the Northridge quake of '94, my passion in geoscience and meteorology got a boost. I went back to school and got my bachelors and masters degree in geosciences with an emphasis in meteorology from Mississippi State. I also have my AMS Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society. Marina Jurica in winter mood After forecasting for 12 years in many different climates and regions, I have fallen in love with the ever changing complexity of weather. I have come to be known as the singing meteorologist. I studied opera performance at UCLA and have the lead in over 30 musical theater productions over the years. I love to sing with the local symphonies in my area and have performed the national anthem at numerous pro-sporting events across the nation. In fact, I met my husband, who is a singing engineer, on the stage. We are so excited to set down some roots and explore this new place we now call home! Marina Jurica and her son John, proud of each other We have a great 2 year old, John, who is in love with Shamu. So if you see us at Sea World or surfing at Cocoa Beach, come over and say hi! Source www.wftv.com

Marina Jurica with her brother George (on her left), celebrating his Lifetime Achievement Award

in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Civil Engineering.

Marina Jurica with her son John. Her father playing with John.

Marina Jurica - swimming meteorologist and singer

Marina Jurica is very interested in Earth Sciences

Marina Jurica with her son John