8 things to know about Tara Hastings
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Meteorologist Tara Hastings joined Storm Track 8 in December. She’s returning to her home state after last working in Dayton, Ohio.
Here’s some fun facts about Tara!
Tara and Randy Ollis worked for the same station in Dayton
Not only did they work at the same station (WDTN) but they lived in the same neighborhood about a mile apart.
His apartment was a block away from Bill’s Donut Shop. Maybe that’s where his love for donuts comes from?
Tara grew up in Hammond
She was so close to Lake Michigan that she was able to ride her bike or walk to the beach at Whiting Park on a hot summer day.
She graduated from George Rogers Clark High School and didn’t travel far for college. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Valparaiso University.
She’s a member of Kappa Delta Sorority
She also volunteers as a National Officer. She’s held various leadership roles during the last nine years. Currently, she helps local chapter advisory boards with recruitment, training and operations.
She’s been able to travel to different colleges and universities to assist chapter operations. It’s been an amazing experience and helps keep her in touch with the younger generation.
She has a musical background
She started teaching herself how to play the piano in high school. She says she’s very rusty but can still play a little Beethoven when she sees a piano.
For the last eight years she’s been singing in her church choir. She says she was a little shy and nervous at first singing in front of people especially, if the piece was in German or Latin!
She’s hoping to find a church nearby to continue singing.
She’s an only child
She also was the only grandchild on both sides of the family for a LONG time. And she admits she was spoiled! But being an only child, she says she also learned how to be independent.
She took ballet classes starting at age four
She stayed with the same dance teacher throughout the entire experience too. She recently passed away from cancer and she says it was harder than she thought it would.
Tara was her first student and she taught her how to express herself through movement and dance.
Her first TV job was in Marquette, Michigan
She says she honestly had no idea about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan until she moved there in early December. There was no snow on the ground and she thought everyone was pulling her leg about all the snow she would see!
Turns out later that month, the snowed started and she says it felt like it never stopped. That season saw more than 300 inches of snow which set a new record! Needless to say, she says it was a forecasting challenge.
She traveled to Europe for the first time in 2016
Her church hosted a trip to Germany to learn more about the life of Martin Luther. Her mother came along too and she says it was such an amazing experience.
She says they learned so much history, saw breathtaking views and ate some delicious food. She would love to head back to Europe!
