Ellen Bryan once had an older sister who was radiant, vibrant, and athletic, but a tragic lightning strike radically changed both young women's lives.

In 2000, Bryan's sister, Christina, was struck by lightning while working at a golf course in Celina, Ohio, and was left unable to walk or speak. Now, the younger sister is talking to millions of people about lightning safety as spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service lightning safety awareness campaign.

"Ever since the accident, I wanted to tell everyone I knew that lightning is dangerous," says Bryan, who is studying telecommunications at Ball State and plans to graduate in 2011. "Lightning completely transformed my sister's life. We are very, very close. She is always with me. Even though she cannot speak, she talks to me through her eyes.

"When I found out about the safety awareness campaign, I contacted the National Weather Service to see how I could help. That led to my sister and I appearing in a public service announcement and a story in USA Today."

Bryan's experience as a telecommunications student at Ball State has helped her in her cause.

"Ball State has been instrumental in my approach to this campaign. I've applied what I learned in class and from the one-on-one interactions with faculty in the telecommunications department."

Phil Bremen, a Ball State telecommunications professor and Bryan's mentor, encouraged her to take the message to new audiences by entering the 2009 Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, where she finished fourth runner-up.

"I've known Ellen Bryan since her freshman year," Bremen says. "She has always been poised and radiant—but also unfailingly humble, despite all the plaudits she has earned along the way.

"Some people try to get by on their good looks. Not Ellen. She approaches her studies intently and methodically. And she has also found time for extracurricular activities that let her polish her talents but also are of service to the university. She's a great credit to her family and to Ball State."

Bryan plans to continue to stress the message about lightning awareness, speaking to student groups and off-campus events whenever and wherever possible.

"It only takes one instance of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time during a storm for them to be struck. Lightning can affect you or someone you love. Please, be smart in a thunderstorm, and always remember—when thunder roars, go indoors."