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Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Purpose of the Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program

 

 

What is NOAA and what is NOAA’s mission?

 

 

Established in 1970, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a Federal environmental science agency within the Department of Commerce (www.doc.gov). NOAA's mission is:
 

To understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.
 

To achieve this mission, NOAA has identified four goals in which to focus agency activities:

  • Ecosystems: protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management.
  • Climate: understanding variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond.
  • Weather and Water: serve society’s needs for weather and water information.
  • Commerce and Transportation: support the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation.
     

NOAA has also identified “promoting environmental literacy” as a cross-cutting priority essential to achieving NOAA’s mission in all four of the goal areas. To learn more about the broad range of NOAA sciences, services, and stewardship activities that contribute to the agency’s mission, goals, and priorities, explore the NOAA web site (http://www.noaa.gov/).

 

What is the purpose of the Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program?

The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program was established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (PL 108-447) to honor retiring Senator Ernest F. Hollings ((D), South Carolina ). The purposes of the program are to:  (1) increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities; (2) increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve environmental literacy; (3) recruit and prepare students for public service careers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other natural resource and science agencies at the federal, state and local levels of government; and, (4) recruit and prepare students for careers as teachers and educators in oceanic and atmospheric science and to improve scientific and environmental education in the United States.