Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
Top left photo: Chad King. Top, second photo to the left: Jacob Argueta/Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. All other photos courtesy of the scholar.
The NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program aims to bolster training in NOAA-related disciplines. The prestigious scholarship, which is named for Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings, includes two years of academic assistance, a paid NOAA internship, and conference participation funding. The success of the program and its participants is a testament to the legacy of Senator Hollings as a champion of ocean policy and conservation. Since its 2005 inception, the Hollings Scholarship Program has supported a total of 2,310 scholars through their undergraduate studies. In fiscal year 2024, the Hollings program supported 382 students.
About the class of 2024
In 2024, the program awarded scholarships to 130 students from 80 campuses.
Class of 2024 scholar home states and academic institution locations (Figures 1 and 2)
Figure 1. Hollings scholarship class of 2024 home states. Along the gradient from light to dark blue, light colors indicate fewer scholars from the state and darker colors indicate more. No scholars are from grayed out states. (Image credit: NOAA Education)
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Figure 2. The class of 2024 Hollings scholars attend institutions across the United States. Each dot represents an institution attended by at least one past or current Hollings scholar.
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Figure 3. Class of 2024 scholar fields of study
In the class of 2024, biological sciences and physical sciences each account for about half of scholars' fields of study. There are also few scholars studying engineering, mathematics, and social sciences. Within those fields of study, the most popular majors among scholars are marine and ocean sciences, atmospheric science, meteorology, and environmental sciences. View the class of 2024 scholar profiles to see the variety of majors — in the class of 2024, there are more than 40 different majors!
To see past classes' alumni profiles and stories visit our alumni page.
Program impacts and legacy
Explore the impacts of the Hollings program on student training, education, and career development since the program began in 2005. All data are from 2005 through 2024 unless otherwise indicated.
2,310 scholars
have been supported by the Hollings program since its inception in 2005.
Approximately 120 scholarships
are awarded by the program per year.
Scholars call states across the U.S. home
including all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico
Scholars study a wide variety of disciplines
many of which fall under biological and physical sciences.
Hollings scholar institutions span the U.S.
including all U.S. states, Washington, D.C., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico
Scholars have studied a range of disciplines at institutions across the United States.
The Hollings program supports students who will be our nation’s future STEM researchers, social scientists, educators, and more. Scholars have hailed from across the United States (Figure 4) and represented more than 450 institutions (Figure 5) and a broad range of academic disciplines (Figure 6), including majors such as environmental science, sustainability studies, computer science, aerospace engineering, biochemistry, sociology, mathematics and statistics, economics, and science education, to name a few.
Scholar home states and academic institution locations (2005-2024) (Figures 4 and 5)
Figure 4. Hollings scholar home states. There have been Hollings scholars from all U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Along the gradient from light to dark blue, light colors indicate fewer scholars from the state and darker colors indicate more. (Image credit: NOAA Education)
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Figure 5. Hollings scholar academic institutions. Hollings scholars have come from institutions from all U.S. states, Washington, D.C., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Each data point represents an academic institution that at least one current or past Hollings alumni has attended. (Image credit: NOAA Education)
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Figure 6. Scholar fields of study (2005-2024)
*Other disciplines are Arts and Humanities, Business Administration, and Health Sciences
More than half of the scholars have majored in a physical or biological science. Engineering and agricultural and natural resources are also common fields of study for scholars. Some scholars have studied mathematics, social sciences, computer and information sciences, and education. Only a few scholars have studied arts and humanities, business administration, and health sciences.
Scholar training at NOAA
During the second year of their scholarship, Hollings scholars complete a 10-week paid summer internship at NOAA. Internships span NOAA's mission and offices in locations throughout the United States and U.S. territories.
Figure 7. NOAA line or staff office where scholars interned (2020-2024)
During the summers of 2020-2024, most scholars chose internships in NOAA Fisheries, the National Weather Service, the National Ocean Service, and NOAA Research. But, many scholars also chose to intern with the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, and a few have interned with the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Education, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, or Office of the Under Secretary.
Figure 8. Hollings internship locations by state (2020-2024)
Alumni feedback and outcomes
Hollings scholars can be found in a wide variety of careers, and 75% of them pursue postgraduate degrees. Alumni credit the program with more than supporting their studies — they say it helped direct their career paths, make valuable professional and personal connections, and become more competitive applicants for other opportunities. Meet some of our alumni below.
Beth Russell
My original career plan was to be a weather forecaster, but this internship caused me to shift my focus and look for ways to incorporate education and outreach into my career plans.
Education
- B.S. in meteorology from Penn State University
- M.E. in engineering management from University of Colorado Boulder
Current career
Operations Manager for NOAA’s Science on a Sphere
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Brandon Miller
Like many meteorology students, I knew what I saw on TV, so I knew that I could be a broadcast meteorologist. But, after Hollings, I explored an academic career path. Even though I didn’t take a job with NOAA, Hollings gave me extremely valuable experience and context that I still use to this day.
Education
- B.S. in atmospheric science from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
- M.S. in atmospheric science from Georgia Tech
Current career
CNN Meteorologist, Supervising Weather Producer, and Climate Crisis Beat Leader at CNN International
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Chanda Cooper
I learned a LOT about the essential functions of the NWS and about the direct and important effects weather and climate have on everyone.
Education
- B.S. in biological sciences from University of South Carolina-Columbia
- M.E.E.R.M. (Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management) from University of South Carolina-Columbia
Current career
Education Coordinator for the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
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Darren Clabo, Ph.D.
To say the program helped me would be an understatement; it allowed me to grow as a student scientist and get me where I am today.
Education
- B.S. in meteorology from University of Oklahoma
- M.S. from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Ph.D. from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Current career
Research scientist and state fire meteorologist with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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Findings from NOAA undergraduate scholarship evaluation (2017)
1.) NOAA Scholars are significantly more likely to co-author peer reviewed publications and give professional presentations than non-recipients.
Many scholars publish papers with their NOAA mentor based on their summer internship research. Both NOAA Hollings and Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions undergraduate scholarships include funding for students to present their research at up to two scientific conferences. Publishing peer-reviewed articles and presenting at scientific conferences helps students share their research with experts in their field, connect with potential graduate school advisors and employers, and be more competitive when applying for graduate programs and jobs.
2.) Approximately 75% of NOAA scholarship alumni pursue a graduate degree, and 45% of alumni have earned at least one graduate degree since completing the program.
NOAA scholars were statistically more likely to hold an advanced degree when compared with the control group*. Many alumni receive prestigious fellowships to support their graduate study, including more than 120 NOAA scholarship alumni who have been awarded National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. Four times as many NOAA scholars have completed doctoral or professional degrees compared with non-recipients.
3.) More than 85% of the Hollings alumni that continue on to graduate school pursue advanced degrees in NOAA-related STEM fields.
The most frequently pursued graduate degrees include: atmospheric science (26%), marine science (10%), engineering (8%), biology (6%), and geology & earth sciences (5.5%).
4.) Nearly half of NOAA scholarship alumni currently in the workforce are working in the private sector.
Hollings alumni successfully compete for postdocs, jobs at NOAA, other government agencies, private industry, academia and non-governmental organizations. The positions most frequently held by NOAA Hollings alumni include: meteorologists, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, software engineers and science teachers. Hollings has a growing network of alumni who are working at many STEM organizations, both private and public sector. NOAA undergraduate scholars develop transferable skills that set them up for success in any sector.
