Announcing the 2021 NOAA undergraduate scholars

“We are excited to welcome the highly qualified class of 2021 scholars", said Louisa Koch, Director of NOAA Education. "We are impressed by their eagerness and delighted to welcome them to the NOAA team. We congratulate them on being selected as scholars in these prestigious undergraduate programs. In 2020, we successfully adapted our internships in response to COVID-19 and we look forward to building upon that success in 2021.”

This year, 721 applications were submitted for these two competitive scholarships. The selected applicants of both NOAA undergraduate scholarship programs come from a total of 88 different campuses in 39 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The 2021 EPP/MSI undergraduate scholars finished their two-week long orientation on June 3, and began their first internships on June 7, 2021. Due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, most 2021 internships will be conducted virtually. The Hollings undergraduate scholars attended orientation from June 1-3, 2021, and will complete their internships during the summer of 2022. 

During orientation, scholars were welcomed by Ben Friedman, NOAA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Operations and Acting NOAA Administrator. Mr. Friedman spoke not only about NOAA, but also shared pivotal points in his own career path, for which scholars enthusiastically thanked him. Scholars spent the remainder of orientation hearing from line and staff office leadership, learning about past and present internship opportunities, connecting with their peers, and engaging with scholarship program staff to learn about their next two years as a NOAA undergraduate scholar. 

The scholars also shared their reasons for wanting to be a NOAA scholar, and there were nearly as many different answers as there were scholars in attendance! Some scholars shared a childhood dream of working at NOAA, while others wanted to embrace the opportunity to explore new career possibilities, gain mentors, connect with like-minded peers, and conduct high impact research. Despite having varied reasons for applying, everyone had a similar response to how they were feeling at orientation — excited, inspired, and thankful.   

The scholarship application period for the class of 2022 opens on September 1, 2021, and will close on January 31, 2022.

José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship

The Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) was established in 2000 to support the education of postsecondary students pursuing degrees that directly support NOAA’s mission. In 2019, Congress renamed the program as the José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program in honor of Congressman Serrano. The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship includes a two-year academic award of $9,500 per year, and two summer internship opportunities. Scholars also receive funds to present the results of their NOAA research projects at two national conferences. Students must attend a minority serving institution, have and maintain a 3.2 or higher GPA and a declared major in a NOAA-mission related discipline including, but not limited to, oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical sciences, including physics, geography and hydrology as well as social sciences.

Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship

The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship was established in 2005 in honor of Senator Ernest F. Hollings, who was well known for supporting ocean policy and conservation. Senator Hollings passed away in 2019. The Hollings Scholarship includes a two-year academic award of $9,500 per year, and a 10-week, full-time, paid summer internship opportunity at any NOAA facility nationwide. Scholars also receive funding to present their NOAA research projects at two national scientific conferences. Students apply in their second year of undergraduate study and each must be a full-time undergraduate majoring in a NOAA mission field such as oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical sciences, social sciences, and teacher education.

Contact: NOAA Office of Education
1315 East West Hwy SSMC 3 / Rm 10734
Silver Spring, MD 20910
For the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, please email studentscholarshipprograms@noaa.gov
For the José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions Undergraduate Scholarship, please email epp.usp@noaa.gov