§1542 Establishment of the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program

Summary

NOAA must create and run the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program and give scholarships for undergraduate study in ocean and atmosphere science, research, technology, and education. The program aims to boost college training in those fields, raise public understanding of ocean and air stewardship, recruit students into public service jobs at NOAA and other government natural‑resource agencies, and prepare future teachers in these sciences. Each scholarship must support undergraduate study that fits NOAA’s mission, reward strong students, encourage groups that are underrepresented, and be awarded by competition under NOAA rules published in the Federal Register. To apply, a student must be a U.S. citizen enrolled or accepted full time at an institution of higher education (as defined in federal law), not have already received more than 4 academic years of this scholarship unless NOAA waives that limit, and follow NOAA’s application rules. NOAA pays the student after the school certifies an approved study and research plan. Starting in fiscal year 2005 and each year after, NOAA must set aside one‑tenth of 1 percent of its total annual appropriations for the program. If NOAA finds fraud or serious noncompliance, the recipient must repay the full scholarship. Repayments go into the NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities Appropriations Account and can only be used to fund more scholarships.