§1542 Establishment of the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program

Summary

The NOAA Administrator must set up and run the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program to give scholarships for undergraduate study in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education. The program’s goals are to increase college training in these fields, help the public understand and care for the ocean and air, recruit students for government science jobs, and prepare future teachers. Scholarships must support NOAA‑related undergraduate study, honor strong students, encourage groups that are underrepresented, and be awarded by competition under rules the Administrator publishes in the Federal Register. To get a scholarship, a person must be a U.S. citizen who is enrolled or accepted full‑time at a college or university in an eligible field, may not receive more than 4 academic years of support unless waived, and must apply as required. Payments go directly to recipients after their school approves a plan of study. Starting in fiscal year 2005 and every year after, NOAA must set aside one‑tenth of 1 percent of its annual appropriations for the program. If a recipient commits fraud or breaks scholarship terms, they must repay the full amount, and those repayments may only be used to fund more scholarships.