Undergraduate Scholarship Application

OMB Control Number 0648-0568, expires XX/XX/20XX

2022-2023 Undergraduate Scholarship Application
REFERENCE FORM
How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant? (Maximum 500 characters)

Please rate the applicant with respect to the following characteristics.
Below
Average

Average

Good

Very Good

Exceptional

No Basis for
Judgment

Motivation and persistence toward academic
and career goals
Creative solutions to problems
Ability to work with others
Independence and self-reliance
Leadership potential (strategic thinking,
interpersonal communication, thoughtful
decision-making)
Understanding of fundamental knowledge of
the field

Provide examples of how the applicant has demonstrated at least one of the above characteristics. (Maximum 4,000 characters)

[For TA references only]
Supervising professor’s name:
Supervising professor’s title:
Supervising professor’s email address:
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By checking this box, you verify that this reference form has been co-signed by the supervising professor of record. The NOAA
Office of Education reserves the right to contact the supervising professor regarding any questions of the integrity of this
reference form. You also acknowledge that any discrepancy between the supervising professor’s accounts and that of this
reference form could render this application ineligible.

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ESSAY QUESTIONS
The following questions include self-descriptions of your academic, research, if any, and career goals as they relate to
NOAA’s mission http://www.noaa.gov, and how your participation in the scholarship program will help you achieve those
goals. Responses will be used to evaluate you as an individual, not necessarily as a scientist, and your motivation for
applying for these scholarships. Responses should demonstrate your interest in NOAA’s mission, creative solutions to
problems, ability to overcome challenges, leadership potential (strategic thinking, interpersonal communication, integrity,
thoughtful decision making), impact of this opportunity on your academic and/or career goals, and motivation to persist in
career goals as it relates to supporting the NOAA mission.
1. Describe your academic, research (if any), and career goals as they relate to NOAA’s mission. (Maximum 1,500
characters)
2. What is your motivation for applying to the Hollings and/or the EPP/MSI undergraduate scholarship? (Maximum
1,500 characters)
3. Briefly discuss a scientific, environmental, or community challenge that you would like to address through this
scholarship. What is the problem, why is it important to you, and what are some ways you propose to address it?
(Maximum 1,500 characters)
4. Provide an example of a time when you’ve demonstrated leadership in which you utilized strategic thinking, strong
communication with others, and thoughtful decision-making. (Maximum 1,500 characters)
5. Provide an example of when you’ve had to persist through a challenge in reaching your academic goals. (Maximum
1,500 characters)
6. How will you benefit from the Hollings or EPP/MSI undergraduate scholarship opportunity? What personal or
professional opportunities would this scholarship provide for you? (Maximum 1,500 characters)

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REVIEWER RATING FORM
Reviewers will score each student application based on the Applicant Information, the Essay Questions, the two
References, and Transcript(s) using the specific rating instructions below. Applications should demonstrate interest in
NOAA’s mission, creative solutions to problems, ability to overcome challenges, leadership potential, impact of the
scholarship on their academic and/or career goals, and motivation to persist in their academic and/or career goals.
Short Answer Responses: 60 points
Please refer to the Essay Questions section of the application to rate the applicant’s written responses on a scale of 1-10,
where a score of 1 is Poor, a score of 5 is Average, and a score of 10 is Excellent.
Interest in NOAA’s Mission
Career and academic plans
are unclear, or show no
alignment to NOAA’s mission

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o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

Career and academic plans are
clearly outlined and show strong
connection to NOAA’s mission.

Motivation to Persist in Career Goals
Applicant demonstrates
minimal commitment to
NOAA-related professional
goals. Responses do not
successfully convey
willingness to work towards a
successful career in the field.

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o

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o

o

Applicant demonstrates exceptional
commitment to NOAA-related
professional goals. Responses reveal
strong willingness to excel in the field
and have a lasting impact and
significant contributions within the
scientific community.

4

Creative Solutions to Problems
Applicant does not effectively present
approaches that reveal the ability to
creatively solve problems. Responses
reveal minimal understanding of issues
within the field and have little to no
connection between problem-solving
and benefit to the broader community.

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o

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Applicant effectively presents innovative
approaches that reveal the ability to creatively
solve problems. Responses demonstrate
appropriate levels of understanding of issues
within the field and how their problem-solving
will benefit the broader community.

Leadership Potential
Applicant demonstrates limited strategic
and critical thinking,and interpersonal
communication. Responses illustrate few
efforts to encourage others and to make
thoughtful decisions.

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Applicant demonstrates exemplary
levels of strategic and critical thinking,
and interpersonal communication.
Responses illustrate strong ability to
encourage others, and make
thoughtful decisions that benefit the
broader community.

Ability to Overcome Challenges
Applicant demonstrates minimal resilience
or personal drive. Responses reveal little
to no understanding of the problem, and
minimal discipline in remaining
goal-driven.

Applicant demonstrates exemplary
levels of resilience and personal drive.
Responses reveal strong understanding
of the problem, and discipline in
remaining goal-driven.

5

Scholarship Impact
Application does not effectively convey
how the scholarship funding, mentorship,
and activities will enhance opportunities
for academic and professional
development - and any other goals.

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Application effectively conveys how the
scholarship funding, mentorship, and
activities will enhance opportunities for
academic and professional
development - and any other goals.

References: 20 points
Please refer to the Reference Form to rate the applicant’s references on a scale of 1-20, where a score of 1 is Poor, a
score of 10 is Average, and a score of 20 is Excellent.

References express limited
support of the applicant
receiving the scholarship,
conveying minimal
statements and examples
to show promise in
applicant’s success in
scholarship.

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o o

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References express strong
support of the applicant
receiving the scholarship,
conveying compelling
statements and examples
that emphasize promise in
applicant’s success in
scholarship.

Relevant Coursework: 15 points
Please refer to the applicant’s transcript to rate the applicant’s relevant coursework on a scale of 1-15, where a score of 1
is Poor, a score of 7 is Average, and a score of 15 is Excellent.
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Coursework demonstrates
limited mastery in courses
related to NOAA sciences
and applicant’s academic
and/or career goals.

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Coursework
demonstrates strong
mastery in courses
related to NOAA
sciences and applicant’s
academic and/or career
goals.

Additional Experience: 5 points
Please refer to the Activities section of the application to rate the applicant’s experience on a scale of 1-5, where a score
of 1 is Poor, a score of 3 is Average, and a score of 5 is Excellent. Applicants should receive credit for extracurricular
activities, non-academic work, and volunteering that demonstrate commitment to personal and/or professional
development, community service, and establishing a well-rounded portfolio of work. Note that experience related to NOAA
sciences are not required to receive a score of 5.
Applicant has limited
experience through
extracurricular activities,
non-academic work, or
volunteering.

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o

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Applicant has significant
experience through
extracurricular activities,
non-academic work, or
volunteering.

Please provide any additional comments.

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Public Burden Statement
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a
currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0648-0568. Without this approval, we
could not conduct this information collection. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 12 hours per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are required to obtain benefits. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the NOAA Office
of Education, Natasha White, Natasha.White@noaa.gov.
Privacy Act Statement
Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under 5 U.S.C. 301, Departmental Regulations and 15 U.S.C. 1512, Powers and duties
of Department.
Purpose: NOAA’s Office of Education proposes to collect contact information and associated background information of undergraduate and
graduate students, as well as recent graduates, for the purpose of tracking scholarship recipients’ academic progress, making annual financial
awards, and tracking graduate studies and career progress. Demographic information will be used to measure the success of stated Diversity,
Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) goals only. This information will not be used to determine program eligibility.
NOAA Routine Uses: NOAA will use this information to evaluate and assess student data and information for the purpose of selecting successful
candidates for scholarships, fellowships and internships, generating internal NOAA reports, and articles to demonstrate the success of its program.
Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) to be shared among NOAA staff for work-related
purposes. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records
Notice Commerce/NOAA-14, Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program (EPP); Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
Program and National Marine Fisheries Service Recruitment, Training, and Research Program.
Obligation to Respond: Furnishing this information is voluntary; however, failure to provide information may prevent consideration of your
application for the program.