[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 7 (Thursday, January 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1862-1864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-272]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 0612242708-7825-01]
Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program
AGENCY: Office of Education (OEd), Office of the Undersecretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (USEC), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Scholarship Opportunity.
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SUMMARY: NOAA announces the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program for
FY 2008, and sets forth eligibility criteria and selection guidelines
for the program. The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program was
established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L.
108-447). This Scholarship Program will provide approximately 100
undergraduate applicants selected for the program with scholarships to
participate in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology,
and education. There is no guarantee that funds will be available to
make awards to all qualified applicants.
DATES: Completed applications must be received by February 8, 2008, at
5 p.m. eastern daylight time.
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ADDRESSES: Applications for the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program
will be available through NOAA at http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/Hollings_info.html. If an applicant does not have Internet access, hardcopy
applications may be requested by contacting NOAA Office of Education,
Hollings Scholarship Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 10703,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NOAA Hollings Scholarship at
[email protected] or call 301-713-9437 x150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program was established through
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447). The
purposes of the program include: (1) To increase undergraduate training
in oceanic and atmospheric sciences, research, technology, and
education and to foster multidisciplinary training opportunities; (2)
to increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the
ocean and atmosphere and to improve environmental literacy; (3) to
recruit and prepare students for public service careers with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other natural
resource and science agencies at the Federal, state and local and
tribal levels of government; and, (4) to recruit and prepare students
for careers as teachers and educators in oceanic and atmospheric
sciences and to improve scientific and environmental education in the
United States.
The Hollings Scholarship Program will provide successful
undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance
(up to $8,000 per year) for full-time study during the 9-month academic
year; a 10-week, full-time internship position ($650/week) during the
summer at a NOAA facility; and, if reappointed, academic assistance (up
to $8,000) for full-time study during a second 9-month academic year.
The internship between the first and second years of the award provides
the scholars with ``hands-on'' practical educational training
experience in NOAA-related scientific, research, technology, policy,
management, and education activities. Awards will also include travel
expenses to attend a mandatory Hollings Scholarship Program
orientation, approved conferences where students present a paper or
poster, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home
during the summer internship.
Authority
The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program is
established by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration under authority of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447).
Funding Availability
Approximately $3.5 million may be available for the award of two-
year scholarships, subject to the availability of appropriations. There
is no guarantee that funds will be available to provide scholarships
for all qualified students.
Eligibility
Any undergraduate student who is a U.S. citizen; enrolled as a
full-time student in the Fall 2008 as a junior, at an accredited
college or university within the United States or U.S. Territories;
possesses at least a 3.0 grade point average per semester/quarter and
cumulative on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on other identified scale) in
all completed undergraduate courses and in their major field of study;
and has declared a major in a NOAA-related discipline, including, but
not limited to, oceanic, environmental, and atmospheric sciences,
mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, marine policy,
physical and social sciences including, geography, physics, hydrology,
meteorology, oceanography or teacher education that support NOAA's
programs and mission may apply to this notification.
The Hollings Scholarship Program will consider applications from
all students that meet the above eligibility requirements.
Evaluation Criteria
Application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Relevant coursework (30%).
2. Education plan and statement of career interest (40%).
3. Recommendations and/or endorsements (reference forms) (20%).
4. Additional relevant experience related to diversity of
education; extracurricular activities; honors and awards; non-academic
and volunteer work; written and oral communications skills (10%).
Selection Process
An initial administrative review of applications is conducted to
determine compliance with requirements and completeness of
applications. Only complete applications in compliance with the
requirements will be considered for review. Applications identified as
incomplete or not in compliance with the requirements will not be
reviewed and will be destroyed. All applications that meet the
requirements and are complete will be evaluated and scored individually
in accordance with the assigned weights of the evaluation criteria by
an independent peer review panel, comprised of Federal and nonfederal
employees. No consensus advice or recommendations will be given. A
numerical ranking will be assigned to each application based on the
average of the panelist's ratings. The Program Officer will conduct a
review of the rank order and make recommendations to the Selecting
Official based on the panel ratings and the selection factors listed
below. The Selecting Official, the Director of NOAA Education, will
consider merit reviews and recommendations and award in rank order
unless the application is justified to be selected out of rank order
based on one or more of the following selection factors:
Selection Factors
In determining final awards, the selecting official reserves the
right to consider the following selection factors:
1. Availability of funds.
2. Balance/distribution of funds:
a. Geographically.
b. By type of institutions.
c. Across academic disciplines.
3. Program-specific objectives.
4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought.
Repayment Requirement
A Hollings Scholarship recipient shall be required to repay the
full amount of the scholarship to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration if it is determined that the individual, in obtaining or
using the scholarship, engaged in fraudulent conduct or failed to
comply with any term or condition of the scholarship.
Cost Sharing Requirements
There are no cost-sharing requirements.
Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order
12372, ''Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Limitation of Liability
In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible
for proposal preparation costs if this program is cancelled because of
other agency priorities. Publication of this notice does not oblige
NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any
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available funds. Applicants are hereby given notice that funding for
the Fiscal Year 2008 program is contingent upon the availability of
Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
As defined in sections 5.05 and Administrative or Programmatic
Functions of NAO 216-6, 6.03.c.3, this is an undergraduate scholarship
and internship program for which there are no cumulative effects. Thus,
it has been categorically excluded from the need to prepare an
Environmental Assessment.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), unless that
collection displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
application form has been approved under OMB Control No. 0648-0568.
Executive Order 12866
This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical
requirements for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not
been prepared.
Dated: January 7, 2008.
Louisa Koch,
Director, NOAA Education, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E8-272 Filed 1-9-08; 8:45 am]
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