[Notices]
[Page 14838-14839]
[PDF version of document]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 050412101-6061-02]
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.
SUMMARY: NOAA announces the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program for
FY 2006, 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 undergraduate
applicants selected for the program with scholarships to study oceanic
and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education. There is
no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards to all
qualified applicants.
The Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program will be administered
with the assistance of the Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Institute
for Science and Education (ORISE).
DATES: Applications for the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship will be
available from ORISE on or about March 17, 2006. Completed applications
must be received by 5 p.m. eastern standard time, 30 days after release
of this notification.
ADDRESSES: Applications for the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program
will be available through ORISE at http://www.orau.gov/noaa/HollingsScholarship.
If an applicant does not have Internet access, hardcopy applications may be requested by contacting NOAA/Hollings
Scholarship, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, P.O. Box
117, MS 36, Attn: Pai Moua, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117; Telephone: 865-
241-8240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NOAA/Hollings Scholarship, Oak Ridge
Institute for Science and Education, Telephone: 865-241-6704 or 301-
713-9437 x125.
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 science, 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 science 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 a maximum of $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 or affiliated partner facility; and,
if reappointed, academic assistance (up to a maximum of $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,
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 will be available for the award of a
maximum of 100 two-year scholarships. 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 2006 as a junior, at an accredited
college or university within the United States or U.S. Territories;
possesses at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average 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 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. 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
[[Page 14839]]
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 require 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 available funds.
Applicants are hereby given notice that funding for the Fiscal Year
2006 program is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2006
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. 1910-5125.
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: March 20, 2006.
George E. White,
Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, U.S. Department
of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E6-4320 Filed 3-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P
Posted March 24, 2006 on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Please submit Web Site questions or comments to web@nasfaa.org
