Hope Elliott ’18, an environmental science major from Waterloo, IL, has received an Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“Coming from a rural agricultural background, I have always been interested in atmospheric science and climatic cycles,” says Elliott. “NOAA is at the forefront of environmental research, and so when I learned about the Hollings Scholarship I thought it would be a great opportunity to get some experience in the environmental field. I want to pursue a career in agricultural science or environmental toxicology. Working at NOAA will help me work towards this goal.”
The Hollings Scholarship Program provides undergraduates with awards that include academic assistance in the form of a yearly scholarship, up to a maximum of $9,500 per year. It is designed to increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities. Awards also include travel funds to attend a scholarship program orientation and conferences where students present a paper or poster.
“In addition, the scholarship guarantees a 10-week research internship in the summer of 2017 at a NOAA facility,” says Elliott. “Internship opportunities at many different NOAA facilities around the country will be posted this fall, and I will get to select one and visit the facility next year before I conduct research there in the summer.”
Elliott is a graduate of Waterloo High School.