Biology major earns national recognition through NOAA’s elite Hollings Scholarship

1. News
2. Biology major earns national recognition through NOAA's elite Hollings Scholarship

An internet search done freshman year eventually turned into a major career move for one Commonwealth University-Lock Haven biology major, who has landed a coveted NOAA Hollings Scholarship and a chance to dive deeper into marine science.

Sarah Hallberg was among roughly 120 students nationwide selectively chosen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a highly competitive Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship - earning her up to $9,500 per year for two years of undergraduate study, a paid 10-week summer internship at a NOAA facility, and the chance to present her research at a national symposium in Silver Spring, Md.

"I thought it was an incredible opportunity with really great benefits," said Hallberg, a biology major with an emphasis on marine biology. "Something like the Hollings program will be able to set me up for so much success in my future career."

According to Hallberg, she found the Hollings program when as a freshman she was searching online for scholarships and internships.

"I made sure to save it until I could apply, because I knew it was a remarkable opportunity," said Hallberg, who will begin working with a NOAA mentor in late October and explore internship possibilities within the agency's line offices.

"I would love to intern with either the National Ocean Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service in their conservation programs," Hallberg said. "I'm specifically hoping to work with corals since they're such valuable and important creatures facing immense threats in our current climate. But I'll get to choose from a wide range of internships in all of the NOAA line offices, so I may end up doing something totally different."

Hallberg said the scholarship will provide both financial support and professional momentum as she continues her studies.

"This program will really help me pursue my education since it provides an academic stipend, but since I have to keep up at least a 3.0 GPA, it will also push me to do my best and put hard work into my classes," Hallberg said. "It would be amazing to work with NOAA in the future outside of this internship, so having the Hollings scholarship and getting contacts and experience within NOAA will get my foot in the door and help me achieve that goal."

Hallberg hopes to build her career around coral reef conservation, a field she says aligns closely with NOAA's mission.

"I would really like to shape my career around coral reef conservation," Hallberg said. "A lot of NOAA's offices and programs make corals a big priority, so I would love to work with them."

The Hollings Scholarship is administered by NOAA to help prepare undergraduate students for careers in science, research, and public service. For Hallberg, the award represents both a major academic honor and a meaningful step toward a future in marine conservation.

Categories:

• Academics
• Award
• Biology
• Internship
• Professional U
• Research
• Scholarships
• Science and Technology
• Student Success
• Students

Tags:

• Award
• Careers
• Internship
• Research