Andie Forbes, an honors environmental, soil and water science major in the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences, was selected to receive the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings (Hollings) Scholarship.

The NOAA Hollings scholarship provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include an academic scholarship of $9,500 per year for two years and a 10-week full-time paid summer internship at a NOAA facility. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides the scholars with hands-on practical experiences in NOAA-related science, research, technology, management and education activities. 

“Ever since I visited the Oregon Coast in 2019, I have felt a sense of belonging there,” Forbes said. “I felt a real connection to the ocean. From that moment, I have wanted to pursue a career in protecting coastal environments.”

According NOAA, the Hollings scholarship was created in an effort to:

• Increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities.
• Increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve environmental literacy.
• Recruit and prepare students for public service careers with NOAA and other natural resource and science agencies at the federal, state and local levels of government.
• 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.

“I have long had an affinity for coastal areas,” Forbes said. “The biodiversity and beauty they contain is something I believe needs to be protected. Having lived in landlocked areas nearly my whole life, this goal seemed difficult to achieve. Through the NOAA Hollings Scholarship, though, I will have opportunities to get hands-on experience in doing marine research.

“The experience I will gain through this scholarship program will be a great benefit to my future education and career goals. The NOAA Hollings Scholarship will also create opportunities to form lasting connections with mentors that will provide guidance for the coastal management/policy career I wish to obtain. What once seemed to be an unlikely dream career now seems much more achievable.”

“Andie Forbes is an amazing scholar with a flawless academic record and a dedication to the study of coastal marine life,” said Jeff Edwards, dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. “The NOAA Hollings internship is an amazing opportunity for her—one that she will embrace in full measure. The college is extremely proud of her many accomplishments.”

Forbes plans to attend graduate school to pursue a masters degree in marine resource management or environmental management.

Office of Nationally Competitive Awards: University of Arkansas students and recent alumni interested in applying for scholarships and fellowships and faculty wishing to identify competitive should students should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu or 479-575-3771. More information is available at awards.uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.