FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program -NOAA-ONMS-NFS-2025-28612.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

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Table of Contents

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Executive Summary Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information VII. Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information

Executive Summary Federal Agency Name NOS Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) Funding Opportunity Title FY25 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program Announcement Type Competitive Funding Opportunity Number

NOAA-ONMS-NFS-2025-28612

Assistance Listing Number(s) 11.429 Dates Starting in Fall of 2024, the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program will use a pre-application process prior to applicants being invited to submit a full application.

Important Dates:

• An informational webinar about the FY2025 NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program funding announcement will be held on October 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. To register for this webinar please visit the Foster Scholarship website (https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov) or go to:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7865883534944915805.

• Pre-applications must be received via email to fosterscholars@noaa.gov on October 31, 2024 by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. If a paper application is deemed necessary, it must be postmarked no later than October 31, 2024 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Pre-applications received after the date and time will be disqualified.

• Pre-application applicants will be notified by December 13, 2024 if they have been invited to submit a full application. Only those who receive an invitation from NOAA following its review of the pre-application are eligible to submit a full application package.

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• Full applications are due on February 14, 2025 by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Full applications must be received by Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) on the due date listed above. If a paper application is deemed necessary, it must be postmarked no later than February 14, 2025 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Full applications received after the due date will be disqualified.

• Scholarships are formally announced by May 30, 2025.

Please Note: We encourage all Grants.gov applicants to begin the submission process several days before the February 14, 2025 deadline. All applicants should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicant schedules for delivery of the application. It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline. Electronic applicants are advised that volume on Grants.gov can be extremely heavy, resulting in further delays. Paper applications are only allowable for the following reasons: 1) Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion; 2) if the applicant does not have access to the internet; or 3) if the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter. Otherwise, all applications must be submitted via Grants.gov.

Funding Opportunity Description Diversity Statement The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is dedicated to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of every action and every decision. We know that having varied perspectives helps generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing world. To be effective stewards we must ensure our programs reflect the communities in which we live, work, and play. The longevity and success of our system depends on creating a culture that is welcoming and inclusive of all.

Funding Opportunity Description The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for master’s and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines—and particularly encourage minorities and women to apply.

Individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or citizens of U.S. territories, and are applying to or have been accepted to a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution, may apply. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application, but must be admitted to a graduate-level program by the time they accept the award. Scholarship selections are based on academic excellence, letters of recommendations, research proposals, relevant experience, and financial need.

Applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average (GPA) to be eligible to apply and maintain a minimum cumulative and term GPA of 3.30 for every term and for the duration of their award.

Foster Scholarships may provide, subject to appropriations, yearly support of approximately $47,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $35,000 in addition to an education allowance of $12,000), up to $10,000 of support for one 4-6 week program collaboration at a NOAA facility, and travel expenses to attend Capitol Hill Ocean Week (first week of June annually) before the end of the scholarship period. Applicants can only obtain funding for the number of years they have remaining in their graduate studies when they apply for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. For example, if you have already completed two years of your Ph.D. studies, and you become a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship recipient and indicate it will take you two additional years to complete your degree, you will only be able to obtain funds for the remaining two years of your graduate studies. Note that scholars may request a one-time no cost extension for up to one year that must be requested at least 60 days before the end of the award, and Scholars will need to provide a justification.

Foster Scholarship recipients will be required to:

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• Participate in an annual week-long Foster Scholar Orientation and Communication Training organized by scholarship staff. This is an opportunity for scholars to meet with local NOAA staff at the sanctuary host site for the Orientation and Communication Training. This training normally occurs for one week in either June, July, or August. If scholarships have not been awarded before this training, recipients may be asked to incur pre-award costs that will be reimbursed after award funds have been issued.

• Develop an outreach product (e.g., video, infographic, lesson plan, or other educational product) within the scholarship time period. The outreach product may be about their research or some other relevant topic. Discussions with the Foster Scholarship Team can be helpful when determining the product and the topic.

• Provide at least one presentation about the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program and the scholar’s research to a diverse audience, such as undergraduate students at a minority serving institution, historically black colleges and universities, student organizations promoting diversity at their campus, or other appropriate venue(s).

• Complete a 4-6 week program collaboration based on appropriated funding (required for every doctoral scholarship award and optional for master’s degree students).

Scholars may opt out of the program collaboration if there are unforeseen circumstances that prevent them from completing this requirement, but this discussion must happen with the Foster Scholarship Team and the Federal Program Officer before a decision is made. For master's degree level scholars, completion of a 4-6 week program collaboration is strongly recommended, but is not required. The program collaboration is designed to allow scholars to participate in research or other activities for 4-6 weeks at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System or other NOAA program offices.

• Attend Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) in Washington, DC at the end of the scholarship period. CHOW occurs the first week of June annually, and travel expenses to attend CHOW will be provided before the end of the scholarship period. This will be for scholars who are in their final years of the scholarship.

As a recipient of the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship, you become a recognized member of the NOAA community. NOAA provides significant financial resources to help you pursue your independent graduate degree, as well as the staff expertise to assist you with your research. In support of the goal of the scholarship to promote excellence in ocean sciences, Foster Scholars must conduct outreach efforts to enhance awareness of ocean careers and conservation efforts related to oceanography, marine biology and maritime archaeology. To the extent feasible, Foster Scholars also are encouraged to raise awareness of NOAA and the programs and opportunities that it provides to the public.

Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Program Objective

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The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is authorized at 16 U.S.C. 1445c-1 and 16 U.S.C.

1445c to recognize outstanding achievement in master’s and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines—and particularly encourages women and members of minority groups to apply. The scholarship supports independent graduate-level research through financial support of graduate degrees in such fields. Gender and minority status are not considered when selecting award recipients. Scholarships are distributed by disciplines, institutions, and geography, and by degree sought, with selections within distributions based on financial need, the potential for success in a graduate level studies program (academic achievement), and the potential for achieving research and career goals. The program is administered through the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and is funded annually with 1% of the amount appropriated each fiscal year to carry out the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

B. Program Priorities The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applications for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program from individuals, particularly women and members of minority groups, who, due to financial constraints, may otherwise not be able to pursue an advanced degree in the scientific disciplines supported by this program.

The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries conducts, sponsors, and facilitates research to better understand ecosystems and cultural resources in national marine sanctuaries, their changing condition, and the significance of threats. The National Marine Sanctuary System uses conservation science to support policy decisions, develop effective response capabilities, evaluate management practices, and support broader, NOAA-wide responsibilities for marine conservation and management. Science priorities are identified through assessments of threats and resource conditions within national marine sanctuaries and management plans and are necessary to protect and conserve sanctuary resources, manage risks, reduce threats and respond to unexpected events. Strong partnerships, expert scientific content and judgment, and peer review enhances the accuracy and credibility of monitoring and research. In addition, science, education, outreach, and policy development work together to raise awareness and prompt effective action that will address ocean problems. More information on the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries conservation science can be found at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science.

NOAA recognizes the student's need to ensure that scholarly research, which is often hypothesis based, addresses critical gaps in knowledge about ecological processes, physiological mechanisms, evolutionary underpinnings, human behaviors, preferences and values, and related areas. The nature of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ research, as well as interactions with sanctuary staff and partners with similar goals, can help students fulfill their degree requirements through work benefiting not only national marine sanctuaries, but marine conservation more broadly and ecosystem science as a whole. In addition to natural resource studies, scholars may investigate socioeconomic, maritime archaeological and maritime heritage resource studies in national marine sanctuaries.

General science priorities for the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries are stated below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the Science Needs Assessment page (https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/) to determine if your research proposal aligns with science needs of one or more sites within the National Marine Sanctuary System.

If you feel the need to discuss your research proposal with a site Research Coordinator, contact information is available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/research_coordinators.html. For questions on project proposals that address the entirety of the National Marine Sanctuary System, you can contact FosterScholars@noaa.gov with a snapshot of your proposed research.

C. Program Authority 16 USC 1445c-1 and 16 USC 1445c.

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II. Award Information A. Funding Availability Subject to appropriations, approximately $500,000 may be available for awards under this program during fiscal year (FY) 2025. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program anticipates that each year approximately 2-5 scholarships will be awarded. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides yearly support of approximately $47,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of about $35,000 in addition to a tuition allowance of about $12,000) and $10,000 support for one 4-6 week program collaboration at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System or other NOAA facility. Additionally, travel support of up to $3,000 may be provided to all scholars to attend the Foster Scholar Orientation and Communication Training and up to $3,000 for doctoral level scholars to attend the Capitol Hill Ocean Week.

An aggregate amount of approximately $110,000 may be provided to master's degree level students (up to two years of support, one program collaboration opportunity, and travel support for the Foster Scholar Orientation and Communication Training) and approximately $213,00 may be provided to doctoral level students (up to four (4) years of support, one (1) program collaboration opportunity, and travel support for the Foster Scholar Orientation and Communication Training and Capitol Hill Ocean Week). It is important to note that Foster Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.

Based on the availability of funding, the completion of one program collaboration is required for every doctoral scholarship award. For master's degree level scholars, completion of a program collaboration is recommended, but is not required. Federal support for the program collaboration may be used toward allowable costs such as: travel to and from the NOAA facility, housing, per diem, laboratory costs, research vessel support, and consumables while conducting research at the NOAA facility. Funds cannot be used toward research costs.

Scholars are required to provide their own health insurance coverage during the program collaboration. More details on allowable costs can be found in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. If scholars choose to do their program collaboration during a specific year, they must notify the Foster Scholarship Team by December of the academic year in which they intend to participate in the collaboration. Approval from NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is required prior to embarking on the program collaboration. Scholars may opt out of a program collaboration if there are unforeseen circumstances that prevent them from completing this requirement. But this discussion must happen with the program collaboration Coordinator and the Federal Program Officer before a decision is made. Funds for the program collaboration would not be provided to the scholar if they opt out of this opportunity.

A mandatory Foster Scholar Orientation and Communication Training will be held annually for incoming and current scholars. Scholars must participate in this training to ensure a basic knowledge of the scholarship program and also to meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries leadership and staff. Travel support for the training, including travel logistics and per diem, not to exceed $3,000 per year, will be provided to Foster Scholars. Travel support to attend Capitol Hill Ocean Week, including travel logistics and per diem, not to exceed $3,000, will be provided for doctoral level Foster Scholars who are in their final years of the scholarship.

B. Project/Award Period The award periods are up to two (2) years for a student in a master's level program and up to four (4) years for a doctoral level candidate, to be funded one year at a time. The anticipated start date is June or July 1, 2025. Though an applicant is selected for initial funding, NOAA reserves the right to revoke funding at any point. For example, receipt of funding beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of funds from Congress, satisfactory performance, compliance with program guidelines, and continued relevance to program objectives and will be at the sole discretion of the Department of Commerce.

Scholars may request a one-time no cost extension for up to one year.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

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The funding instrument will be a cooperative agreement to the individual applicant. The requirement for “substantial involvement by NOAA” in a cooperative agreement includes a program collaboration, a component where the scholar is required to spend approximately 4-6 weeks at a NOAA facility to contribute to their education and training. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ staff intends to work with each scholar to facilitate placement at a NOAA facility and to help the scholar refine the scope of their program collaboration, if necessary.

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants To apply, each applicant must:

• be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or a citizen of a U.S. territory (as defined by 16 U.S.C. 6602(9));

• pursue or intend to pursue a masters or doctoral level degree in oceanography, maritime archaeology or marine biology, including all science, engineering and resource management of ocean and coastal areas (or related areas), at a U.S.

accredited graduate institution;

• have and maintain a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.30 or higher*; and

• maintain full-time student status, as defined by the university that the scholar is attending, for the duration of the scholarship award.

*Scholars must maintain a minimum cumulative and term GPA of 3.30 for every term and for the duration of their award. If an applicant does not maintain this GPA, they will be placed on probation for one term following the term in which the 3.3 GPA was not maintained. If the GPA is not brought up within the probationary term, the recipient’s scholarship may be terminated. In addition, satisfactory progress must be made toward the completion of a thesis or dissertation. If it is determined that the scholar will not complete their thesis or dissertation prior to the end of the award, funding may be withdrawn.

Individuals who already receive NOAA or federal funding from grants or scholarships for graduate school are not eligible to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship. If a student is willing to turn down the other federal funding, then they are eligible to receive the award.

Universities or other organizations may not apply on behalf of an individual. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application, but must be admitted to a graduate-level program in order to be awarded this scholarship.

Eligibility must be maintained for each succeeding year of support, and annual reporting requirements, to be specified at a later date, will apply. Individuals who are in their last year of graduate school are unlikely to receive this award.

B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement There are no matching requirements for this program.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility Only those who receive an invitation from NOAA following its review of the pre-application are eligible to apply.

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package Application packages are available through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Grants.gov requires applicants to register with the system prior to submitting an application. This registration process can take several weeks and involves multiple steps. In order to allow sufficient time for this process, applicants should register as soon as they decide they intend to apply, even if they are not yet ready to submit their applications.

Adobe Acrobat is continuously making updates to their software. We recommend that applicants check the compatibility of Adobe products with the application’s required forms well in advance.

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Additional guidance on the application package, instructions, submission procedures, and an application checklist can be located on the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program website:

https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov. More information about the scholarship and the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries research priorities can be found at the following websites:

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov and https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment, respectively.

Information in hard copy may be requested from:

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 99 Pacific Street Monterey, CA 93940 B. Content and Form of Application There are two required elements of this application, the pre-application and the full application. Each element has different format and content requirements, so please review carefully.

Each applicant must submit a pre-application by October 31, 2024, 11:59 pm Eastern Time through email to fosterscholars@noaa.gov. All applicants will receive a response to their pre-application via email from NOAA indicating whether or not they are invited to submit a full application. Only those who receive an invitation from NOAA following its review of the pre-application are eligible to apply to the full application.

1. Pre-Application Required Elements Each pre-application package must include the items listed below unless otherwise indicated. Information in the pre-application should be submitted as a single Adobe PDF document in the order listed below and emailed to the FosterScholar@noaa.gov email address or mailed to the address listed above postmarked by the due date if you are unable to access a computer. Failure to submit any items as described in this section is likely to result in disqualification. Please do not include a cover page for your pre-application.

1. General Information Sheet: Provide the information outlined below, but do not exceed one typewritten single-spaced page, font size 12 in Times New Roman, with a 1” margins.

o Personal Data: Provide your full name (including all aliases and maiden/married names); country of citizenship; current address and/or permanent address; current phone number; email address; and optional demographic data.

o Degree Sought: State your proposed field of study oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines— and the degree being sought (e.g. M.S., M.A., Ph.D.), including the month and year the degree is expected. If already enrolled in a graduate program, state the name and location of your institution and your academic department for your graduate study. If not enrolled, please clarify your status (e.g., applications submitted, in preparation, etc.)

o Education: List the academic degrees received, or you expect to receive by the start of your proposed graduate degree for this program, including the institution, date of receipt, and your cumulative GPA. If enrolled in an institution, include your current GPA. If enrolled in graduate school, provide your graduate advisor's name, telephone number, and email address. If your GPA includes coursework from a U.S. university or an international institution that does not align with the typical 4.0 GPA system for grades, please have a school representative, advisor, or independent reviewer submit a letter that states you meet the 3.30 GPA requirement and provides an accurate conversion. Provide your original GPA and your converted GPA in this section.

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2. Statement of Career Goal(s): In 5-6 sentences on one page, state your career goal(s) in a clear and concise way also indicating how it aligns to NOAA and Office of National Marine Sanctuary priorities. If this section exceeds 5-6 sentences or one page it may result in disqualification of your pre-application.

3. Snapshot Summary: Provide a snapshot summary of your proposed research and what NOAA national marine sanctuary science need(s) and/or resource protection issue(s) your research will be addressing. This section should not exceed 500 words and one page. Summary should be typewritten and single-spaced, font size 12 in Times New Roman, with a 1” margin. If the summary of the proposed research exceeds 500 words or one page it may result in the disqualification of your pre-application. Please include the following elements:

o Title of your research project o Location of your research, including which national marine sanctuary you will be conducting your research.

o The current status of the research (e.g., idea, vetted through advisor, proposed, underway, and whether it is funded or not).

o Summary of your research that provides enough information to determine whether it is of high priority to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and should include the topic of your research.

4. Statement of Financial Need: The Statement of Financial Need requires the following documentation:

o Department of Education's Student Aid Index (SAI) determination: To evaluate financial need, NOAA will use the Department of Education's SAI determination. To receive an SAI determination, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Department of Education. See https://www.fafsa.ed.gov. In response to the FAFSA, the Department of Education will provide the applicant with a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will contain the SAI determination. It may take up to two weeks to receive these results, so please make sure to budget enough time. A copy of the first two pages of the SAR, which includes the SAI and the applicant’s name and/or last four digits of the applicant’s social security number, must be submitted. The documentation of SAI must be from the Department of Education and not exceed two pages.

o Financial Need Information Questions (answers to these questions must not exceed one page, 12 pt font, Times New Roman). Questions do not need to be repeated on the single page to allow you more space to write your answer;

however, the question number should be included before each answer.

1. How likely are you to get a paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for the upcoming school year? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b) somewhat likely, c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

2. Do you have other money supporting your degree (e.g., grants or scholarships)? Please answer yes or no, and if needed, provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

3. Are you a first-generation college/university graduate? A first-generation college/university graduate is defined as a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree.

This means that you are the first in your family to attend a four-year college/university in any country to attain a bachelor’s degree. Please answer yes or no, and if needed, provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

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4. Is your financial need based on personal hardships? Please answer yes or no, and provide 5-6 sentences explaining your answer. This is a snapshot of your personal story and an opportunity to give insight into your financial status, including any challenges, hardships, or information that may not be evident.

NOAA, in its sole discretion, may continue the review process for applications with non-substantive issues (e.g., minor errors or omissions) that can be easily rectified.

2. Full Application Required Elements For those applicants that completed a pre-application and were notified by NOAA by December 13, 2024 that they are invited to complete the full application, please follow the directions below. Each full application package must include the items listed below unless otherwise indicated. Failure to submit any items as described in this section is likely to result in disqualification. Full application packages are available through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Please do not include a cover page for your full application.

Each full application package must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information. Note that some of the content asked in the full application was already asked in the pre-application but must also be included in the full application package.

Please provide a title of the item (for example, General Information Sheet, Statement of Intent, etc.) on each page in a Header Section except when a previously formatted PDF is added, such as transcripts or a PDF copy of a letter of recommendation.

1. Standard Form 424 (SF-424), Application for Federal Assistance, is located on the Grants.gov portal and must be completed with information pertinent to the applicant.

Specific guidance on how to complete the SF-424 form for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program can be found at https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/media/docs/sf-424_guidance.pdf. Item number 21 on the SF- 424 cannot be used as a replacement for the declaration statement required in Item 10 below. The SF-424 must be uploaded to Grants.gov separately from the items outlined below. If submitting a paper application, the application packet must also include a completed SF-424 and the SF-424 must be signed and dated with pen and ink.

Numbers 2-10: The following items of the full application listed below shall be uploaded into Grants.gov in the single Adobe PDF file, in the order outlined below. Failure to provide the single Adobe PDF file with all of the components in the order listed below is likely to result in disqualification. If submitting a paper application, the full application must be in the order outlined below or the application is likely to result in disqualification. If sealed letters of recommendation are included in a full paper application these envelopes can be added to the mailing envelope and not included in the rest of the correctly organized application package and should be referenced in the table of contents as attachments at the end.

Submitting a full paper application is only acceptable for the following reasons:1) Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion; 2) if the applicant does not have access to the internet; or 3) if the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter.

2. Table of Contents: On a single page, please list the items and page numbers of the following required information. Page numbers are not required for pre-existing PDF documents, such as transcripts or PDF letters of recommendation, but should still contribute to the page count. If the sealed letters are in envelopes, the table of contents should reference them as attachments.

3. General Information Sheet: Provide the information outlined below, but do not exceed two typewritten single-spaced pages, font size 12 in Times New Roman, with a 1” margin.

General Information Sheets that are longer than two pages in length and/or do not follow the formatting requirements listed above are likely to result in disqualification.

a. Personal Data: Provide your full name (including all aliases and maiden/married names); country of citizenship; current address and/or permanent address; current phone number; and email address.

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b. Optional Demographic Data: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is committed to broadening the participation of groups currently underrepresented in science. In order to accurately gauge whether the scholarship program is achieving this important goal, we ask that applicants indicate gender, race, and ethnicity.

Please note that this information is voluntary. Your application will not be disqualified if you do not provide this optional personal data.

c. Degree Sought: State your proposed field of study oceanography, marine biology or maritime archaeology—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines—and the degree being sought (e.g. M.S., M.A., Ph.D.), including the month and year the degree is expected. If already enrolled in a graduate program, state the name and location of your institution and your academic department for your graduate study.

d. Education: List the academic degrees received, or you expect to receive by the start of your proposed graduate degree for this program, including the institution, date of receipt, and your cumulative GPA. If enrolled in an institution, include your current GPA. If enrolled in graduate school, provide your graduate advisor's name, telephone number, and email address. If your GPA includes coursework from a U.S.

university or an international institution that does not align with the typical 4.0 GPA system for grades, please have a school representative, advisor, or independent reviewer submit a letter that states you meet the 3.30 GPA requirement and provides an accurate conversion. Provide your original GPA and your converted GPA in this section.

e. Academic Honors: List any academic honors received.

f. Relevant Experience: List experience related to your field of study. You may include research and teaching assistantships and any other paid or unpaid work.

g. Knowledge of Scholarship: In a few words, please describe how you initially heard about the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program (e.g. word of mouth, current scholar, school/institution, specific professor/mentor, online database, etc.).

4. Statement of Intent: Provide the following components outlined below in two separate sections. The Statement of Intent must be typewritten, single-spaced, font size 12 Times New Roman, with a 1” margin and must not exceed one page in length including sections (a) and (b). Both sections (a) and (b) will be weighted equally; therefore, your descriptions must provide enough detail to review accordingly. Statements longer than one page and/or that do not follow the formatting requirements listed above is likely to result in disqualification.

This statement should not be a research proposal or scientific abstract. This statement will be used to evaluate you as an individual, not necessarily as a scientist, it evaluates your motivation for applying for this scholarship, and evaluates your communication skills and ability to educate the public about your research. This statement must tell us something about why you are interested in this scholarship opportunity and demonstrate your organizational and written communication skills.

a. Academic, Research, Career Goals and Aspirations: A self-description of your academic, research, career goals, and how your proposed course of study or research will help you achieve these goals. This is your opportunity to present yourself, your aspirations and your career goals. Include any background information that is pertinent, such as work and academic experience, and extra-curricular activities that are relevant to your educational goals, and provide insight into why you choose to pursue these goals.

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b. Communicating the Importance of your Research: As a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, you are asked to become a “National Marine Sanctuary Ambassador,” which emphasizes the opportunity to conduct science communication through education and outreach to the public (i.e. your college or university, community groups/organizations, or schools) about current research issues in the National Marine Sanctuary System. In this section, please provide a description of how you envision sharing your research and your results to the broader community and how the benefits of your research will impact society. Outline your ideas for a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding your research as it relates specifically to the National Marine Sanctuary System, as well as the global ocean.

This must include anticipated locations and audiences for education and outreach events, potential partners in the community, and any potential outputs or outcomes from your activities. If you are a recipient of this scholarship, you will be required to show proof of completion of the project outlined in this section before the conclusion of your scholarship period.

To strengthen this section of your application, please provide one outreach letter from a community organization or group with which you would partner or collaborate to communicate your research. No more than one outreach letter will be considered.

Please make sure it is on official letterhead, signed, and inserted after the statement of intent. The letter must outline your strategy for the outreach and education work you plan to undertake with this partner, their role in the collaboration, and the potential for success. Inclusion of this letter will be taken into consideration during the review process. Your full application will not be disqualified if you do not include this letter. However, an outreach letter is factored in when applicants are scored and is worth 5 points in the evaluation rubric.

Failure to submit a Statement of Intent as indicated above is likely to result in disqualification.

5. Transcripts: Applicants must submit transcripts for all complete years of academic training (both undergraduate and graduate), including courses in which you are currently enrolled. Headers are not required for transcripts. Transcripts from an institution or university that are only for one semester are not required (excluding work in progress) but may be included in the single Adobe PDF document if needed to support evidence of research experience. Applicants must currently have a cumulative 3.30 GPA to be eligible to apply. If applicants have completed at least a year towards their current graduate degree, the cumulative GPA considered will be from that program. If students have not completed at least a year, the cumulative GPA considered will be from their most recent degree you received. Students whose school does not follow a typical 4.0 GPA scale must submit a letter from a school representative, advisor, or independent reviewer that states you meet the

3.30 GPA requirement and provides an accurate conversion. Unofficial transcripts, which clearly state the name of the student and institution, submitted by the applicant are acceptable and must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information. All unofficial transcripts must list the student’s name and the name of the institution.

Failure to submit transcripts, as outlined above, is likely to result in disqualification. Official transcripts will be required prior to making an award.

6. Enrollment Verification or List of Graduate Schools Applied: For current graduate students, transcripts showing courses in which you are currently enrolled can be used as enrollment verification. Enrollment verification must include the name of school and applicant. If an applicant is not currently enrolled, but is applying to graduate schools, they must submit a "List of Graduate Schools Applied to" including the month and year graduate studies will begin, and any acceptance letters received at the time of application, with their application.

Individuals selected to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship award must provide proof of acceptance into a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution at the time of notification or the individual will be ineligible to receive the award.

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Failure to include the Enrollment Verification or "List of Graduate Schools Applied to," as applicable and as indicated above, is likely to result in disqualification. Applicants selected to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship will be required to submit a certification of enrollment at the start of each academic term.

7. Research Proposal: The Research Proposal must be typewritten, single-spaced, font size 12 Times New Roman with a 1” margin and must not exceed three pages, including figures and other visuals, but excluding references. Do not include a cover page for your research proposal.

In the proposal, explain how your research supports NOAA's mission, particularly that of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the science or education needs of one or more sites within the National Marine Sanctuary System.

Historically, proposals that do not support the science or education needs of the National Marine Sanctuary System do not rank as highly as those that do. Though not required, you are encouraged to contact the sanctuary site to discuss your research and its relevance to the site’s priorities. If this contact has been made, state who was contacted and the result of that conversation. Information for the research coordinators at each site can be found at the following website:

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/research_coordinators.html).

Please make sure your research and education goals, hypotheses, and project plans are clearly defined and communicated, and can be completed within the period of the scholarship. Make sure you clearly demonstrate your technical knowledge of the research area and the potential application of your findings. Your proposal will be evaluated on the alignment with NOAA and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries priorities, feasibility of the project, innovation and design, and technical understanding and clarity of the proposal.

8. Two Letters of Recommendation: Each full application must include only two letters of recommendation with handwritten or electronically created signatures on the actual letter from individuals who have knowledge of your academic record, research effort, and work and/or life experience. It is highly recommended that each letter is no more than two pages long. Letters of recommendation do not need to include headers.

One of these letters must be from someone in your current academic career. If you are currently not enrolled, consider submitting one letter from a professor who can provide knowledge of your academic career. Relevant paid work, such as internships and volunteer efforts, are applicable. Letters of recommendation must include: 1) Statements of the applicant's ability to succeed in the program proposal; 2) Familiarity with the applicant’s work; 3) Statement that the individual writing the letter has a clear understanding of the goals and aspirations of the applicant on a personal and professional level; and 4) Clear support for the applicant.

If an applicant plans to have a NOAA employee submit a letter of reference as one of the letters of recommendation required in this section, please note that the letter is limited to factual information and the NOAA employee’s knowledge of the applicant’s ability or character based on the employee’s government interactions with the applicant. The letter may not endorse one applicant over other applicants. Subject to restrictions and management approval, a NOAA employee may submit a letter of reference to NOAA for the agency’s use in evaluating the application. The supervisor must make a decision regarding whether it is in the agency’s interest to write such a letter. If the supervisor approves the letter, it must be written on agency letterhead and the employee must use his or her NOAA title. The employee may not send the letter in his or her personal capacity. NOAA employees can sign the letter digitally, but it is advised to not have these letters signed with their CAC card to prevent PDF issues.

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The two letters of recommendation must be included in the single Adobe PDF document.

Each letter must have a handwritten or electronically created signature on the official letterhead of the person recommending the candidate. Page numbers are not required for pre-existing PDF documents, but should still contribute to the page count. If the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter, the applicant must submit a paper copy of their full application, include their letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes, and reference the letters of recommendation as attachments in the table of contents. Note that if you are submitting a paper application, the SF-424 form must be signed and dated with pen and ink. Failure to provide two (2) signed letters of recommendation on official letterhead, as outlined above, will likely result in disqualification. If more than two (2) letters of recommendation are provided, it will likely result in disqualification.

9. Statement of Financial Need: Your EFC documentation (9a) must not exceed one page.

Yearly tuition documentation may be more than one page, especially if you are applying to multiple colleges and/or universities. Answers to all questions in 9c (questions 1-8) must be answered within one page. The Statement of Financial Need requires the following documentation:

a. Department of Education's Student Aid Index (SAI) determination: To evaluate financial need, NOAA will use the Department of Education's SAI determination. A negative SAI indicates higher financial need. To receive an SAI determination, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Department of Education. See https://www.fafsa.ed.gov. In response to the FAFSA, the Department of Education will provide the applicant with a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will contain the SAI determination. It may take up to two weeks to receive these results, so please make sure to budget enough time. A copy of the first two pages of the SAR, which includes the SAI and the applicant’s name and/or last four digits of the applicant’s social security number, must be submitted. The documentation of SAI must be from the Department of Education and not exceed two pages.

b. Yearly Tuition Documentation: Applicants must also provide documentation of estimated yearly tuition for each school they are applying to. The tuition estimate must clearly state the name of the school and applicants must also provide documentation of where this estimate comes from, either as a screenshot of a tuition estimate from the university’s website, or a letter or other documentation from the school, on official letterhead, showing tuition costs. Tuition should not include room, board, and other miscellaneous fees. Only the forms of documentation outlined above will be accepted. This can be more than one page in length if needed.

c. Financial Need Information Questions (answers to these questions must be provided on one page): Questions do not need to be repeated on the single page to allow you more space to write your answer. Simply mark down the number for each answer.

1) How likely are you to get a paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for the upcoming school year? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b) somewhat likely, c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

2) How likely are you to get a paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for the entirety of your degree? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b) somewhat likely, c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

3) Do you have other money supporting your degree (e.g., grants or scholarships)?

Please answer yes or no. If yes, include the amount of funding and if it is a one time or recurring award. Current funds that expire in the current school year do not need to be included.

4) What is the amount of tuition needed for each school you are applying to or currently attend? List school(s) and the amount needed for tuition. Remember tuition does not include room and board or other miscellaneous fees.

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5) Are you a first-generation college graduate? A first-generation college graduate is defined as a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree. This means that you are the first in your family to attend a four-year college/university to attain a bachelor’s degree. Please answer yes or no, and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

6) Are there circumstances that will waive your tuition such as a teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or other instances? Please answer yes or no, and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

7) Is your…