NC State’s Anna Humphrey Chosen For Prestigious NOAA Hollings Program

NC State’s College of Natural Resources student Anna Humphrey has been selected for the prestigious Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholars program from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Education.

The scholarship was established in 2005 and includes a two-year academic award of $9,500 per year, and a 10-week paid summer internship at any NOAA facility nationwide. Recipients present their research at two national scientific conferences.

Anna, a Raleigh native and part of the University Honors Program, is a junior studying fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology with concentrations and minors in wildlife biology, geology, and plant biology. As 1 of 733 applicants, Anna was thrilled and shocked to be chosen for the Hollings program. “I felt my degree fell largely out of the purview of NOAA’s work,” she explained. However, her unique combination of degree paths is likely one of the reasons she was chosen. 

As for the paid internship at a NOAA facility, Anna isn’t sure exactly which one she’ll choose. “Ideally, I’d like to pursue some work with the marine sanctuary system as they see how ocean acidification impacts the ecology of the reserves,” she said. “But I’m not taking anything off the table yet.”

Anna hopes this exciting opportunity will influence her decision on what to study for her master’s degree. “I just can’t wait to combine my interest in wildlife and geophysics in a way that can support meaningful impacts on our nation’s natural heritage, as well as our future resources,” she said.