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Hayley Townsend '13, É«ÏãÊÓƵmarine biology major, has received the 2011 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Townsend will do her internship study in Panama City, Fla.  Her topic is "Using hook-timers to determine the capture time, size, and hooking mortality of Dusky Shark."  This project is being supervised by Dr. John Carlson of the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 

Townsend states, "This scholarship is very beneficial to my education here at É«ÏãÊÓƵ because it will allow me to apply all of the research knowledge that I have learned from Dr. Kathryn Ono, associate professor, biological sciences, in a real world study." 

This scholarship provides academic assistance for two academic years and a summer internship with NOAA.

Dr. Ono states, "Hayley is an excellent research assistant who is always efficient and enthusiastic regarding the jobs I give her, which have run the gamut from data entry to reconstructing a dolphin skeleton.  The Hollings scholarship is extremely competitive.  This internship will give her experience in a different ecosystem than the Gulf of Maine, and will enhance her ability to attend the graduate school of her choice."

The NOAA Ernest F. Hollings scholarship program is designed to: (1) increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities; (2) increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve environmental literacy; (3) 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; and (4) 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.