WESPAC offers 3 new college, graduate scholarships

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and its Education Committee members announced the availability of three scholarships for academic years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.

These scholarships support the aspiration to build the capacity of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to effectively manage their fisheries and related resources through the employment of their own people.

The U.S. Pacific Territories Capacity-Building Scholarships may be used for to complete junior and senior years to obtain one of the following undergraduate degrees: BA or BS in Marine Science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo or BS in Oceanography with a concentration in Fisheries Science at the Hawaii Pacific University; or completion of one of the following graduate degrees: MS or Ph.D. in Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa›s Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, MS in Marine Science at Hawaii Pacific University, MS in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, or MS in Biology at the University of Guam.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate Student
1. Be a U.S. citizen or national with strong ties to American Samoa, Guam or the CNMI;

2. Have successfully completed freshman and sophomore years of college with a grade point average of 3.0;

3. Have been accepted to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo (BA or BS in Marine Science) or  Hawaii Pacific University (BS in Oceanography with a Concentration in Fisheries Science) in Honolulu for the 2015-2016 academic year;

4. Be available for an 8- to 10-week paid internship in Hawaii;

5. Have demonstrated interest and/or previous work/involvement with fisheries, coral reef conservation or related fields;

6. Commit to being employed for a minimum of two years (one year for each scholarship year) with the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Guam Department of Agriculture, or the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources after completion of the undergraduate degree. Those who do not fulfill this commitment will be required to pay back the scholarship amount that has been provided.

Graduate student
1. Be a U.S. citizen or national with strong ties to American Samoa, Guam or the CNMI;

2. Have been accepted to attend one of the following graduate programs for the 2015-2016 academic year: University of Hawaii at Mānoa’s MS or PhD in Marine Biology; Hawaii Pacific University’s MS in Marine Science; University of Hawaii at Hilo’s MS in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science; or University of Guam’s MS in Biology;

3. Have demonstrated interest and/or previous work/involvement with fisheries, coral reef conservation or related fields;

4. Commit to being employed for one year for each scholarship year (maximum two years) with the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Guam Department of Agriculture, or the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources commencing within the year after completion of the graduate degree or departure from the educational program for which the scholarship was provided.  Those who do not fulfill this commitment will be required to pay back the scholarship amount that has been provided.

ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTS

Undergraduate Student
1. Complete the accompanying scholarship application and a two-page essay on your reasons for pursuing your chosen degree. The essay should include a summary of your relevant experience, your long term career goals and your motivations to serve your home islands in the area of sustainable marine resource management.

2. Provide an official college transcript of freshman and sophomore classes completed to date; and

3. Submit two letters of recommendation, one by a college instructor of your choice and one by a community leader who can speak to your overall ability, likelihood of your success in an undergraduate program of study in Hawaii, and commitment to working in a local fisheries related agency for a minimum of two years upon completion of the undergraduate degree.

Graduate Student
1. Complete the accompanying scholarship application and a two-page essay on your reasons for pursuing your chosen degree. The essay should include a summary of your relevant experience, your long term career goals and your motivations to serve your home islands in the area of sustainable marine resource management.

2. Provide official undergraduate college transcripts and, if relevant, graduate-level college transcripts;

3. Submit two letters of recommendation from professors, employers and/or community leaders who can speak to your overall ability, likelihood of your success in a graduate program of study in Hawaii, and commitment to working in a local fisheries related agency for a minimum of two years upon completion of the undergraduate degree.
Mail completed application and letters of recommendation to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, by February 29, 2016. Preliminary decisions will be made by March 15, 2016. Final decision is contingent upon 1) an acceptance letter from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii Pacific University or the University of Hawaii at Mānoa HIMB for the 2016-2017 academic year; and 2) the signing of an agreement to work with the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Guam Department of Agriculture, or the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources in fisheries ecosystem related work for one year of each scholarship year or to provide immediate reimbursement for the scholarship funds that had been provided. Funding for 2017-2018 will be provided based on proof of continued progress in the college program and maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average. (PR)