The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has selected Northern Marianas College student John Sablan to participate in the Hollings Preparation Program (HPP) this summer. Sablan, who is pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Management, was chosen from a pool of qualified applicants for the program.
The Hollings Preparation Program is a career development opportunity designed to prepare undergraduates for the full NOAA Hollings Scholarship. Hollings scholars are paired with NOAA mentors primarily on the West Coast for four to six weeks during the summer, where they gain valuable work experience and prepare to become competitive applicants for the scholarship. The program also provides participants with a $500 scholarship and $4,000 stipend.
Sablan, who is the first student from the CNMI to be selected for the program, is excited for the new experience.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity to work with NOAA and gain hands-on experience in my field," Sablan said. "I'm looking forward to learning from my mentor and meeting other scholars who share my passion for environmental science."
Sablan will be working with two other HPP scholars at the CNMI’s local NOAA office. In addition to gaining work experience, HPP scholars are required to participate in an opening event on July 10, 2023, attend a twice-weekly webinar series, and present their work at a closing event on August 17-18, 2023.
"John is an exceptional student, and we're thrilled that he's been selected for this prestigious program," NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, said. "We're proud to see our students competing at the national level and gaining valuable experience in their fields."
For more information about the Hollings Preparation Program and NOAA, visit noaa.gov.