Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and its Education Committee members are pleased to announce the availability of up to three graduate scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. These scholarships support the aspiration of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to build their capacity to effectively manage their fisheries and related resources by employing people from the local communities.

Students with strong ties to these territories are eligible for scholarships that cover the cost of tuition and fees and some living expenses. The amount will be based on the university’s estimated cost of attendance. Scholarship funds will be given directly to the university to cover tuition and fees before disbursement of the remaining amount to the student.

Funding for the 2024-2025 academic year will be provided based on proof of continued progress in the university program and maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average or above. The scholarship is for up to two years maximum (four semesters). If, for any reason, students do not complete their degree or other scholarship requirements (see below), the student or his/her guarantor will be responsible to repay the scholarship amount used up to that point to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.

U.S. Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity-Building Scholarships may be used for:

1. 1.         Completion of the junior and senior years to obtain one of the following undergraduate degrees:
   
   1. BA or BS in Marine Science at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (UHH), or
   2. BS in Marine Biology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM), or
   3. BS in Marine Biology or BS in Oceanography with a concentration in Fisheries Science at Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU), or
   4. BS in Biology in the Integrative or Applied Biology track with emphasis on Marine Biology at the University of Guam (UOG).
   5. 2.   Completion of one of the following graduate degrees:
   6. MS in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science at the UHH, or
   7. MS or PhD in Marine Biology at UHM, or
   8. MS in Marine Science at HPU, or
   9. MS in Biology at the UOG.

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 or above;
• 3.      Have been accepted to attend or currently attending one of the undergraduate programs listed for the 2024-2025 academic year:
• 4.      Be available for an 8- to 10-week paid internship in Hawai‘i;
• 5.      Have demonstrated interest and/or previous work/involvement with fisheries, coral reef conservation or related fields; and
• 6.      Commit to being employed for two (one year for each scholarship year) with the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), Guam Department of Agriculture (DoAg) or the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) commencing within the year after completion of the graduate degree 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 used up to that point.

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 or currently attending one of the graduate programs listed for the 2024-2025 academic year;
• 3.      Have demonstrated interest and/or previous work/involvement with fisheries, coral reef conservation or related fields; and
• 4.      Commit to being employed for two years (one year for each scholarship year) with the American Samoa DMWR, Guam DoAg or the CNMI DLNR commencing within the year after completion of the graduate degree 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 used up to that point.

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 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 Hawai‘i or Guam 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 an official undergraduate college/university transcript and, if relevant, graduate- level university transcript; and
• 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 and commitment to working in a local fisheries-related agency for two years upon completion of the graduate degree.

A completed application and two letters of recommendation should be either mailed to: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813,

or emailed to info@wpcouncil.org.

Deadline to receive all application materials is FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024.

If mailing your application, your recommendation letters should be included in sealed envelopes with the author’s signature across the closing flap.

If emailing your application, the letters of recommendation should be sent directly from the author to info@wpcouncil.org. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the letters are received at the Council office by the deadline.

Preliminary decisions will be made by August 1, 2024. Preference will be given to graduate students with an estimated two years (or less) until graduation. Final decision is contingent upon:

• 1.      Signing an advising agreement to coordinate your planned university course schedule with an assigned advisor; and
• 2.      Signing an agreement to work with the American Samoa DMWR, Guam DoAg or the CNMI DLNR in fisheries ecosystem-related work for one year for each scholarship year or to provide immediate reimbursement for the scholarship funds that have been provided.

Questions? Contact Amy Vandehey at info@wpcouncil.org or phone (808) 522-8220.

Click on the attachment to download application documents.