WVU student Bethany Wager is pursuing her dream of working in marine fisheries with the help of the prestigious Hollings Scholarship, which will provide her with a two-year academic scholarship, a paid summer internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2021, and the opportunity to present her research at two national scientific conferences.
“Receiving the Hollings Scholarship felt like a really big accomplishment, as if everything that I tried to do since I came to WVU was paying off,” Wager, the third WVU student to receive this national scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said.
Named to the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship class of 2020-22, Wager is a junior wildlife and fisheries resources student in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. She is also pursuing minors in conservation ecology and statistics and has completed the Honors Foundations program.
From Waverly, Wager grew up hunting and fishing with her dad, who was the first to teach her about sustainability.
Before coming to WVU, Wager had no idea her passion for the outdoors could become a career.
“I had no idea that any of these careers existed,” Wager said. “And when I started taking the classes in my major, I was like yes, this is definitely what I’m supposed to be doing.”
She started getting experience in research during her freshman year through the Research Apprenticeship Program studying brook trout with the Hartman Lab, and has continued researching throughout her time with WVU, studying catfish with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and learning statistical analysis of phone call survey data through a virtual research internship with North Carolina State University.
“I’m hoping that through this NOAA program, I’ll learn a lot more about what opportunities are out there for me.”
The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship was established in honor of Senator Ernest F. Hollings in 2005. Hollings was well-known for supporting ocean policy and conservation. The two-year academic scholarship will provide Wager with an academic scholarship of $9,500 for her junior and senior years, as well as an additional $7,000 stipend for a 10-week summer internship in 2021, and mentorship from researchers with NOAA.
The ASPIRE Office helps students apply for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships and assists students in applying for graduate or professional school. Students who are interested in applying for this or other nationally competitive scholarships can email aspire@mail.wvu.edu for an appointment.