Student Opportunities

NWS Blacksburg, VA

Student Opportunities

Student Job Shadow

The Student Job Shadow Volunteer program at our office allows a high school senior or undergraduate college student the opportunity to visit our office and sit with a staff member (meteorologist, hydrologist, technician, office administration, etc.) to experience firsthand that person's job duties. These duties could range from, but aren't limited to, weather forecasting, radar and satellite data interpretation, weather balloon launches, flooding situations, electronic diagnosis and repair, software coding, and office administrative duties. When feasible, and/or safe to do so, the student will be able to assist the staff member complete his or her work.

Students will spend up to four hours at the office at an agreed upon date and time.

The Student Job Shadow Request Application can be accessed here.

Pathways Programs

The Pathways Programs are designed to help students and recent graduates have a direct "path" to a federal career. It is a paid position within the National Weather Service that typically occurs during the summer for a period of approximately three months. The programs are composed of three distinct portions:

Internship Program
Recent Graduates Program
Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

Availability of, and thus access to, the Pathways Programs vary in time and location within the National Weather Service. For more details on the Pathways Programs, please visit Pathways.

Hollings Scholarship and Internship

The Hollings Scholarship and Internship is designed to fulfill four purposes:

Increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities
Increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve environmental literacy
Recruit and prepare students for public service careers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other natural resource and science agencies at the federal, state and local levels of government
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

To be eligible for the Hollins Scholarship and Internship, a student must:

Be a U.S. citizen
Be currently enrolled or accepted at an accredited college or university within the United States or U.S. territories as either
- a full-time 2nd year student in a four-year undergraduate program*
- a full-time 3rd year student in a five-year undergraduate program*
- a community college or transfer student who is applying to a four-year institution
  - Community college or transfer applicants must provide proof of application to a four-year institution when submitting their application for the scholarship
  - If accepted for the Hollings Scholarship, applicants must submit proof of acceptance prior to starting the program
- *The full-time enrollment requirement applies throughout the period of undergraduate studies: prior to and at the time of application for the scholarship, for the period between application and award notification, and after award distribution
Earn and maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on another identified scale)
- The GPA requirement applies throughout the period of undergraduate studies: prior to and at the time of application for a scholarship, for the period between application and award notification, and after award distribution
Have and maintain a declared major in a discipline including, but not limited to: oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, computer and information science, physical and social sciences including geography, physics, hydrology, geomatics, or teacher education that support NOAA's programs and mission

For more information on the Hollings Scholarship and Internship, please visit, Hollings.