---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1445c"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1445c"
heading: "Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1445c"
units:
  - "Chapter 32 — Marine Sanctuaries"
---

# §1445c. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4) shall establish and administer through the National Ocean Service the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. Under the program, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4) shall award graduate education scholarships in oceanography, marine biology or maritime archeology, to be known as Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships.
- (b) **Purposes—** The purposes of the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program are—
  - (1) to recognize outstanding scholarship in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archeology, particularly by women and members of minority groups; and
  - (2) to encourage independent graduate level research in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archeology.
- (c) **Award—** Each Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship—
  - (1) shall be used to support graduate studies in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archeology at a graduate level institution of higher education; and
  - (2) shall be awarded in accordance with guidelines issued by the [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4).
- (d) **Distribution of funds—** The amount of each Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship shall be provided directly to a recipient selected by the [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4) upon receipt of certification that the recipient will adhere to a specific and detailed plan of study and research approved by a graduate level institution of higher education.
- (e) **Funding—** Of the amount available each fiscal year to carry out this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4) shall award 1 percent as Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships.
- (f) **Scholarship repayment requirement—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4) shall require an individual receiving a scholarship under this section to repay the full amount of the scholarship to the [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4) if the [Secretary](/usc/16/1432.md?p=4) determines that the individual, in obtaining or using the scholarship, engaged in fraudulent conduct or failed to comply with any term or condition of the scholarship.
- (g) **Maritime archeology defined—** In this section the term “maritime archeology” includes the curation, preservation, and display of maritime artifacts.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–532, title III, § 318, as added Pub. L. 106–513, § 18, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2392.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

For similar provisions relating to the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, see section 1445c–1 of this title.