Photo by: Sam Bloom
MSU's Anna French Selected as Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient
5/3/2018 12:41:00 PM | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
French is one of 120 undergraduate students to receive a 24-month long scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Anna French was just starting to make an impact on the Montana State women's cross country team during the 2017 fall semester when her sister told her about a scholarship opportunity. French's sister sent the link to her because she thought it'd be a good fit with her intended major.
This spring, French is now providing a boost for the Bobcat track and field team and is being rewarded for her efforts in the classroom.
French recently accepted and was honored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a 2018 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship recipient. She was selected in recognition of her previous accomplishments and in expectation of future achievements in undergraduate study related to a scientific or technical area pertinent to NOAA's mission.
She is just one of 120 recipients to receive the honor across the country and is the lone individual to obtain the accolade in Montana. As an awardee, French will receive a significant academic stipend from the NOAA each semester she attends Montana State University during a period of September of 2018 to May 2020. She will receive tuition support and have the opportunity to work with an NOAA scientist as part of a paid summer internship in 2019.
A double major in chemistry and conservation biology and ecology, French has begun to map out her future plans.
"Eventually, I want to go to graduate school and do research," French said. "Probably more on the ecology side, but I do really like chemistry too, so maybe I'll kind of try to incorporate that into it. I'm considering becoming a professor as well. Teaching and doing research would be kind of fun."
The NOAA awards recipients that are undergraduate students with junior standing. The scholarship was designed to increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities.
Competing for the Bobcats as a sophomore in athletic eligibility during the 2017-18 season, French has two more years to continue to work on her academic and athletic careers based off her scholarship tenure lasting a span of 24 months.
"I've talked with my mentor that I do research with about (balancing track and academics) sometimes," French said. "It's definitely about trying to find a balance between putting my focus and energy into school and also into running. I have to figure out when it's time to really focus on school – like right now during finals time – and then when can I really get ready for some big races like conference. It's really just about trying to find that balance."
French has been successful in both aspects since joining Montana State at the start of the fall semester.
Prior to her arrival in Bozeman, French spent two years attending West Virginia University. Her efforts since becoming a Bobcat haven't gone unnoticed by head cross country coach and track assistant Lyle Weese.
"It's pretty amazing that she can handle so many things well," Weese said. "That she can run well, be a 4.0 student and to apply to a scholarship like this and get it, it shows how aware she is of her opportunities and the work she's willing to put in."
While the scholarship and her 4.0 grade-point average she's achieved are indicators of her performance in the classroom, French's efforts in Blue and Gold have also been significant.
She opened the 2017-18 season earning three top-10 finishes for the MSU cross country team. She was the Bobcats' second-best finisher in a stacked field at the Bronco Invitational on Oct. 14. She was also a member of the MSU lineup that completed its best finish at the Big Sky meet since 1999 when the Bobcats finished runner-up behind Northern Arizona.
Her highlights continued when the New Year rolled around. French ended the indoor season with MSU's fifth fastest 5,000-meter mark (16:42.67) all-time, the seventh best 3,000 time (9:39.48) and the ninth fastest mile time at 4 minutes, 51.58 seconds. Her success has continued into the outdoor slate as she moved into third all-time in the 3,000 steeplechase (10:22.95) and is seventh on the 5,000 (16:45.73) top 10 list.
"It's been really exciting," Weese said. "She's fit in really well with the team which I think has translated to her running well at the collegiate level. She transferred in after two years in college and she's kind of got her feet on the ground and got running right away."
Things have started to fall into place for French. With the spring semester and 2018 outdoor season about to wrap up, her first full athletic collegiate season will be in the rearview mirror. For now, she'll relish her time as a Bobcat.
It's very exciting," French said of her academic and athletic feats. "Obviously school and running are two of the biggest things in my life right now. I try to excel in both, and when it starts clicking, it feels wonderful."
This spring, French is now providing a boost for the Bobcat track and field team and is being rewarded for her efforts in the classroom.
French recently accepted and was honored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a 2018 Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship recipient. She was selected in recognition of her previous accomplishments and in expectation of future achievements in undergraduate study related to a scientific or technical area pertinent to NOAA's mission.
She is just one of 120 recipients to receive the honor across the country and is the lone individual to obtain the accolade in Montana. As an awardee, French will receive a significant academic stipend from the NOAA each semester she attends Montana State University during a period of September of 2018 to May 2020. She will receive tuition support and have the opportunity to work with an NOAA scientist as part of a paid summer internship in 2019.
A double major in chemistry and conservation biology and ecology, French has begun to map out her future plans.
"Eventually, I want to go to graduate school and do research," French said. "Probably more on the ecology side, but I do really like chemistry too, so maybe I'll kind of try to incorporate that into it. I'm considering becoming a professor as well. Teaching and doing research would be kind of fun."
The NOAA awards recipients that are undergraduate students with junior standing. The scholarship was designed to increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities.
Competing for the Bobcats as a sophomore in athletic eligibility during the 2017-18 season, French has two more years to continue to work on her academic and athletic careers based off her scholarship tenure lasting a span of 24 months.
"I've talked with my mentor that I do research with about (balancing track and academics) sometimes," French said. "It's definitely about trying to find a balance between putting my focus and energy into school and also into running. I have to figure out when it's time to really focus on school – like right now during finals time – and then when can I really get ready for some big races like conference. It's really just about trying to find that balance."
French has been successful in both aspects since joining Montana State at the start of the fall semester.
Prior to her arrival in Bozeman, French spent two years attending West Virginia University. Her efforts since becoming a Bobcat haven't gone unnoticed by head cross country coach and track assistant Lyle Weese.
"It's pretty amazing that she can handle so many things well," Weese said. "That she can run well, be a 4.0 student and to apply to a scholarship like this and get it, it shows how aware she is of her opportunities and the work she's willing to put in."
While the scholarship and her 4.0 grade-point average she's achieved are indicators of her performance in the classroom, French's efforts in Blue and Gold have also been significant.
She opened the 2017-18 season earning three top-10 finishes for the MSU cross country team. She was the Bobcats' second-best finisher in a stacked field at the Bronco Invitational on Oct. 14. She was also a member of the MSU lineup that completed its best finish at the Big Sky meet since 1999 when the Bobcats finished runner-up behind Northern Arizona.
Her highlights continued when the New Year rolled around. French ended the indoor season with MSU's fifth fastest 5,000-meter mark (16:42.67) all-time, the seventh best 3,000 time (9:39.48) and the ninth fastest mile time at 4 minutes, 51.58 seconds. Her success has continued into the outdoor slate as she moved into third all-time in the 3,000 steeplechase (10:22.95) and is seventh on the 5,000 (16:45.73) top 10 list.
"It's been really exciting," Weese said. "She's fit in really well with the team which I think has translated to her running well at the collegiate level. She transferred in after two years in college and she's kind of got her feet on the ground and got running right away."
Things have started to fall into place for French. With the spring semester and 2018 outdoor season about to wrap up, her first full athletic collegiate season will be in the rearview mirror. For now, she'll relish her time as a Bobcat.
It's very exciting," French said of her academic and athletic feats. "Obviously school and running are two of the biggest things in my life right now. I try to excel in both, and when it starts clicking, it feels wonderful."
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