Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

Up to $7,000 for tuition, room and board, or other educational expenses.

1. Four-day Udall Scholars Orientation in Tucson, Arizona to meet with other Scholars, elected officials, and other environmental and tribal leaders. All Scholars are required to attend this event in August. Travel, lodging, and meals will be provided by the Foundation.
2. Access to an active and growing alumni network of environmental, Native American health and tribal policy professionals.

Udall Scholarships may be used for tuition, fees, books, room and board, or other specifically approved expenses. Payments may supplement, but not duplicate, benefits from other foundations, institutions, or organizations. Combined benefits from all sources may not exceed the costs of tuition, fees, books, and room and board as prescribed by the institution.

Udall Scholars are a diverse group of students who are united by their interest in our nation's heritage: natural resource protection, conservation, and Native American policy, health and governance. Recent Udall Scholars are pursuing majors in a variety of fields, including:

• Environmental Science
• International Studies and Conservation Biology
• Industrial Ecology
• Environmental Health
• Coastal and Marine Policy and Management
• Native American Studies
• Resource Conservation
• Agricultural and Resource Economics and Policy
• Environmental Engineering
• Philosophy and the Environment
• Architectural Engineering
• Environmental Geography
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Fisheries and Wildlife Science
• Biological Engineering
• Zoology
• Human Ecology
• Political Science
• Water Resources Engineering
• Education
• Wildlife Conservation and Management
• Earth and Planetary Science
• Computer Science
• Math
• Biology
• French
• Social Welfare
• Economics
• Agriculture

Their career goals are similarly diverse. Among them:

• Design water systems that mimic natural ecosystems
• Advocate for Native American healthcare policy
• Develop interactive tools that integrate software and web applications with environmental decision-making
• Research remediation technologies for polluted waters
• Improve education on the Navajo reservation
• Develop environmental education curriculums for primary education
• Influence tribal education policy on a federal level
• Study urban planning and public policy
• Serve as an optometrist with Indian Health Service
• Conduct field research in behavioral ecology
• Design communities to reduce energy waste
• Resolve natural resource conflicts among tribal, state and federal governments
• Practice physical therapy among the Blackfeet people
• Resolve international freshwater conflicts

Udall Scholars are now working in many professions:

• As environmental consultants for industry, not-for-profit entities, and government;
• With cities as environmental managers and urban planners;
• As legal counsel for environmental organizations and tribal communities;
• As environmental educators;
• In tribal resource management;
• In public health and environmental justice fields.

The Udall Scholars Orientation weekend is a mandatory four-day event that takes place each August in Tucson, Arizona. All new and repeat Scholars must attend. Travel from the Scholar's home or school, lodging and meals will be provided by the Foundation.

The Orientation brings Udall Scholars, alumni, faculty representatives and Foundation staff together to network, share ideas, hear from distinguished environmental and Native American leaders, and see, first hand, what it means to be a part of the Udall legacy. More information on the scholarship program.

The U.S. Congress established the Udall Foundation as an independent executive branch agency in 1992 to honor Morris K. Udall's 30 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2009, Congress enacted legislation to honor Stewart L. Udall and add his name to the Foundation. It is now known as the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation.

As set forth in the founding legislation, the purposes of the Foundation are to:

• Increase the awareness of the importance of, and promote the benefit and enjoyment of, the nation's natural resources;
• Foster a greater recognition and understanding of the role of the environment, public lands and resources in the development of the United States;
• Identify critical environmental issues;
• Develop resources to train professionals properly in environmental and related fields;
• Provide educational outreach regarding environmental policy;
• Develop resources to train Native American and Alaska Native professionals in health care and public policy;
• Through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, provide assessment, mediation, and other related services to resolve environmental disputes involving federal agencies.

The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation is one of five federal foundations established by Congress. The other four federal foundations include the Christopher Columbus Foundation, Barry M. Goldwater Foundation, James Madison Foundation, and the Harry S. Truman Foundation.

Nathan Williams

Coordinator, UNCW Campus Recreation & Intramurals

"Receiving the Udall scholarship connected me to a large network of current and alumni recipients who are passionate about the environment and committed to real change. One of the greatest aspects of the prize is that the Udall Foundation brings all award recipients together for an expenses-paid retreat in Arizona.

The money I received with the scholarship was great, but meeting other Udall scholars at the retreat weekend, being able to use the award recognition in my career and continuing the discussion about environmental stewardship throughout my life have been the real rewards of the scholarship for me."-Nathan Williams