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Udall Scholarship

Program Overview

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.

In 2013, the foundation expects to award 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 and 50 honorable mentions on the basis of merit to sophomore and junior level college students. Scholarships are offered in any of three categories:

  • To students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment
  • To Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to public policy
  • To Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to Native health care

The Udall Foundation seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics. The Foundation also seeks future Native American and Alaska Native leaders in public and community health care, tribal government, and public policy affecting Native American communities, including land and resource management, economic development, and education. For more information, go to www.udall.gov.

Eligibility

In order to apply for the Udall Scholarship, students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be a matriculated sophomore or junior-level student at a two-year or four-year institution of higher education, pursuing a bachelor's or associate's degree during the 2012-2013 academic year. "Sophomore" is defined as a student who intends at least two more years of full-time undergraduate study beginning in fall 2013. "Junior" is defined as a student who intends at least one more year of full-time undergraduate study beginning in fall 2013. (Students may apply for funding in both their sophomore and junior years; 3rd time applicants, however, will not be eligible.)
  • Be committed to a career related to the environment, OR committed to a career in tribal public policy OR Native American health care (only Native Americans and Alaska Natives are eligible to apply in tribal public policy or Native American health care). Native American students studying tribal public policy or native health do not need to demonstrate commitment to the environment. Likewise, students pursuing environmentally related careers do not need to be Native American, nor do they need to demonstrate commitment to tribal public policy or Native health.
  • Have a college grade-point average of at least a "B" or the equivalent.
  • Be pursuing full-time study during the 2013-2014 academic year.
  • Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.

Scholarship Benefits

  • Up to $5,000 for tuition, room and board, or other educational expenses.
  • Four-day Udall Scholars Orientation in Tucson, Arizona to meet with other Scholars, elected officials, environmental and tribal leaders. All 2013 Scholars are required to attend this event. It will be held August 7-11, 2013, in Tucson, Arizona. The Foundation will arrange travel from the Scholar's home or school; lodging and meals are provided.
  • Access to a network of environmental, Native American health and tribal policy professionals through the Udall alumni listserv.

Honorable Mentions have the opportunity to join the alumni listserv.

Scholarship Conditions

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.

To receive payments, a Udall Scholar must submit:

  • An acceptance of the scholarship;
  • An agreement to attend the Scholar Orientation in Tucson, Arizona, August 7-11, 2013;
  • A statement of eligible expenses, certified by a financial officer of the college or university;
  • A completed Direct Deposit/EFT Enrollment form.

The Foundation may withhold or terminate a scholarship due to unsatisfactory academic performance, withdrawal from full-time academic enrollment, or failure to comply with any of the above conditions. 

Application Process

To be considered for PSU's six nominations for this scholarship, please submit ONE COPY of the following materials to Advising & Career Services, University Services Building by 5:00pm on January 23, 2013.

  •  A cover sheet that includes the applicant's name, email, mailing address (campus and home), phone number,  major, advisor, and country of citizenship. 
  • A one-page resume which details, among other qualifications, the applicant's commitment to topics related to the environment.An unofficial copy of the applicant's transcript.
  • A two-page essay in which the applicant describes in more detail one or more of the following: a. why they are interested in a career related to the environment b. a leadership activity they have undertaken c. an experience which led them to be committed to the environment d. public service activities related to the environment e. future career plans.
  • A completed Scholarship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver.

Students may, if they choose, submit a completed Udall Scholarship application instead of the documents listed above (however, all applicants must submit the permission form/waiver and an unofficial transcript). This requires more work, but does give student a jump-start on completing the national application.

Please ensure that all materials for the on-campus nomination process conform to these submission guidelines.

Selection Criteria

Scholars are selected on the basis of:

1) Demonstrated commitment to environmental or natural resource issues; OR Demonstrated commitment to tribal public policy*; OR Demonstrated commitment to Native American health care*.

Commitment is demonstrated through substantial contributions to and participation in one or more of the following: campus activities, research, tribal involvement, community or public service.
*Nominees in the categories of tribal public policy OR Native American health care must be Native American or Alaska Native.
2) Course of study and proposed career likely to lead to position where nominee can make significant contributions to the shaping of either environmental, or tribal public policy, or Native American health care issues, whether through scientific advances, public or political service, or community action.
    3) Leadership, character, desire to make a difference, general well-roundedness.

    Ethical Guidelines

    All applicants are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines. 

    Frequency: Annually

    Link to Application: Udall Scholarship Website