Udall Scholarship  

Deadline: Spring 2009 (exact date to be announced)

• Official Udall Foundation website
• 2007 UC Berkeley Udall Scholarship Winner

The Udall scholarship provides $5,000 for educational expenses to outstanding sophomores and juniors who fall into either one of the two following categories: 1) students who study the environment and related fields; OR 2) Native Americans or Alaska Natives in fields related to health care or tribal public policy.

The scholarship was created in 1992 to honor Congressman Morris K. Udall of Arizona. For three decades, Congressman Udall fought to preserve and protect the nation’s environment, public lands, and natural resources. He also championed the tribal self-governing rights of Native American and Alaska Natives.

Eligibility requirements

• full-time sophomore or junior
  "Sophomores" plan two more years of full-time undergraduate study beginning the fall after the application is made; "juniors" plan one more year of study beginning the fall after the application is made. Scholars selected during their sophomore year may reapply during the following year; juniors may not.
• either 1) student studying the environment or related fields, OR 2) Native American or Alaska Native in fields related to health care or tribal public policy
• U.S. citizen or resident alien
• minimum 3.0 GPA

Selection criteria

The Udall Foundation is looking for outstanding students who demonstrate, through their areas of study and public or community service activities, a commitment to and potential for making significant contributions to their fields. Applicants should have some coursework in ethics and public policy and/or public or community service experience in their chosen career fields.

Udall applicants interested in environmental issues have majored in a broad range of disciplines, including environmental engineering, agriculture, natural sciences, natural resource management, political science, sociology, anthropology, geography, cultural studies, history, public policy, and pre-law. Likewise, Native American and Alaska Native scholars have had backgrounds in American Indian studies, political science, sociology, geography, anthropology, tribal policy, economic development, government, health care, health sciences, and health policy.

Application requirements

Applicants must submit the following:

• a completed application form
• a 800-word essay discussing a significant public speech, legislative act, or public policy statement by Congressman Udall and its relationship to the applicant’s interests or coursework
• three letters of recommendation from 1) a faculty member who can discuss the applicant’s potential; 2) a faculty member in the applicant’s of study; and 3) another individual who can attest to the applicant’s capabilities
• official college transcripts

The UC Berkeley selection committee will select the university’s nominee based on the above application materials and criteria.

The current year’s application becomes available in the Scholarship Connection office (345 Campbell) in mid-October. However, interested students should use the previous year’s application as a working guide until the current year’s application is available.

UC Berkeley Udall applicants should make an individual advising appointment with Alicia Hayes, Scholarship coordinator For more information, contact Scholarship Connection.