Udall
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Description
Udall awards include 60 merit-based scholarships of up to $7,000 awarded to sophomore- and junior-level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care.
“The more we exploit nature, the more our options are reduced, until we have only one: to fight for survival.”
Morris K. Udall, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona’s 2nd district
“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.”
Stewart L. Udall, 37th United States Secretary of the Interior
Eligibility
The Udall Scholarship has three different categories of scholarship, depending on your own interests and goals. You may apply in the Tribal Policy category, the Native Health Care category, or the Environment category. Eligibility requirements differ for each of these categories; see the chart below.
NOTE: WSU will nominate students based on a WSU review process; students cannot apply directly to the Udall Foundation on their own. For more details about eligibility requirements, please visit the Udall website.
Tribal Policy | Native Health Care | Environment |
---|---|---|
Sophomore or Junior, (defined as two years or one year of undergraduate study remaining after application year) | Sophomore or Junior, (defined as two years or one year of undergraduate study remaining after application year) | Sophomore or Junior, (defined as two years or one year of undergraduate study remaining after application year) |
American Indian or Alaska Native* | American Indian or Alaska Native* | All students |
Demonstrated commitment to Indian country through participation in cultural activities and service to community | Demonstrated commitment to Indian country through participation in cultural activities and service to community | Demonstrated commitment to the environment through participation in campus activities or service to the community |
Working toward a career that will impact American Indians or Alaska Natives | Working toward a career that will impact health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives | Working toward a career that will address environmental issues on a local, national, or global scale |
Any major | Any major | Any major |
U.S. citizen, national or U.S. permanent resident | U.S. citizen, national or U.S. permanent resident | U.S. citizen, national or U.S. permanent resident |
*American Indian or Alaska Native is defined by Udall as an individual who is:
- An enrolled member of a state- or federally recognized Indian tribe or band, including any tribe or band terminated since 1940;
- A descendant in first or second degree of an enrolled member of a state- or federally recognized Indian tribe or band, who can demonstrate affiliation with the tribal community, according to criteria set by the Udall Foundation;
- Considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose;
- An Eskimo, Aleut, or other Alaska Native;
- A permanent U.S. resident who is a member of the First Nations of Canada.
Deadline
The WSU internal deadline is January 6. Prospective applicants must turn in their applications to WSU by this time in order to be reviewed by WSU as a potential final nominee to the Udall foundation.
Preparation
To prepare to submit an application for a Udall award, students should:
- Carefully review the goals and criteria of the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship.
- Carefully review the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship application sample on that Udall website.
- Demonstrate commitment to the environment, or health care, or tribal policy. This means getting involved, preferably beginning your freshman year. Your involvement might include campus, research, and community activities. Stay involved and commit to a couple of things. Assume leadership roles. Make a difference. Perhaps you are fortunate to have a paid job in your area of interest.
- If you are interested in applying for a Udall award in the category of “environment”:
- Maintain a good GPA, particularly in your major.
- Provide the leadership for and commit to a project that has a measurable impact and makes a difference.
- Develop activities that make a true difference in environmental issues.
- If you are interested in applying for a Udall award in the categories of “health care” or “tribal policy”:
- Participate in cultural and traditional activities.
- Be able to demonstrate commitment to your tribe.
- Attend a Udall workshop (your first year at WSU is the perfect time!) as well as other workshops offered by the WSU Distinguished Scholarships Program.
- Schedule a meeting by emailing the Director of the WSU Distinguished Scholarships Program.
Application Process
Application Process
- Start the application process early! You must meet a January WSU deadline for the university to nominate you for a Udall award. Keep an eye on the time required for you to complete the following steps in time for the WSU deadline.
- You must attend a Udall workshop offered by the WSU Distinguished Scholarships Program. Dates on which these Udall workshops are held are available on our calendar page.
- Carefully review the goals and criteria of the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. The Udall website has many tips for the application process. Take some time to explore the website. Download the sample application available on the “apply” page of the website.
- Submit an email to distinguishedscholarships@wsu.edu with the following information : your name, email, permanent address, phone, grade level, major(s) and minor(s) and which category of Udall you are considering (environment, health care, or tribal policy). This information will be entered on the Udall website and will allow you access to the online application. Access will not be available prior to Oct 1.
- Schedule an appointment with the Director of the WSU Distinguished Scholarships Program.
- Request letters of recommendation 1-2 months before the WSU deadline. Select your recommenders (references) carefully as they must be able to address in their letters special points about you, as indicated in (a) and (b) below. Note that the letters must be sent directly by the recommender to the Director of Distinguished Scholarships. You will not submit the letters yourself.
- For students applying in the Udall category of environment, you must make sure that at least one of your references can comment on your specific role as a leader and how your leadership had an impact and made a difference.
- For students applying in the Udall health-care or tribal-policy categories, you must have at least one reference who can comment on your personal commitment to your tribe/Native Americans.
- The internal WSU deadlinefor all Udall applicants is January 6, or, if January 6 falls on a weekend, the Monday immediately following. Your complete application package must include the following:
- Letters of Recommendation. Completed letters should be sent by the recommender as an email attachment to DistinguishedScholarships@wsu.edu with “Udall: your name” written in the subject line.
- Transcripts from ALL post-secondary institutions you have attended. These should be sent as an email attachment to distinguishedscholarships@wsu.edu with the subject line of “Udall, (your last name), transcript.” Alternatively, a printed copy of the transcript can be delivered to the Distinguished Scholarships Program office in CUE 519. NOTES: Transcripts do not have to be official transcripts. However, WSU transfer credit reports are not acceptable; unofficial transcripts must originate from the appropriate post-secondary institution.
- Your Udall application with your answers and essays should be saved and submitted as a word document; the word document must be attached to an email sent to distinguishedscholarships@wsu.edu; the email must have in its subject line “Udall, (your last name), application.”
- All completed applications will be evaluated by the WSU selection committee based on your answers to the questions on the Udall application form, your letters of recommendation, and your academic transcript(s). You will be notified in January as to the outcome of your application.
- Nominees will have the opportunity to revise their applications based on feedback from the WSU Udall committee and other faculty. All changes to the application should be completed ONLINE 7-10 days prior to the Udall Foundation deadline, which is usually during the first week in March.
- The final applications of up to six (6) students will be nominated to Udall by WSU in time to meet the Udall deadline. WSU uploads and submits the letters of recommendation and transcripts.
- Udall Scholarship recipients are typically notified in April of their award. All Udall Scholars from WSU should contact the WSU Distinguished Scholarships Program immediately to arrange to have a portrait taken.
- The names of Udall Scholars from WSU will be listed on the Program’s website and in permanent displays at the Distinguished Scholars Gallery in the Compton Union Building (CUB) on the Pullman campus.
- All applicants and their references will be guests at an invitation-only reception in March that is held in the Distinguished Scholars Gallery.
Past WSU Recipients
Year | First (& Middle) Name | Last Name | Major | Campus (If Not Pullman) | Award Category | Honorable Mention? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Frances | Ward | Nursing | WSU Spokane | Native American Health Care | |
2021 View news release | Jonnie | Bray | International Economics and Development | Tribal Public Policy | ||
2021 View news release | Frances | Ward | Nursing | Native American Health Care | ||
2019 View news release | Jacklyn | Brendible | Agricultural Education | Tribal Public Policy | Honorable Mention | |
2018 View news release | Emma | Johnson | Cultural Anthropology | WSU Vancouver | Tribal Public Policy | |
2017 View news release | Alyssa | Norris | Civil Engineering/Environment | Environment | Honorable Mention | |
2016 View news release | Rachel (Chedda) | Ellenwood | Comparative Ethnic Studies | Native American Healthcare | ||
2016 View news release | Tillie | Torpey | Education | Tribal Public Policy | ||
2016 View news release | Logan | Weyand | Wildlife Ecology, Veterinary Medicine | Environment | Honorable Mention | |
2015 View news release | Rachel (Chedda) | Ellenwood | Nursing | Native American Healthcare |