Student Fellowships & Research

Description.
Established by Congress in 1992 to honor Morris K. Udall’s thirty years of service in the House of Representatives and enhanced by Congressional action in 2009 to honor Stewart L. Udall's vast public service, the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation is dedicated to educating a new generation of Americans to preserve and protect their national heritage through scholarship, fellowship, and internship programs focused on environmental and Native American issues. The Udall Foundation is also committed to promoting the principles and practices of environmental conflict resolution.

Scholarships are offered in any of three categories:

• To students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, economics, and other related fields; or
• To Native American** and Alaska Native** students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy, including fields related to tribal sovereignty, tribal governance, tribal law, Native American education, Native American justice, natural resource management, cultural preservation and revitalization, Native American economic development, and other areas affecting Native American communities; or
• To Native American** and Alaska Native** students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to Native health care, including health care administration, social work, medicine, dentistry, counseling, and research into health conditions affecting Native American communities, and other related fields.

In 2013, the Foundation expects to award 50 scholarships of up to $5,000 and 50 honorable mentions to sophomore and junior-level college students.

Benefits.
Udall Scholarships provide the Scholar up to $5,000 for tuition, room and board, or other educational expenses. Recipients also participate in a four-day Udall Scholars Orientation in Tucson, Arizona to meet with other Scholars, elected officials, and other environmental and tribal leaders. All Scholars will be required to attend this event in August. Travel from the Scholar's home or school, lodging, and meals will be provided by the Foundation. Lastly, Scholars benefit from access to an active and growing  alumni network of environmental, Native American health and tribal policy professionals through the Udall Alumni listserv.

Honorable Mentions receive access to the alumni network.

Eligibility.

To be eligible, students must meet all of the following criteria:

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.

Be a matriculated sophomore or junior-level student at a two-year or four-year accredited 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 has completed at least one year of full-time undergraduate study and 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.

Meet the following requirements:

• Have a college grade-point average of at least a "B" or the equivalent.
• Be pursuing full-time study during the 2012-2013 academic year.
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.

Bowdoin’s Internal Selection Process. Since Bowdoin is allowed to nominate annually only six students in total regardless of category for the Udall Scholarship, the Committee will review the materials listed below to select Bowdoin’s six nominees. To be considered, applicants must notify Emily Briley of their interest in applying so that Emily may register them in the Udall Foundation's online application system. Please note that the online application will be available after October 1.

By the “Initial Bowdoin Deadline” (see above), applicants must either (1) bring hard copies of the following materials to the Office Student Fellowships and Research or (2) electronically submit PDFs of the following items to Emily Briley (ebriley@bowdoin.edu). 

• A completed draft of a Udall Undergraduate Scholarship application form, except for the 800 word essay and letters of recommendation. Do not submit the full essay or letters of recommendation at this stage in the application process.  (Through the Udall online application system, applicants can create a PDF fo the application at any time, which can be emailed to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research.)
• A very brief statement (no more than a half page) identifying a significant public speech, legislative act, or public policy statement by Congressman Udall and its impact on your field of study, interests, and career goals
• The names of the three people who will be submitting letters of recommendation and their relationship to you
• Unofficial transcript (printed off of Bearings)
• Current resume
• Signed and witnessed "Permission Form and Waiver"

Please note that, while all applicants are expected to submit their application by the Initial Bowdoin Deadline for review  by the selection committee, under some extenuating circumstances late applications may be accepted.  Please contact Eileen Johnson or Cindy Stocks for more information.

Materials for the Final Application. If you receive Bowdoin’s nomination, it is your responsibility to continue revising and collecting your materials and to inform your recommenders of the relevant deadlines.

By the Final Bowdoin Deadline (see above), Bowdoin's nominees must submit an online Udall application which consists of:

• An institutional nomination form from your faculty representative;
• An 11-question application form;
• An 800-word essay on a speech, legislative act, book, or public policy statement by either Morris K. Udall or Stewart L. Udall and its impact on your interests and goals;
• A current official college transcript and transcripts for other colleges attended;
• Three letters of recommendation.

More on the selection process.  Applicants are notified of their final status during the later part of March. 

Andrew Cushing '12
Andrew received a Udall Scholarship in recognition of his commitment to the environment and demonstrated leadership skills. As an environmental studies and history coordinate major, he is especially interested in historic preservation as a sustainable approach to combating climate change and sprawl. His list of accomplishments includes interning for New Hampshire's Land and Community Heritage Investment Program during the summer of 2010 and listing six of his hometown's buildings to the state historic register, a project he hopes will encourage his town to rethink their approach to handling historic structures. (Read more)

Teona Williams '12
Teona graduated as a history and environmental studies major with a minor in Africana studies. Her research interests range from African Americans' relationship to nature in the early twentieth century to environmental justice. Teona plans to become a professor of African American and environmental history and to start a not-for-profit that increases the diversity in outdoor recreation. The Udall Scholarship recognizes Teona's successful efforts to support African Americans' engagement with nature and her vision to create a future that includes greater diversity within the environmental movement. (Read more)


For a comprehensive list of Bowdoin fellowship winners, click here.