News & Events

UDALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2021 UDALL SCHOLARS


Posted: 5/7/2021

The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (Udall Foundation) is pleased to announce that 55 students from 42 colleges and universities have been selected as 2021 Udall Scholars. A 20-member independent review committee selected this year's group of Udall Scholars on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, Tribal public policy, or Native health care; leadership potential; record of public service; and academic achievement. The review committee also awarded 55 Honorable Mentions.

This highly qualified class of Udall Scholars was selected from 416 candidates nominated by 187 colleges and universities. Thirty-seven Scholars intend to pursue careers related to the environment; nine Native American/Alaska Native Scholars intend to pursue careers related to Tribal public policy; and nine Native American/Alaska Native Scholars intend to pursue careers related to Native health care.

Selected statistics on the 2021 competition

Applicant Statistics

  • 416 eligible applicants were nominated by their academic institution.
  • 343 students applied in the Environmental category; 38 in Tribal Public Policy; and 35 in Native Health Care.
  • 413 applicants came from four-year institutions; three came from two-year colleges.
  • 130 Sophomores; 286 Juniors.
  • Nearly 50% self-identified as non-white.
  • 187 institutions nominated students; seven schools nominated students for the first time.
  • Nominees came from 49 states, one territory, and 39 Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.

Scholar Statistics

  • 55 Scholars and 55 Honorable Mentions were selected.
  • 37 Scholarships were awarded in the Environmental category; nine in Tribal Public Policy; and nine in Native Health Care.
  • Tribal Public Policy and Native Health Care Scholars are enrolled in 16 different Tribes; Honorable Mentions are enrolled in 11 different Tribes.
  • 54 Scholars are from four-year institutions; one Scholar is from a two-year college.
  • 18 Sophomores; 37 Juniors.
  • About 63% self-identify as non-white.
  • Two Scholars were also Scholars in 2020; four Scholars were Honorable Mentions in 2020.
  • 42 institutions have Scholars; three of those have Scholars for the first time; and 10 have Scholars for the first time in three or more years.
  • Scholars come from 34 states and 16 Tribes.

Each Scholarship provides $7,000 for the Scholar’s junior or senior year of academic study. Since the program’s inception in 1996, the Udall Foundation has awarded 1,788 Udall Scholarships totaling over $9.1 million and 1,169 Honorable Mentions.

The 2021 Udall Scholars will connect August 3-6 for the annual Udall Scholar Orientation to meet one another and program alumni; learn more about the Udall legacy of public service; and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, Tribal health care, and governance.

Learn more about the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship and meet the 2021 Scholars.

About the Udall Foundation
The Udall Foundation awards Scholarships, Fellowships, and Internships for study in fields related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and Tribal public policy; connects youth from underserved communities to the Nation’s public lands and natural resources to foster greater understanding, appreciation, stewardship, and enjoyment of those lands and resources through photography, positive outdoor experiences, and environmental education through Parks in Focus®; provides funding to the Native Nations Institute for research, education, and outreach on Native American and Alaska Native health care issues and Tribal public policy issues; provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy to conduct policy research and outreach on the environment and related themes; and provides impartial collaboration, consensus-building, and conflict resolution services on a wide range of environmental, natural and cultural resources, Tribal, and public lands issues involving the Federal Government through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution.

More Information
For more information about the Udall Foundation, please visit About us. For additional information about the Scholarship program, please contact Jason Curley at (520) 901-8564 or curley@udall.gov.

Back to the News and Events Page