News and Events

News Archive

UDALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2012 UDALL SCHOLARS


Posted: 4/2/2012

The Udall Foundation is pleased to announce 80 students from 70 colleges and universities have been selected as 2012 Udall Scholars. A 14-member independent review committee selected this year's group of Udall Scholars on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; and academic achievement. The review committee also awarded 50 Honorable Mentions.

This highly qualified class of Udall Scholars was selected from 585 candidates nominated by 274 colleges and universities. Sixty-eight Scholars intend to pursue careers related to the environment. Six Native American/Alaska Native Scholars intend to pursue careers related to tribal public policy; six Native American/Alaska Native Scholars intend to pursue careers related to health care.

Each scholarship provides up to $5,000 for the Scholar’s junior or senior year. Honorable Mentions will receive a $350 award. Since the first awards in 1996, the Udall Foundation has awarded 1,314 scholarships totaling $6,570,000.

The 2012 Udall Scholars will assemble August 8-12, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz., to receive their awards and meet policymakers and community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care, and governance.

For a listing of the 2012 Udall Scholars and Honorable Mentions and more information on the Foundation and related programs, visit www.udall.gov or contact Mia Ibarra at (520) 901-8564 or ibarra@udall.gov.

Selected statistics on the 2012 competition

  • 527 students applied in the Environment category; 26 in Health Care; 32 in Tribal Public Policy
  • 568 applicants came from four-year institutions; 17 came from two-year colleges
  • 206 Sophomore; 379 Junior
  • 24% self-identified as non-white
  • 274 institutions nominated students, and 28 schools had nominees for the first time
  • 49 states had nominees, along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia

Selected statistics on the 2012 Udall Scholars

  • 68 Scholars applied in the Environmental category; six in Native American Health Care; and six in Tribal Public Policy
  • 78 Scholars come from four-year institutions; two come from two-year colleges
  • 12 Sophomore; 68 Junior
  • Seven repeat Scholars; five Scholars who were Honorable Mentions in 2011; eight Scholars who were nominees in 2011 (but not Scholars or Honorable Mentions)
  • 34% self-identified as non-white
  • 70 institutions have Scholars, and 16 of those have Scholars for the first time
  • 43 states have Scholars

About the Udall Foundation

The Udall Foundation is an independent federal agency that was established by Congress in 1992 to provide federally funded scholarships for college students intending to pursue careers related to the environment, as well as to American Indian students pursuing tribal public policy or health care careers. In 1998, the Foundation grew to include the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, created by Congress as the federal government’s only program focused entirely on resolving federal environmental disputes. The Foundation also operates the Parks in Focus program, connecting underserved youth to nature through photography.

For additional information, please contact Jane Curlin at 520-901-8565 or curlin@udall.gov.


Back to the News and Announcements Archive