Morris K. Udall Scholarship Program

How to Apply

Award Procedure:
The Morris K. Udall Foundation will select individuals from the academic and professional community to serve as the Udall Review Committee. The Morris K. Udall Foundation staff will initially verify the contents of the nomination packets for completeness and then assemble the information for review by the Committee, that will meet at a designated location for one weekend to review and select 80 scholars and 50 honorable mention recipients. Students will be evaluated on the basis of: (a) Outstanding leadership capabilities, (b) academic excellence, (c) the appropriateness of student's plan of study to prepare for a career in the environment, health care, or tribal public policy, and (d) dedication to the values exemplified by Morris K. Udall during his career, i.e., civility, integrity, and consensus. The Review Committee has sole discretion in the selection of the 80 scholars.

Preapplication Coordination:
Each August, the presidents of two and four year institutions are invited to appoint a Udall Scholarship faculty representative to manage the selection and nomination of up to six students for the forthcoming year's Udall Scholarships. The standard nomination forms with instructions will be provided to the designated faculty representatives of all such institutions whose presidents or chancellors inform the Foundation of their intent to participate. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:
The faculty representative of an institution is the key person in the Udall Scholarship selection process and serves as liaison between his/her institution and the Foundation. The faculty representative is responsible for publicizing the Udall Scholarships on campus, soliciting recommendations of students with significant commitment to the environment and outstanding Native American and Alaska Native students that demonstrate a commitment to pursue a career related to health care or tribal public policy from members of the faculty; establishing the process to select the best qualified candidates to be nominated; helping nominees prepare for the competition; and ensuring that the institutions nominations are complete and are forwarded to the Udall Scholarship Review Committee by the stated deadline. The following information on the official nominating materials, must be included with each scholarship nomination: (1) Institutional Nomination Form that verifies the nominee's eligibility and formally transmits the nomination to the Review Committee. This document must be completed and signed by the faculty representative or the nomination cannot be considered; (2) Nominee Information Form that affirms the nominee's wish to be considered for the scholarship; provides biographical information about the nominee's background, interests and plans, and provides a statement about the nominee's intent to enter an eligible career and specifies how the student's educational plans will provide preparation for that career; (3) nominee's essay of 800 words or less analyzing a speech or piece of legislation of Congressman Udall's and how it relates to the nominee's interests and career goals; (4) three Independent Evaluation of Nominee forms. The nominee must secure letters of recommendation from a current or recent faculty member that can discuss the nominee's potential for a career in the environment, health care, or tribal public policy; a current or recent faculty member in the nominee's field of study; and another individual that can attest to the nominee's potential; and (5) transcript of the nominee's college grades.

Deadlines:
March 3 of each year for all nominations to be received.

Range of Approval / Disapproval Time:
March 3, of each year for receipt of nominations; March of each year for selection of scholars by Udall Review Committee; April of each year for announcement of Udall scholars.

Appeals:
None.

Renewals:
Sophomore recipients of Morris K. Udall Scholarships may apply for another scholarship by going through the application process described above.