Selection Procedures

In selecting Udall Scholars, the goals of the Udall Foundation are to:

  • Conduct a fair and independent selection process;
  • Recognize excellence while maintaining regional representation;
  • Reward initiative, perseverance, leadership, and problem-solving;
  • Have a scholar class that is diverse, dynamic, and the next generation of environmental and tribal leaders.

All complete and eligible applications are read by region, based on the nominee's "State of Legal Residence." In general, larger states with a greater number of applicants will be read as one region, and smaller states with a fewer number of applicants will be grouped with other smaller states into one region. Multiple-state regions are determined by geographical proximity, geographic or environmental similarity, and number of applications.

Some regions allow readers to designate one or more outstanding nominees "At-Large". After all the regions have been read, approximately ten Scholars will be selected from the At Large pool. The remaining At Large will receive Honorable Mentions. Guidelines for the number of Scholars, At-Large, and Honorable Mentions per region are based on the number of applications recieved.

Scholars are selected on the basis of:

  1.  
    • Demonstrated commitment to environmental or natural resource issues; OR
    • Demonstrated commitment to tribal public policy*; OR
    • Demonstrated commitment to Native American health care*.

    Commitment is demonstrated through substantial contributions to and participation in one or more of the following: campus activities, research, tribal involvement, community or public service. *Nominees in the categories of tribal public policy OR Native American health care must be Native American or Alaska Native.

  2. Course of study and proposed career likely to lead to position where nominee can make significant contributions to the shaping of either environmental, or tribal public policy, or Native American health care issues, whether through scientific advances, public or political service, or community action.
  3. Leadership, character, desire to make a difference, general well-roundedness.

2008 Rating Form [91kb, PDF, 1 page]

While there is no "typical" Udall Scholar, most successful applications do the following:

  • Tell a cohesive "story": beginning with the career goal statements, supported by activities, research, jobs/internships, transcripts, letters and the essay;
  • Articulate a career "path" or field (though not necessarily a specific profession);
  • Demonstrate a desire for consensus-building or problem-solving;
  • Illustrate leadership potential.


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