UDALL FOUNDATION HOSTED

ORIENTATION IN TUCSON, ARIZONA,

FOR THE 2009 UDALL SCHOLAR CLASS

From August 5-9, 2009, 80 students from 66 colleges and universities assembled in Tucson, Arizona, for an orientation of the 2009 Udall Scholars. This strong class of Udall Scholars was selected from among 515 candidates nominated by 233 colleges and universities. Seventy scholars intend to pursue careers related to the environment. Six Native American/Alaska Native scholars intend to pursue careers in tribal public policy; four Native American/Alaska Native scholars will study health care.

The scholars received their awards and met policy makers and community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care, and governance. These leaders included: Terry Bracy, chair of the board and CEO of a highly respected consultancy firm in Washington, D.C.; Dr. Anne Udall, vice chair of the board and executive director of the Lee Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina; Eric Eberhard. a distinguished practitioner in residence at the law school at Seattle University; Diana Liverman, codirector of the Institute of the Environment and professor at the University of Arizona; Joan Timeche, executive director of the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona; and Sharon Megdal, director of the Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arizona.

Dr. Charles Redman from Arizona State University's School of Sustainability kicked off the Orientation on Thursday, August 6. Guest speakers, including members of the Udall Board of Trustees, staff of the Udall Foundation, and former Udall Scholars, led sessions on numerous topics ranging from Indian economic development to international climate change policy.

On Saturday, August 8, Terry Bracy addressed more than 200 guests at the Udall Scholar Banquet. Bracy was a top aide to Mo Udall for more than 10 years. He served as assistant secretary of Transportation in the 1970s and is presently the CEO of Bracy, Tucker, Brown & Valanzano, a Washington, D.C., consultancy firm. In his speech, Bracy discussed the deep commitment to public service that he witnessed in both Mo and Stewart Udall and encouraged these young Udall Scholars to continue focusing on public service and changing the world.

Dr. Anne Udall, vice chair of the board and executive director of the Lee Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina, served as the emcee at the banquet and presented a plaque on behalf of the Udall Foundation, honoring former Congressman Jim McNulty, to his widow, Jacquie McNulty. McNulty was a close friend of Mo Udall since their college days at the University of Arizona, after both returned from WWII. McNulty also served in the Arizona Legislature and on the state Board of Regents; he spent the majority of his life serving Arizona and encouraging people to get involved in their community.

Each Udall Scholarship provides up to $5,000 for the junior or senior year of college. Honorable Mentions receive a $350 award. This prestigious scholarship has generated more than 1,000 Udall Scholars since the first awards in 1996.

Selected statistics on the 2009 Udall Scholars

482 nominees were pursuing careers related to the environment.

16 nominees were Native American/Alaska Native and pursuing careers related to health care.

17 nominees were Native American/Alaska Native and pursuing careers related to tribal public policy.

15 percent of nominees identified themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority.

84 percent were juniors at the time of application for the scholarship.

68 percent are women.

21 percent self-identify as Native American/Alaska Native, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or African-American.

3 scholars attended a two-year college at the time of application for the scholarship.

Sampling of the 2009 Udall Scholars

Aerica Banks: an environmental studies major at Seattle University. Banks aspires to work on federal environmental justice policy through the Environmental Protection Agency.

Jeremy Doochin: pursuing degree in environmental economic policy at Vanderbilt University. Doochin has been very involved in the Tennessee American Chestnut Foundation to revive the American Chestnut and is the youngest member of the Sierra Club National Board of Directors. He is a second year Udall Scholar.

Robert Howard: pursing a degree in accounting and American Indian Studies at Arizona State University. He has served in an elected governmental capacity within the San Carlos Apache Tribe and is employed in the current tribal administration working on tribal projects that further the needs of the community from a socio-economic perspective.

Zazell Staheli: pursing her bachelor's degree in biological sciences at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks. She is an Alaska Native from the native Village of Kiana and plans to serve her people as a dentist and obtain a master's degree in public health. Staheli is balancing her academic goals with family and community obligations and will be traveling approximately 24 hours to attend the Orientation.

Comments about the Orientation

"The Scholarship Orientation was a transformation for me. The opportunity to meet such a passionate, active and reflective group of students was unlike any experience I’ve had before. I feel invigorated and empowered." Emily Grady (Bates College)

"The scholarship and orientation provided a one of a kind opportunity to not only learn from and network with successful environmental activists, but to renew and regenerate my passion and drive through my new relationships with 80 other unbelievably gifted and dedicated individuals." Sara Imperiale (Muhlenberg College)

"The connections that I made here at Orientation and due to the Foundation will create such a vast network of motivated people trying to change the status quo. Pooling our resources, we can be much more effective than as individuals." Matthew J. Cashman (Fordham University)

"This program is not only a personally rewarding recognition and networking opportunity for students who are deeply engaged, but it also contributes to a more environmentally and socially just future by facilitating the flow of ideas, enthusiasm, and friendships." Erica Tauzer (Allegheny College)

For a listing of the 2009 Udall Scholars and Honorable Mentions and more information on the scholarship, visit www.udall.gov or contact Mia Ibarra at (520) 901-8500 or ibarra@udall.gov.