Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

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Please refer to the Nationally Competitive Scholarships homepage for the most up-to-date information. For all scholarships, contact Mychal Machado at mmachado2@alaska.edu if you have questions, to make an appointment, or to request information.

Important Dates

Visit www.udall.gov for details.

Online application availability: Late September

Application Deadlines:
Campus deadline: Early February
National deadline: Early March

Notification of winning candidates: Late April

Scholarship Overview

Are you an Alaska Native or Native American dedicated to making a positive impact for Native American nations or the environment?

The Udall Scholarship Program awards merit-based scholarships to college sophomores and juniors pursuing studies leading to a public service career in tribal health, tribal public policy, or the environment. 

Types of awards:

  • Tribal policy: For Native Americans and Alaska Natives working on an array of policy issues in Indian country.
  • Native health care: For Native Americans and Alaska Natives pursuing health-related careers with the intent to positively impact health care practice and delivery or health care policy and research in Indian country. 
  • Environment: For all undergraduates working towards a career that will allow them to address issues in conservation, environmental stewardship, or environmental policy on a local, national, or global scale.
  • Native American Congressional Internship: A ten-week summer internship in Washington, DC for Alaska Natives and Native American students interested in learning more about the government to government relationship between Native nations and the US government and how they can use this knowledge on behalf of their tribes. This is an opportunity available to undergraduate, graduate, and law students.

 

Information for Applicants

  • Eligibility

    Applicants must be:

    For the environment scholarship:

    • Sophomores or juniors currently enrolled full-time at a two- or four-year institution and pursuing a bachelor's degree, or expecting to be enrolled full-time during the award year
    • US citizens, US nationals, or permanent residents

     

    For the tribal policy and native health care scholarships:

    • Sophomores or juniors currently full-time enrolled at a two- or four-year institution and pursuing a bachelor's degree, or expecting to be enrolled full-time during the award year
    • US citizens, US nationals, or permanent residents
    • An enrolled member or the descendant of an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized tribe or band

     

    Who cannot apply:

    • International students

     

    For more information about eligibility requirements, visit www.udall.gov.

  • Additional Requirements

    Note that if selected to receive a scholarship you must attend the orientation in Arizona in August in order to claim the award. If you cannot attend orientation, the foundation will not allow you to claim your award.

    Seek advising early in the application process. Schedule an advising appointment with the Udall Scholarship Faculty Representative, TBD to discuss intent to apply. 

    Interview requirements:
    Campus interview: No
    National interview: No

  • Award Benefits
    • Up to $7,000 to be used toward tuition, fees, books and supplies, and room and board
    • A four-day orientation in Arizona to learn from and network with experts, peers, and members of the Udall family; all costs of orientation are covered
    • Lifetime membership in the Udall alumni community, a vibrant professional organization offering job and internship opportunities

     

    Award cannot be deferred or renewed.

  • Candidate Profile
    • Committed to a career in tribal public policy, native health care, or the environment as demonstrated through service and leadership
    • Committed to public service and finding positive solutions to issues in these areas
    • Academic achievement that demonstrates high potential of success in your chosen career and degree
    • Personal characteristics of civility, integrity, and commitment to consensus building 
    • Inspires and motivates others to take action
  • Application Procedure
    1. Familiarize yourself with the mission of the Udall Foundation and the legacy of Morris and Stewart Udall at www.udall.gov - this will help you craft a more competitive application.
    2. Find a faculty member willing to serve as your mentor throughout the application process.
    3. Schedule an advising appointment with the Udall Scholarship Faculty Representative, TBD the semester before you plan to apply.
    4. Once the Faculty Representative registers you with the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, start completing the online application. You will not have access to the application until you have been registered.
    5. Prepare short answer responses to service and leadership questions, and start developing your short essay. Your essay should do the following: incorporate values of civility, integrity, and consensus; give readers more insight into your professional goals and personality; talk about your leadership experience and how you see yourself as part of the Udall legacy; support the commitment you've demonstrated in other parts of the application; and reference Morris and Stewart Udall's contributions to further demonstrate your understanding of the Udall legacy. Refer to your application for more detailed prompts.
    6. Three letters of recommendation are required. Select references who can provide concrete evidence of your leadership and service activities; personal characteristics; commitment to pursuing tribal policy, native health care, or the environment as your future career; and the scope of responsibility you have assumed and the impact your actions have had.
    7. Submit a complete application by the campus deadline. The Udall Scholarship Faculty Representative will review all documents and make the final submission of the application. 

     

    About 12% of applicants receive awards.