Stanford
Native American Cultural Center
Rolling hills leading off into the distance of the landscape.

Udall Scholarship

The Udall Scholarship is a scholarship opportunity geared towards sophomores and juniors who intend to become leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics. The Foundation also seeks future Native American and Alaskan Native leaders interested in addressing public and community health care, Tribal government, and public policy issues that affect Native American communities, including land and resource management, economic development, and education.

Eligibility

  • Nomination by Stanford through the Native American Cultural Center
  • U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Full-time sophomore or junior (see the Udall website for definitions of class standing)
  • Study a field and demonstrate leadership in work related to the environment or Native American/Native Alaskan health care or Tribal policy
  • Minimum GPA of “B” or above
  • Enrolled full-time at Stanford during 2021-22 year
  • Will be pursuing a bachelor's degree full-time during the 2021-2022 academic year
  • Must be able to attend Udall Orientation Week

Note: Scholars selected during their Sophomore year may be re-nominated during the next year's competition.

Application

The following steps must be completed for an application to be considered for campus nomination:

  1. Register with Leadership Development to participate in the campus competition.
  2. Email Karen Biestman <biestman@stanford.edu>  to acquire your unique login for the Udall website when registration opens.
  3. Consult with Udall campus advisor regarding the content and writing of your application.
  4. Carefully select the speech, legislative act or policy statement of either Morris Udall or Stewart Udall that you will address in the 800-word essay.
  5. Request three confidential letters of recommendation (original only, additional copies not necessary):
    • At least one letter of recommendation must come from Stanford faculty
    • If Native, one letter of recommendation must come from Native American Community Center (NACC) staff that can attest to the applicant’s commitment to indigenous communities
    • It is recommended that you review Tips for Soliciting Letters of Recommendation and confer with the Udall campus liaison before finalizing your choices for recommendations. Begin this process early to allow for creation and submission by the deadline.
  6. Email the following materials to Karen Biestman by the deadline:
  7. Request an electronic version of all official college transcripts to be sent to Karen Biestman. If you can only obtain hard copies of a transcript, submit one original copy
  8. Three letters of recommendation (original only, additional copies not necessary). Letters may be sent electronically from the writer to Karen Biestman Signed Fellowship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver

Late applications will NOT be accepted without prior approval.

Selection Process

A committee of Stanford staff and faculty will review applications and select Udall campus nominees.

2020 Stanford Udall Scholars

Caroline R. Pecos-Duarte (Pueblo of Jemez), '21 in Human Biology

Caroline is a junior at Stanford University majoring in human biology with a concentration in community health and chronic disease. Her interests are motivated by health inequities among Native Americans caused by high rates of disease. In the future, she aspires to become a primary care physician and serve Native communities. She hopes to focus her work on bridging public health approaches with medicine to address both genetic and environmental influences on disease. Caroline is determined to be an advocate for patients so traditions and culture can be preserved, and a healthy lifestyle can be passed to future generations.

Additional Resources

You are strongly encouraged to consult with your faculty mentors on the application.