Alaska Udall Undergraduate Scholarship Program Benefits
The Udall Scholarship is a competitive, merit-based award offered to sophomores and juniors enrolled in an accredited college or university. Each year, the Foundation awards 80 undergraduate scholarships of up to $5,000 to students studying fields related to the environment, and to Native American and Alaska Native students studying fields related to health care or tribal public policy.
Alaska Udall Undergraduate Scholarship Program
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.
Who can apply for Alaska Udall Undergraduate Scholarship?
You can apply for the scholarship if you
- Are a sophomore or junior-level college student at a two-year or four-year accredited institution of higher education in the United States, pursuing a bachelor's or associate's degree during the 2017-2018 academic year;
- Will be pursuing a bachelor's degree full-time during the 2018-2019 academic year; and
- Are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.
- See our FAQs on how we define “sophomore” and “junior” and visit Who Should Apply for additional information.
Are two-year college students eligible to apply?
Yes. Two year college students may apply as sophomores in the semester before receiving their associate's degree. You must have applied and/or been accepted to a four year university as a full-time student for the following year in order to receive the award.
Alaska Unemployment Insurance Program BenefitsUdall Faculty Reps
Online Application
Beginning in October, faculty representatives may register their students for the online application at https://facultyreps.udall.gov. You may register as many students as you wish, although a maximum of eight applications may be submitted, and you may use the online system for your campus's internal selection process. If you have questions about the online registration and application process, see the instructions or contact Program Manager Jason Curley. A sample application is available for reference.
Submitting Applications
Application materials, including letters, transcript(s), and Tribal or permanent resident verification, must be submitted electronically using the online application system. The submission deadline is March 6, 2024. You may submit up to eight applications. Four of your candidates can be applicants whose careers will benefit Indian country (the Tribal policy and Native health care award categories), and four candidates can be applicants whose careers will benefit the environment.
Udall Faculty Representative Website
Update your institutional profile, register students for the online application, show your Udall Foundation Scholarship campus deadline on our website, and view your institution’s nomination history on the representative website. Additional resources to assist faculty reps in recruiting and advising applicants can be found in the "Just for FacReps" section.
Become a Faculty Representative
Udall Foundation faculty representatives are essential partners in the Udall Foundation's recruitment and selection of scholars. A Udall Foundation faculty rep advertises the Udall Foundation Scholarship competition on their campus; helps to recruit and identify potential scholars; advises students on how best to prepare their applications; and ensures that applications are complete and submitted by the deadline. Udall Foundation faculty reps can also help their students to have a positive, meaningful application experience, even when the student has not been selected as a scholar.
A faculty rep's principal responsibilities are to
- Be familiar with the Scholarship criteria and with the Udall Foundation's mission;
- Recruit applicants across campus for the three Scholarship categories;
- Register students for the online application at http://facultyreps.udall.gov;
- Advise students on how to best present themselves in the application;
- Submit candidates' applications and required materials to the Udall Foundation by the deadline;
- Update contact and institutional information at http://facultyreps.udall.gov; and
- Contact the Udall Foundation if you have questions about the Scholarship program.
To become a faculty rep
- Visit Apply first to be sure your institution has no active faculty rep;
- Email Jason Curley with your full name, school name, title and school email address; and
- If you are replacing someone as the faculty rep, please copy him or her in your email so the Udall Foundation is aware of the transfer of responsibility.
National Association of Fellowships Advisors
The mission of the National Association of Fellowships Advisors (NAFA) is to 1) guide advisors who assist college-level students with applications for nationally competitive, merit-based scholarships in promoting the full potential of candidates through the application process, and 2) foster the continued growth and professionalization of fellowship advising in higher education. For more information, visit the NAFA website or email [email protected].
Alaska Medicaid Program BenefitsApply - Advice and Guidance
Work closely with your Udall Foundation faculty representative : Ask them for feedback on your short essay answers and essay.
Articulate a career "path" or field : Even if you don't know exactly what you want to do, be clear about what issues you want to work on and how you're preparing yourself to have an impact. Clearly explain how you plan to use your education and experiences to affect environmental issues, or benefit your Tribe or Indian country.
Show your commitment : Use the short essays to highlight your community service, activities, internships, and research in support of environmental policies or Native issues.
Demonstrate how you go about problem-solving or consensus-building: Choose examples that show you working with others, mediating conflicts, or identifying solutions to problems.
Illustrate your leadership potential: Show how you can motivate others, bring people together, take initiative, and implement practical solutions.
Request your transcripts well in advance: Remember that you'll also need to submit transcripts from any colleges or universities that you attended before your current school (except for courses taken during high school).
Briefly identify and explain any activities or honors that readers are unlikely to understand
Answer Question #8 (additional personal information) : Write about an interest, activity, research project, or anything else that hasn't been expanded upon elsewhere in the application.
Alert the Udall Foundation to any unusual circumstances or hardship: Examples include situations that may have affected your academic performance or limited your activities.
Apply - Information For References
It is important that you know in which category the candidate is applying, as students may only apply in one of the three Scholarship categories: environment, Tribal public policy, or Native health care. The selection committee looks for sustained participation in environmental or Tribal activities, assumption of leadership roles and evidence of initiative, service to the community, and coursework or research that complements activities and career goals.
- Briefly explain to the selection committee in what capacity and context you know the candidate, and for what length of time.
- Provide concrete evidence of the candidate's leadership and service activities. The most effective examples highlight the candidate in action as an innovator, leader, volunteer, researcher, teaching assistant, etc., and convey the candidate's passion, enthusiasm, and dedication to environmental or Tribal issues.
- Give examples of the candidate's personal characteristics. Showing is stronger than telling.
- Convey the scope of responsibility the candidate has assumed; i.e., what impact have their actions had.
The Udall Foundation faculty representative is responsible for uploading letters of recommendation to the student’s online application. You can find your student’s faculty representative here. Please do not mail or email your letter of recommendation to the Udall Foundation.
Udall Undergraduate Scholarship Program
The Udall Scholarship provides
- Access to the Udall Alumni Network: an association of change-makers working in Indian country and environmental fields sharing innovative ideas, professional advice, and job and internship opportunities.
- Participation at Scholar Orientation: extending your professional network, meeting other Scholars and alumni, and learning new skills.
- Up to $7,000 for eligible academic expenses. (See our FAQs for scholarship award benefits and conditions.)
Scholarship Orientation
The Scholar Orientation is a required event for all new Udall Scholars. Scholars participate in professional development and training opportunities with environmental and Native professionals, learn new ways to collaborate, and build community with each other and Udall Alumni. The 2024 Scholar Orientation will be held August 6-10, 2024. All 2024 Scholars are required to attend. Scholars will receive a travel scholarship for costs associated with attendance at the Scholar Orientation.
Alaska Udall Undergraduate Scholarship Program
In general, undergraduate scholarship programs often provide financial assistance to students pursuing their bachelor's degrees. Benefits may include tuition and fee coverage, living expenses, and sometimes additional allowances for books, supplies, or other educational expenses. Some scholarships may also offer mentorship opportunities, networking events, or other support services to help students succeed in their academic and professional pursuits. Again, for the most current and accurate information about the Alaska Udall Undergraduate Scholarship Program, please refer to the official sources or contact the administrators of the program directly.
Alaska Food Stamp Program BenefitsWho is eligible for Udall Undergraduate Scholarship?
To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident. You must also meet all of the following:
- Committed to a career related to the environment, OR a Native American or Alaska Native student committed to a career in tribal public policy or Native American health care, and
- A matriculated sophomore or junior at a two-year or four-year accredited institution of higher education, and
- Pursuing a bachelor's or associate's degree, and
- Pursuing full-time study during the following academic year.
How do I apply for Udall Undergraduate Scholarship?
Students cannot apply directly for Udall Scholarships but must be nominated by a Udall Scholarship Faculty Representative from their college or university. Each institution may nominate six students. You can identify your school's Faculty Representative through the "Faculty Representative Locator" tool on the Udall Foundation website.
How to Apply Alaska Udall Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Step 1: Determine if the Udall Scholarship is right for you. Review About the Scholarship and Who Should Apply.
Step 2: Find your Facultyrep. Only your school’s faculty representative can give you access to the online application. Contact your faculty rep today; many schools have internal deadlines up to six months earlier than the Udall Foundation’s submission deadline of March 6, 2024.
Step 3: Review the sample application. The Udall Scholarship is a highly competitive award; start now so that you can prepare the best application possible. Work closely with your faculty rep as you revise your application.
Step 4: Request your letters of recommendation and transcripts. Visit our FAQs to learn more.
Step 5: Revise, revise, revise. Visit Advice and Guidance for additional information.
Who Should Apply
- Are you working towards positive solutions to environmental challenges or to issues impacting Indian country?
- Have you demonstrated your commitment to one of these areas through public service?
- Do you inspire and motivate others to take action?
- Are you committed to making a difference through civility, integrity, consensus, nonpartisanship, and public service?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, the Udall Scholarship may be right for you.
Are any fields of study given priority?
No. Udall Scholars come from all majors and fields of study. Recent Udall Scholars have majored in environmental sciences and policy studies, agriculture, political science, natural resource management, sociology, anthropology, American Indian studies, tribal public policy, history, English, theater, landscape architecture, and public health, to name just a few areas.
Alaska Temporary Assistance Program BenefitsHow does the Udall Foundation define Native American?
For the purposes of the Scholarship Program, a Native American or Alaska Native is any individual who is:
- U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents who are members of either State- or Federall-recognized Tribes;
- Descendants of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents who are members of either State- or Federall-recognized Tribes;
- Thos considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose; and
- Alaska Natives.
What kind of documents are required to demonstrate tribal enrollment or descendancy?
Applicants must submit copies of relevant enrollment forms, cards, and/or descent documentation such as a Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood. Descendants of enrolled tribal members must provide proof of their parent's or grandparent's enrollment and birth certificates that demonstrate the applicant's relationship to the enrolled tribal member. Applicants who are members of the First Nations of Canada must submit proof of U.S. permanent residency.
I'm not a U.S. citizen. Can I apply?
If you are a U.S. national or U.S. permanent resident, you are eligible to apply. Permanent residents must include verification (a copy of the green card) and a letter of intent to declare U.S. citizenship. Applicants who are First Nations of Canada do not need to submit a letter of intent, but must be U.S. permanent residents.
I have enough credit hours to be a senior, but I don't plan to graduate for another full academic year. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. The Udall Foundation considers you to be a junior if you will be a full-time undergraduate student for the following academic year. Students who intend to graduate the following December are not eligible. Students who have already applied twice for the scholarship are not eligible.
I'm in a five-year combined bachelor's and master's program. May I apply?
Yes. Students in a five-year program that will lead to a combined bachelor's/master's degree may apply in their 2nd and 3rd years of study, but not in their fourth year. Students in a five-year program leading to a bachelor's degree may apply in two out of three of their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th years of study. Students may not apply more than two times.
Alaska Weatherization Assistance Program BenefitsAre students who are pursuing a second undergraduate degree eligible?
Applicants who have returned to school for a 2nd undergraduate degree are eligible if:
- They are returning after an absence of at least 2 years;
- Their first undergraduate degree was in a field unrelated to the environment, tribal public policy, or health care;
- They have not previously been awarded a Udall Scholarship or Honorable Mention.
I'm not enrolled full time right now, can I still apply?
Yes, students need not be enrolled full time in coursework during the year they apply for the Udall, but must be considered degree-seeking by the college or university they attend. During their award year (both fall and spring of the academic year following their application semester), all Scholars must be enrolled full time.
My school doesn’t have a faculty representative. What should I do?
Discuss your interest in the Udall Scholarship with a professor, the dean of your academic college, or a faculty advisor. Direct them to Udall Faculty Reps to explain the importance of the faculty rep's role in the application process. In the meantime, use the sample application to begin thinking about your essays and letters of recommendation (you can request your letters even before you have a faculty rep). If one of your letter writers is affiliated with your undergraduate institution as faculty or staff, that person may also serve as your faculty rep. If you are having trouble recruiting a faculty rep, please contact the Udall Scholarship program manager for assistance.
Why can't I access the online application?
Your Udall faculty representative must register you in order to give you access to the online application. When you have been registered, you will receive an email with a link to the application and your username and password.
How do I determine my state of legal residence?
Typically, your state of legal residence is the state in which you are registered to vote or your family's primary residence. Your school address is not usually your legal residence unless you have a permanent address in that city (and are not there simply for the purpose of attending university).
Do current transcripts need to be official?
No. Since the faculty rep uploads all transcripts and letters of recommendation in the online portal (facultyreps.udall.gov), current transcripts may be unofficial and are often easier for our selection committee members to read. Faculty reps should ensure that all materials are true and correct to the best of their ability before uploading.
What can the scholarship money be used for?
The financial aspect of the Udall Scholarship can be used toward tuition, fees, books and supplies, and room and board. It can be used to cover these expenses at an institution other than your home institution, with additional documentation.
What is Scholar Orientation?
Udall Scholar Orientation is four days of networking, critical thinking, and community building with your scholar class. Scholars tackle a challenging case study, network with alumni and special guests from a variety of tribal policy and environmental fields, learn what it means to be part of the Udall legacy, and leave Orientation feeling inspired and supported. Travel from the Scholar's home or school, lodging and meals will be provided by the Udall Foundation. All new and repeat Scholars must attend
I'm not able to attend the Scholar Orientation; can I opt out of the weekend? Attend next year?
Scholar Orientation is an integral part of becoming a Udall Scholar; all new and repeat Scholars must attend. If you are awarded the scholarship and cannot attend the Orientation, the Udall Foundation will revoke your scholarship.
If selected as a Scholar, may I defer the award? I intend to do something impressive and/or scholarly.
No, the Udall Scholarship cannot be deferred. Scholars must be enrolled as full time undergraduates during the following academic year or decline the scholarship. All Scholars must also attend their Scholar Orientation, which is an integral part of becoming a Udall Scholar. If you cannot attend Orientation, the Udall Foundation will revoke your scholarship.
How important are grades?
Grades are less important than community service and leadership records, but they are still significant. The most important thing is that your GPA be generally on an upward trend, or steady. To see the relative importance of grades in relation to leadership, public service, and demonstrated commitment, review the application rating form at Who Should Apply.
How can my students gain access to the online application?
You must register students at http://facultyreps.udall.gov in order to give them access to the online application system. You may register students at any time between September 1 and March 7. When you have registered a student, he or she will receive an email with a link to the online application and a username and password.
When I registered my student, I entered the email address incorrectly/misspelled her name. What do I do?
Login to http://facultyreps.udall.gov and go to Manage Applications. You will see your student’s name and a link, View Application. Click View Application to enter your student’s application area. Click on Confirm Profile in the right menu. You will see a button at the bottom of your screen, Update Profile. You can make changes to your student’s profile until the student begins the application process. Please note that you will be required to fill in all fields in order to save your changes at this time. Once your student begins the application process, their status will change from "Registered" to "In-Progress" and you will no longer be able to edit the profile.
Can I use the online application for our campus nomination process?
Absolutely. You may register as many students as you wish, and you and your students may use the online system for your campus's internal selection process. However, you may submit only eight nominations to the Foundation.
How do I upload recommendation letters and transcripts?
Log in to http://facultyreps.udall.gov and go to Manage Applications. You will see your student's name and a link, View Application. Click View Application to enter your student’s application area. Click on Upload Supporting Documents in the right menu. To upload your documents, click "Select" and then select the document type; letter, transcript, or other documentation.
We can accept files in Word, PDF, GIF, or JPEG format up to 4 MB. You may upload only one file for each of the three letters and the current transcript; you may upload up to three files for other transcripts (transfer credits). If you upload the wrong file or wish to make a change, you will be able to do so at any time before the submission deadline.
If you are unable to upload any item, please contact us for assistance. We will not accept paper copies of materials unless there is no possible way the materials can be submitted electronically. If you must mail hard copy materials, they must arrive at the Foundation one week before the March deadline to allow for processing.
How can I contact someone?
More detailed information on the Udall Scholarship and the application process can be found on the Foundation's website, or by calling 520-901-8500.