Udall Scholarship

The Udall Foundation annually awards $7,000 scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for demonstrated leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. Awardees, who are required to attend a weeklong Scholar Orientation in August, become members of the Udall Alumni Network, an association of changemakers working in Indian country or in environmental fields who share innovative ideas, professional advice, and job and internship opportunities. Udall Scholars come from all majors and fields of study.

Dr. Steve Gump, [email protected] (link sends email) , 609-258-1998

• U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents who intend to declare U.S. citizenship
• Sophomore- or junior-level undergraduate academic standing
• Applicants in the fields of tribal policy or Native health care must be affiliated with a federally recognized Indian tribe or band (following criteria set by the Udall Foundation)

Competitive candidates for the Udall Scholarship come from all majors and generally fit the following profile:

• Are working toward positive solutions to environmental challenges or to issues impacting Indian country
• Have demonstrated, through public service, commitment to the environment or to issues related to Native American nations
• Inspire and motivate others, through leadership, to take action
• Are committed to making a difference, with integrity, through civility and consensus building

Applicants will select one of the three Udall categories for their applications:

• Tribal public policy (for Native Americans and Alaska Natives working on an array of policy issues in Indian country)
• Native American health care (for Native Americans and Alaska Natives pursuing health-related careers)
• Environment (for undergraduates interested in conservation and environmental issues)

Students who wish to be considered for nomination should email the following items to Dr. Gump ([email protected] (link sends email) ) by 1:00 pm on the campus deadline:

• A completed Udall Scholarship Nominee Information Form (available via the “Additional Udall Resources” link under “Related Content” on this webpage)
• Current résumé
• Unofficial Princeton transcript (downloaded from TigerHub)

Please include your last name in all of your filenames: Name_Form.docx, Name_Resume.pdf, and Name_Transcript.pdf would be ideal. Word or PDF attachments are both fine.

Do start early: The Udall Scholarship Nominee Information Form is effectively the Udall Scholarship application. We do not ask for letters of recommendation by the campus deadline. Instead, you will identify three individuals who would be able to attest to your commitment to service and your leadership potential in your respective Udall category if you are selected as one of Princeton’s nominees.

After the campus deadline, a committee will select up to eight nominees (up to four applicants in the environment category and up to four applicants in the tribal public policy and health care categories). The applicants will work individually with Dr. Gump between late January and the national deadline in early March to prepare final submissions to the Udall Foundation.

Before you embark on your application, be sure to review the Udall Scholarship website, including their very helpful “Advice and Guidance (link is external) ” page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Gump with questions about your fit for the scholarship or your approach to the application for nomination.