AUTHORIZATION:

Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-259, 106 Stat. 78, 20 U.S.C 5601-5609.

OBJECTIVES:

To honor former Arizona Congressman Morris K. Udall through the operation of internship, scholarship, and fellowship programs, financed by a permanent trust fund endowment, to develop increased opportunities for young Americans to prepare for and pursue careers related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives who intend to pursue careers in health care and tribal public policy. Assistance is intended for the use of scholars only.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments for Specified Use Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Assistance is intended for the use of scholars only. Scholarships may be used for tuition, fees, books, room and board, or other specifically approved expenses. Payments may supplement, but not duplicate, benefits from other foundations, institutions, or organizations. Combined benefits from all sources may not exceed the costs of tuition, fees, books, and room and board as prescribed by the institution.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   (1) College sophomores or juniors in the current academic year having outstanding potential and intending to pursue careers in the environment; and (2) Native American and Alaska Native students who are college sophomores or juniors in the current academic year and have outstanding potential and intend to pursue careers in health care or tribal public policy may apply. Students must be properly nominated by accredited colleges or universities recognized by the Department of Education.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   U.S. citizens or nationals, college sophomores or juniors.

Credentials/Documentation:   Applicants must be a matriculated sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education at the time of nomination. "Sophomore" is defined as a student planning two more years of full-time undergraduate study beginning the next academic year. Students in two-year colleges planning to transfer to a baccalaureate program at another institution may be nominated. "Junior" is defined as a student who plans one more year of full-time under-graduate study beginning the next academic year. Student must have a college grade-point average of at least "B" (or the equivalent). Students must be a United States citizen or national. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   Each September the chief executive officers of accredited U.S. colleges and universities are invited to appoint a Udall Scholarship faculty representative to manage the selection and nomination of up to six students for the upcoming year's Udall Scholarships. The nomination forms are available on the Foundation's website (http://www.udall.gov) in September. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The faculty representative of an institution is the key person in the Udall Scholarship selection process and serves as liaison between his/her institution and the Foundation. The faculty representative is responsible for publicizing the Udall Scholarships on campus, soliciting recommendations of students with significant commitment to the environment and outstanding Native American and Alaska Native students that demonstrate a commitment to pursue a career related to health care or tribal public policy from members of the faculty; establishing the process to select the best qualified candidates to be nominated; helping nominees prepare for the competition; and ensuring that the institutions nominations are complete and are forwarded to the Udall Scholarship Review Committee by the stated deadline. The following information on the official nominating materials, must be included with each scholarship nomination:

(1) Institutional Nomination Form that verifies the nominee's eligibility and formally transmits the nomination to the Review Committee. This document must be completed and signed by the faculty representative or the nomination cannot be considered;

(2) Nominee Information Form that affirms the nominee's wish to be considered for the scholarship; provides biographical information about the nominee's background, interests and plans, and provides a statement about the nominee's intent to enter an eligible career and specifies how the student's educational plans will provide preparation for that career;

(3) nominee's essay of 800 words or less analyzing a speech or piece of legislation of Congressman Udall's and how it relates to the nominee's interests and career goals;

(4) three Independent Evaluation of Nominee forms. The nominee must secure letters of recommendation from a current or recent faculty member that can discuss the nominee's potential for a career in the environment, health care, or tribal public policy; a current or recent faculty member in the nominee's field of study; and another individual that can attest to the nominee's potential; and

(5) transcript of the nominee's college grades.

Award Procedure:   The Morris K. Udall Foundation will select individuals from the academic and professional community to serve as the Udall Review Committee. The Morris K. Udall Foundation staff will initially verify the contents of the nomination packets for completeness and then assemble the information for review by the Committee, that will meet at a designated location for one weekend to review and select 80 scholars and 50 honorable mention recipients. Students will be evaluated on the basis of: (a) Outstanding leadership capabilities, (b) academic excellence, (c) the appropriateness of student's plan of study to prepare for a career in the environment, health care, or tribal public policy, and (d) dedication to the values exemplified by Morris K. Udall during his career, i.e., civility, integrity, and consensus. The Review Committee has sole discretion in the selection of the 80 scholars.

Deadlines:   Mar 02, 2010 All materials must be received from the faculty representative by the first Tuesday in March of each year. Please visit www.udall.gov for the application procedure and the current year application deadline.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

From 15 to 30 days. Early March of each year for receipt of nominations; March of each year for selection of scholars by Udall Review Committee; April of each year for announcement of Udall scholars.

Appeals:   

Not Applicable.

Renewals:   

Sophomore recipients of Morris K. Udall Scholarships may apply for another scholarship by going through the application process described above.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

A Udall scholar must matriculate full-time and remain in good academic standing. The Scholar's institution must confirm in writing the cost of attendance and that the Scholar is enrolled full-time and in good academic standing. Scholars are required to submit a payment request form containing information regarding living expenses and additional costs that may be covered. To be eligible to receive payments, a Udall Scholar must submit: 1. An acceptance of the scholarship; 2. An agreement to attend the Scholar Orientation in Tucson, Arizona in August; 3. A statement of eligible expenses, certified by a financial officer of the college or university, including those of tuition, fees, books, and room and board; 4. A completed Direct Deposit/EFT Enrollment form. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Scholars may receive up to $5,000 at the beginning of the fall semester or may receive a partial payment in the fall semester and another at the beginning of the spring semester. The number of payments to be made via direct deposit during the academic year will correspond to the number of semesters, trimesters or quarters in the institution's academic year and the amount of funds to be provided, not to exceed $5,000 in total.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Audits:   No audits are required for this program.

Records:   Not applicable.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

95-0900-0-1-502.

Obligations:   (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $390,042; FY 09 est $417,500; FY 10 est $417,500

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

$2,000 to $5,000; average $4800. Honorable Mentions receive a one-time award of $350.

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