UDALL SCHOLARSHIP Campus Deadline: 30 January 2013

2012 Udall Scholarship Awards: Eligibility: 50 Awards + 4 day summer institute/orientation, & professional network resources 50 Honorable Mentions Eligibility: Sophomores/Juniors (If awarded as a soph. may apply again as a jr.) 3.0+ GPA US Citizen, National, or Permanent Resident Awards: $5K for tuition, room & board, or other educational expenses Summer Orientation: Tuscon, AZ (7-11 Aug) 4-Day Udall Orientation in Tucson, AZ (held in August); required participation Access to a network of environmental professionals and Udall Alumni listserv Honorable Mentions: $350 + Access to Network/Listserv

Application Components Basic Biographical/Resume Data Udall Specific Questions (7 short questions) Udall Essay (800 words) Transcript/s 3 Letters of Recommendation The entire application should tell a cohesive “story”: beginning with the career goal statement and supported by activities, research, jobs/internships, transcripts, essay, and LORs Use the short question answers to demonstrate your commitment to environmental issues Basic Resume Items: Includes Public Service/Community Activities: This includes work for government at any level (paid or volunteer); education; work for non-profit or public interest groups (paid or volunteer); preservation and/or restoration off natural and cultural resources; volunteer campus activities, etc. Demonstrate your desire for problem-solving or consensus-building: convince readers that you are going to make a difference Illustrate your leadership potential: the readers will look for students who can motivate others, bring people together, take initiative, and implement practical solutions Briefly identify and explain any activities or honors that readers are unlikely to understand Alert the Foundation to any unusual circumstances or hardships that may have affected your academic performance or limited your activities Read widely among the speeches, legislation, and policy statements of Congressman MK Udall or Sectary of Interior SL Udall. Choose works that clearly relate to your interests and career goals.

Udall Application: Short Questions Your Career Vision/Professional Aspirations (2 questions) What issues, needs or problems do you hope to address? In which area/s of the environment do your aspirations fall? How will your academic program and overall educational plans assist you in achieving your goals? Although not necessarily a specific profession you need to articulate your vision for your future and how environmental concerns fit this vision. Even if you do not know exactly what you want to do, be clear about what issues you want to work on and use the application to show readers how you are preparing yourself to make an impact

Udall Application: Research Experience Describe non-course related research experience, if applicable. Indicate which areas of the environment your research affects Indicate how the research experience will assist you in achieving your (professional/career) goals. You may discuss research projects you have undertaken for campus organizations, etc. It is OK if you haven’t already participated in formal research. Readers do not penalize applicants who leave the question blank. But do dig deep and think about what you have done or will be doing down the road.

Udall Application: Leadership Experience Describe a leadership experience in which you made a difference on campus or in your community. It is OK if you haven’t held a formal position. Readers look for applicants who bring people together by inspiring or motivating others to act, or by mediating opposing factions or groups to bring about consensus; identify problems or needs and propose and implement solutions; take initiative by looking for and creating opportunities. The readers also use this question to get a sense of your ability to make an impact down the road.

Udall Application: Motivational Experiences (2 questions) Describe a specific activity or experience that has been important in clarifying or strengthening your commitment to the environment. Describe your most significant public service, community, or campus activities associated with your interests in the environment in which you regularly participate. Explain duration, degree, and significance of your involvement.

Udall Application: Additional Information Provide Selection Committee with additional information. (Open ended; Useful for providing a context for readers) This is a very useful question and should not be taken lightly. It is useful for providing a context for how the selection committee should review your application. On the selection committee’s rating form they have the ability to add Discretionary Points for working to help pay for college, for overcoming significant hardship, for being a first-generation or non-traditional student, or for those who otherwise promote the diversity of the scholar pool. Take advantage of the invitation to address an interest, activity, research project, or anything else that hasn’t been expanded upon elsewhere.

Udall Application: Essay In 800 words or less, discuss a significant public speech, legislative act, book, or public policy statement by Congressman Morris K. Udall or Secretary of Interior Stewart L. Udall and its impact on your field of study, interests, and career goals. This essay is harder than it seems. It is neither a personal statement nor a a policy proposal or a synopsis/review. It falls somewhere in-between. The best essays demonstrate a sophisticated and nuanced understanding of Morris or Stewart Udall’s legacy and clearly relate the chosen topic to your interests and career goals. It will do more than summarize the item selected. The analysis should demonstrate that you are well informed about past and/or present environmental issues, and are familiar with Morris or Stewart Udall’s legacy. By relating your analysis to your career goals, you engage with the text of the speech, article, legislation, etc. and/or the intent and/or impact of that text, speech, etc.

How Application is Read: Scoring Sheet 5 Components (Max. 21 Points) Commitment to Improving or Preserving the Environment (5 pts) Personal Characteristics (5 pts) Academic Achievements (4 pts) Essay (4 pts) Discretionary Points (3 pts) 5 point scale: Average (1), Good (2), Very Good (3), Excellent (4), Outstanding (5) 4 point scale: Average (1), Good (2), Excellent (3), Outstanding (4) Most applications fall into the GOOD or EXCELLENT categories. The BEST APPLICATIONS will either be very strong in 3 areas: Demonstrated Commitment, Academics, & Personal Characteristics OR they are truly outstanding in 2 of the 3 The Essay: Essays are read for content; quality of writing; critical analysis and relevance to applicant’s career or educational goals. Most essays typically get 2 or 3 points.

Commitment to Environment (5 Points) 2 years involvement in campus/community activities or organizations related to environment Participation in research, internships, jobs related to environment Clearly articulated educational & professional goals Goal/career statements supported by application

Personal Characteristics (5 Points) Desire to solve problems, make a difference Goes above and beyond Compassion & integrity manifested through community/public service Leadership in general Recognition by peers, faculty, community Well rounded

Academic Achievements (4 Points) LORs attest to academic &/or professional potential Challenging coursework Coursework appropriate to career/professional goals GPA with upward trend, esp. in major Honors & awards

Essay (4 Points) 800 words Critical Analysis of Speech, Article, Legislation Integrates Analysis with Career Goals/Interests Understands Udall’s Legacy &/or Contribution to Environmental Issues Essay should also be well written AND provide a unique or fresh perspective Best to do your homework on Udall and select item/s for analysis carefully – many are overly used/stale

Discretionary Points (3 Points) Putting Self Through College, Working 20+ Hours/Week Overcoming/Dealing With Significant Hardship/s Non-Traditional or 1st Generation College Student Otherwise Promotes Diversity of Scholar Pool Discretionary points are awarded for overcoming adversity, balancing family and/or work responsibilities, promoting diversity. Rarely awarded

Insights from Selection Committee Read approx. 80-90 applications/day Spend approx. 10-15 minutes/application Applications are read by state, grouped & awarded by region (approx. 3 Scholars/region) Readers work in pairs Each application is read 2x (once by each member of pair); if necessary, application is read a 3rd time Composition of selection committee: Professors of environmental policy and science, EPA officials, scholarship advisors, honors program directors, etc.

Insights, Con’t Readers look for a coherent narrative—does your application suggest that you WILL potentially have an impact down the road Readers also look for “a strong character” (what they call “The Mo Factor”)—civility, integrity, consensus building Use short answers to reveal your values, interests, and motivation/s Coherent Narrative/strong trajectory: The application provides a coherent narrative of your path. The career goals, activities, research, service, etc. demonstrate that you have begun to work towards a career that will allow you to potentially make significant contributions to environmental issues through political or public service, community action, scientific advances, education, etc. Strong Character/The Mo Factor: Does the application reveal a desire to make a difference and solve problems. Demonstrated leadership experience goes beyond sitting on a committee or planning an event to motivating others and producing results that benefit the campus or community. General well-roundedness is also a plus.

Advice Activities Matter Be Clear, Concise and To the Point—make it easy for readers to find the important information The Essay is Important—making the connection to your interests and projected career is essential and tends to be the area where most essays fall short

Advice Grades are less important than activities and leadership Don’t be concerned about your major/minor Do be clear about how your particular career path and goals relate to environmental issues

Apply! Campus Deadline: 30 January 2013 Request Application ID (email goldbeja@lafayette.edu or externalscholarships@lafayette.edu) Complete Application On-line through www.udall.gov LORs submitted as email attachments to goldbeja@lafayette.edu Request official transcripts from Registrar’s Office (have sent to Dean Goldberg)