The prestigious Morris K. Udall Scholarship has been awarded to two undergraduate students at the University of Colorado at Boulder for their commitment to pursuing careers in environmental public policy, health care or native American tribal public policies.
Jamie Hunt, 22, and Seth Peacock, 27, are two of the 75 Udall Scholars nationwide who will receive $5,000 to cover costs of tuition, fees, books and room and board for the 1999-2000 academic year.
The Udall Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit and were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. Sixty-five scholars are in fields related to the environment, six are in health care and four are in tribal public policy.
Hunt, a tribal member of Laguna Pueblo, N.M., is a senior majoring in environmental design with a focus on architecture. Hunt's goals are to work with American Indian tribes on reservations to design and build environmentally conscious homes that help lead to healthy living environments and are respectful to tribal traditions and history.
Peacock, a senior, is a double major in planning and public policy under environmental studies and pre-medical technology. Peacock is concerned with ethical and judicial issues associated with environmental regulations and plans to work in the drafting and implementing of national environmental policies.
"This is a great hour for Jamie, Seth and CU-Boulder," said Karon Johnson, associate director of the scholarship office. "The scholarship will ensure that a new generation is committed to preserving and protecting our national heritage."
The government-mandated scholarship program was created by the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation in 1992 to recruit students for careers in health care and environmental or tribal public policy.
The scholarship is named for former Arizona Congressman Morris King Udall, who served in office for 30 years. Udall was known for his love of the environment and concern for native American issues. He left a legacy of public service and fought for legislation on environmental public policy.
Candidates for the scholarship program must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average and be a college sophomore or junior prior to the academic year for which they apply.
The candidate must provide an essay assessing the impact that a significant public speech, legislative act or public policy statement of former Congressman Udall's has had on the candidate's field of interest. Upon completion of the award year, Udall scholars are required to write a 300-word narrative describing the benefits of the scholarship.
For more information on the Udall scholarship program at CU-Boulder, contact the scholarship office at 303-492-8404.