UA STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR MORRIS UDALL SCHOLARSHIP

See www.uark.edu/admin/fellows

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas students David Norris of Little Rock and Amy Dunne of Fayetteville received recognition by the Morris K. Udall Scholarship Foundation, receiving a $5,000 scholarship and an honorable mention, respectively.

Norris, a junior Fulbright College physics major and Bodenhamer Fellow, was one of 80 students nationwide awarded $5,000 for the 2001-2002 academic year. Dunne, a junior geology major, received an honorable mention last year as well.

Norris is the fourth UA student to receive the Morris Udall Scholarship and the third student in the last three years. Last year, botany major Grace Kostel, used the funds to study in England, and Nicole Reed, a biochemistry major, received an honorable mention.

"Winning this scholarship is quite an accomplishment," said Suzanne McCray, Office of Post-Graduate Fellowships director. "Perfect grades, undergraduate research experiences and campus involvement help a student be competitive, but these are not enough. The student must demonstrate a very long-term commitment to Native American or environmental issues."

McCray said Norris wrote a compelling essay about his intended role in furthering science education in Native American communities, and Amy Dunne's years of work and research in water conversation were clearly rewarded.

"Two of the past UA Morris Udall Scholars are now studying environmental law," McCray said. "They are all special people who will make important contributions to our communities."

The Morris Udall Scholarships are awarded to sophomores or juniors who are planning careers in environmental public policy and to Native Americans and Alaska Native students who intend to pursue careers in health care or tribal public policy.

Norris is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. He was both a National Merit Scholar and a U.S. Presidential Scholar. In addition to the Bodenhamer Fellowship, Norris has received the Chickasaw Nation Education Foundation Scholarship and the Earl Collins Foundation Scholarship Award of Kiwanis International.

While still in high school, he received the National Council of Teacher of English Achievement Award in Writing, he has served as a research assistant in the department of physics at the University of Arkansas and has served as an engineering intern for ALLTEL.

"Eventually, I plan to specialize in public policies concerning science and technology," Norris said. "My goal is to encourage federal assistance to Native American Reservations and other underdeveloped communities to facilitate technological and economic development."

Norris, who is also majoring in European Studies, plans to study abroad at the University of St. Andrew's in Scotland next year.

Gay Stewart, a physics professor at the University of Arkansas, strongly supported Norris's application.

"As a Native American, David is extremely interested in bridging what he sees as the largest barrier to economic opportunity — the lack of access to information technology," Stewart said. "He is also very interested in physics education research and in having a career that would allow him to be a part of bringing successful reforms to education for Native Americans."

Stewart has met scholarship founder Morris Udall, who she said really cares about young people.

"It was his willingness to listen to the opinions of a kid and take them seriously that made him so special in my eyes," Stewart said. "I think he would have been proud to have David pursing his goals."