Three U of A students have been recognized by the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship Foundation for their commitment to environmental sustainability or policy related to Native American nations, as well as demonstrated leadership connected to these issues on campus and in their communities.

Alex Davis, a junior and Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Amelia Southern Uribe, a sophomore from Fayetteville, were named 2023 Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholars. Hailey Hoog, a junior and citizen of the Cherokee Nation from Jenks, Oklahoma, was recognized as an honorable mention.

“The Udall Scholarship is incredibly competitive, and to have two University of Arkansas students receive this scholarship in a single year and another to be recognized as an honorable mention speaks volumes about their academic accomplishments and commitment to public service. It also points to the level of support they have received from faculty and campus advisers,” said Charles Robinson, U of A chancellor. “All three have engaged actively and productively in the classroom, in research, on the campus and in their communities. Congratulations go to Alex, Amelia and Hailey for their remarkable achievements.”

The Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship Foundation awarded 55 merit-based scholarships of up to $7,000 and 55 honorable mentions to college sophomores and juniors this year. Students apply in the categories of environment or in Native American healthcare or tribal policy (students in this latter category must be Native American). Thirty-seven scholarships were awarded in the environmental category, nine in tribal public policy and nine in Native health care. Of the 55 selected, 14 are sophomores and 41 are juniors.

Applicants go through a rigorous and limited nomination process on their own campuses prior to having their applications submitted to the foundation. This year’s Udall Scholars were selected from 384 candidates nominated by 172 colleges and universities. Nominees came from 47 states, the District of Columbia, one territory and 38 tribes and Alaska Native villages.

The 2023 Udall Scholars will connect in Tucson, Arizona, Aug. 2-6 for the annual Udall Scholar Orientation to meet one another and program alumni;,learn more about the Udall legacy of public service and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care and governance.

ALEX DAVIS – UDALL SCHOLAR

Alex Davis is an honors junior at the U of A, majoring in agriculture business and minoring in international economic development. She is also a pre-law student.

Davis' on-campus involvement includes serving as the vice president of the Native American Student Association and the Sigma Alpha professional agricultural sorority. In addition, Davis is an Associated Student Government senator for the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences.

Since high school, Davis has been involved with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the U of A, participating in the Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit. This summer, Davis will join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Directorate Resource Assistant Fellowship program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the Indian Arts and Crafts Act Intelligence Fellow. 

After graduation and a two-year fellowship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Davis plans to pursue a law degree focusing on environmental or natural resource law. Ultimately, Davis aims to give back to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation community, advocating for Indigenous agriculture and fostering sustainable practices.

"I am honored to receive the Udall Scholarship and am grateful to the University of Arkansas for its commitment to creating a sense of belonging for all students on the campus,” Davis said. “The support from my peers and faculty has been instrumental in my applying for the Udall scholarship. I really appreciate those who recommended me — my academic adviser Dr. Jennie Popp, the Native American Student Association adviser Dr. Freddie Bowles and Mr. Trent Kissee, the director of Agriculture and Natural Resources for Muscogee (Creek) Nation. I also want to thank the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative for all of its unwavering support."

AMELIA SOUTHERN URIBE – UDALL SCHOLAR

Amelia Southern Uribe, a Colombian-American journalist, climate activist and artist, is an honors student majoring in broadcast journalism and political science with a minor in sustainability. Southern Uribe founded and serves as the president of Zero Hour Arkansas, a climate justice organization that advances environmental justice through art and music. 

In addition to working with Zero Hour Arkansas, Southern Uribe directs the Southeastern chapters for This is Zero Hour, helping to establish four chapters in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Hendrix, Nashville and Little Rock. Southern Uribe is also the managing editor of ROOTS, a climate education zine that brings together educators, environmentalists and local artists to implement climate education through accessible media.

Southern Uribe is the leadership resident assistant for Founders and Gibson residence halls, a Razorback Action Group member and the vice president of public relations for University Programs. Southern Uribe is dedicated to increasing climate communication and education.

Southern Uribe plans to pursue a master's degree in environmental management followed by a career as a climate communications coordinator for an environmental justice organization. 

"I am honored and grateful to have been selected as a 2023 Udall Scholar,” Southern Uribe said. “It is a great privilege to have been recognized for my commitment to the environment. I am grateful to my friends, family and mentors who made this possible. I am especially proud to represent the University of Arkansas. I want to specifically thank Trisha Blau, Sarah Draine, Dr. Sharla Rosenbaum and Fernanda Alcantara for their endless efforts to support me.”

HAILEY HOOG – HONORABLE MENTION

Hailey Hoog, an honors biomedical engineering major from Jenks, Oklahoma, is an Honors College Fellow and has been involved with numerous campus groups including serving as the director of Academic Affairs for the Associated Student Government, the student coordinator for Native American initiatives in the Multicultural Center and as student body vice president this upcoming year.

She is also active in a variety of organizations including the Native American Student Association, Biomedical Engineering Society, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. She plans to attend medical school and serve as a physician for the Indian Health Service, as well as work to improve areas of American Indian public policy.

THE UDALL SCHOLARSHIP

The Udall Scholarship was established in 1992 by the United States Congress in honor of the Udall family, specifically Congressman Morris K. Udall and his brother, Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall. Both brothers dedicated their lives to public service and environmental stewardship, leaving a lasting impact on American politics and environmental policy. The scholarship, administered by the Udall Foundation, aims to support the next generation of leaders committed to environmental, Native American and Alaska Native policy, as well as health care and governance.

Each year, the Udall Foundation awards scholarships to approximately 55 college sophomores and juniors who demonstrate outstanding potential in the aforementioned areas. Since its inception, the Udall Scholarship has supported over a thousand students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Recipients have gone on to make significant contributions in their respective fields, including environmental conservation, public policy, tribal health care and natural resource management. Udall Scholars have also pursued careers in academia, research, law,and government, continuing the legacy of the Udall family by dedicating their lives to public service and environmental protection. By fostering the growth of young leaders, the Udall Scholarship has played an essential role in shaping the future of environmental and Native American policy in the United States.

Office of Nationally Competitive Awards: The university has produced 13 Udall Scholars and 13 honorable mentions. The most recent Udall Scholars include Taylen Day, psychology (tribal health care focus), 2022 ; Alexis Barber, biological engineering (environmental focus), 2021; Elise N. Clote, agribusiness and marketing (tribal public policy focus), 2015; Michael Reinisch, chemical engineering and physics (environment focus), 2015; Andrea Love, agronomy and communication (environment focus), 2013; and Mallory Scheurer, nursing (tribal health care focus), 2012. U of A students and recent alumni interested in applying for scholarships and fellowships such as the Udall Scholarship should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu or 479-575-3771. More information is available at awards.uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.