Clarrisa “Claire” Walker, an honors sophomore from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was named a Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholar for her commitment to tribal healthcare, as well as demonstrated leadership connected to this issue on campus and in her community.  

The Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship Foundation awarded 55 merit-based scholarships of up to $7,000 to college sophomores and juniors this year. Students apply in the categories of environment, tribal healthcare or tribal public policy. 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 381 candidates nominated by 175 colleges and universities. Thirty-eight scholars intend to pursue careers related to the environment; 17 intend to pursue careers related to tribal public policy or Native health care. Of the 55 selected, 12 are sophomores, and 43 are juniors. 

The annual Udall Scholar Orientation will be held in August. Scholars will meet and connect with program alumni, learn more about the Udall legacy of public service and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care and governance.  

CLAIRE Walker – UDALL SCHOLAR 

An honors student majoring in biochemistry and biology, Walker is a proud member of the Cherokee Nation and seeks to uplift her community both in her academic and professional careers.  

In both her jobs as a medical assistant and a billing coordinator, Walker has been active in ensuring Native American patients have access to the healthcare they need.  

Walker has taken steps to close the gap in STEM careers among Native American communities, including organizing a multi-day STEM workshop to engage 200 students. Walker, who has been a member of HOSA since high school, now serves as a student mentor.  

On campus, Walker is actively involved in the Kilyanek Lab, where she engages in extensive biochemistry research. 

“I am sincerely privileged to be awarded the  Udall  Scholarship and am profoundly grateful for the support that the University of Arkansas has given me,” Walker said. “It is truly an honor to have my accomplishments in healthcare and tribal childhood education recognized. I want to thank my family and peers who have provided me encouragement and support throughout my college journey, my local AISES chapter for naming me the treasurer, (which will give me invaluable practical knowledge, and my professors in the Chemistry Department for igniting my passion for STEM and health care. I plan to continue to grow and learn in these areas and am grateful beyond words for the guidance I have received.”  

Walker’s career aspiration is to serve as a pediatric oncologist, specifically working within the Cherokee Nation or at North Carolina's Research Triangle, where she can continue to pursue her passion of providing accessible healthcare to a traditionally underserved population.  

“Claire Walker is a remarkable person, with incredible passion and dedication,” said Terry Martin, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “The University of Arkansas is proud of her accomplishments, including this recognition and more. We look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish in the years ahead.” 

Walker will become a member of the Udall Alumni Association, connecting her to a large cohort of other scholars and honorable mention designees.  

U of A students who are interested in applying for the Udall Scholarship should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu.

---

About the U of A Udall Scholars: The university has produced 14 Udall Scholars and 19 honorable mentions. The most recent Udall Scholars include Alex Davis, agriculture business (tribal public policy focus), 2023; Amelia Southern-Uribe, journalism and political science (environmental focus), 2023; 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 top 3% of 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.