UMD News Releases

UMD Junior, Christopher (Nathan) Williams has been awarded the prestigious Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship for the 2010 academic year. Udall Scholars, are selected for their academic records and also for their demonstrated interest in public policy. Each year, the Udall Foundation awards 80 undergraduate scholarships, to students whose focus is on environmental policy or environmental conflict resolution. Mr. Williams was one of the 80 sophomores and juniors selected out of the 537 nominees from across the country. He is one of only two students chosen from Minnesota this year.

UMD has the honor of having two students receive this high award in the past ten years.

Christopher (Nathan) Williams is a non-traditional junior, who is working toward his degree in Recreation-Outdoor Education. His college activities include participation in the UMD Outdoor Program, Climbing Program, Student Outdoor Education Conference, UMD Statesman Student Newspaper and the Outdoor Orientation Program Symposium.

Mr. Williams will attend the Udall Scholar Orientation in Tucson, Arizona and will receive a $5,000 scholarship award for the 2010-2011 academic year.

About the Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship:

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1992, the Udall Foundation honors Congressman Morris King Udall's thirty-year legacy of public service.

As set forth in the founding legislation, the purposes of the Foundation are to:

• Increase the awareness of the importance of, and promote the benefit and enjoyment of, the nation's natural resources;
• Foster a greater recognition and understanding of the role of the environment, public lands and resources in the development of the United States;
• Identify critical environmental issues;
• Develop resources to train professionals properly in environmental and related fields;
• Provide educational outreach regarding environmental policy;
• Develop resources to train Native American and Alaska Native professionals in health care and public policy;
• Through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, provide assessment, mediation, and other related services to resolve environmental disputes involving federal agencies.