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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

85.400:  Morris K. Udall Scholarship Program

Objectives:  To honor former Arizona Congressman Morris K. Udall through the operation of internship, scholarship, and fellowship programs, financed by a permanent trust fund endowment, to develop increased opportunities for young Americans to prepare for and pursue careers related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives who intend to pursue careers in health care and tribal public policy. Assistance is intended for the use of scholars only.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

85.400 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  (1) College sophomores or juniors in the current academic year having outstanding potential and intending to pursue careers in environmental public policy; and (2) Native American and Alaska Native students who are college sophomores or juniors in the current academic year and have outstanding potential and intend to pursue careers in health care or tribal public policy may apply. Students must be properly nominated by accredited colleges or universities recognized by the Department of Education.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  U.S. citizens or nationals, college sophomores, or juniors will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applicants must be a matriculated sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education at the time of nomination. "Sophomore" is defined as a student planning two more years of full-time undergraduate study beginning the next academic year. Students in two-year colleges planning to transfer to a baccalaureate program at another institution may be nominated. "Junior" is defined as a student who plans one more year of full-time under-graduate study beginning the next academic year. Student must have a college grade-point average of at least "B" (or the equivalent) and be in the upper fourth of his or her class. Students must be a United States citizen, a permanent resident alien, or, in the case of nominees from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, a United States nation.

85.400 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Each August, the presidents of two and four year institutions are invited to appoint a Udall Scholarship faculty representative to manage the selection and nomination of up to six students (three in each category) for the forthcoming year's Udall Scholarships. The standard nomination forms with instructions will be provided to the designated faculty representatives of all such institutions whose presidents or chancellors inform the Foundation of their intent to participate. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  The faculty representative of an institution is the key person in the Udall Scholarship selection process and serves as liaison between his/her institution and the Foundation. The faculty representative is responsible for publicizing the Udall Scholarships on campus, soliciting recommendations of students with significant commitment to pursue a career in environmental public policy and outstanding Native American and Alaska Native students that demonstrate a commitment to pursue a career related to health care or tribal public policy from members of the faculty; establishing the process to select the best qualified candidates to be nominated; helping nominees prepare for the competition; and ensuring that the institutions nominations are complete and are forwarded to the Udall Scholarship Review Committee by the stated deadline. The following information on the official nominating materials, must be included with each scholarship nomination: (1) Institutional Nomination Form that verifies the nominee's eligibility and formally transmits the nomination to the Review Committee. This document must be completed and signed by the faculty representative or the nomination cannot be considered; (2) Nominee Information Form that affirms the nominee's wish to be considered for the scholarship; provides biographical information about the nominee's background, interests and plans, and provides a statement about the nominees intent to enter an eligible career and specifies how the student's educational plans will provide preparation for that career; (3) nominee's essay of 600 words or less citing in the student's opinion of Congressman Udall's major achievements and what those achievements mean to the nominee; (4) three Independent Evaluation of Nominee forms. The nominee must secure letters of recommendation from a current or recent faculty member that can discuss the nominee's potential for a career in environmental public policy, health care, or tribal public policy; a current or recent faculty member in the nominee's field of study; and another individual that can attest to the nominee's potential; and (5) transcript of the nominee's college grades.

Award Procedure:  ACT, Inc., with the approval of the Morris K. Udall Foundation, will select eight individuals from the academic community to serve as the Udall Review Committee. ACT will initially verify the contents of the nomination packets for completeness and then assemble the information for review by the Committee, that will meet at a designated location for one weekend to review and select 75 scholars. Students will be evaluated on the basis of: (a) Outstanding leadership capabilities, (b) academic excellence, (c) the appropriateness of student's plan of study to prepare for a career in environment, health care, or tribal public policy, and (d) dedication to the values exemplified by Morris K. Udall during his career, i.e., civility, integrity, and consensus. The Review Committee has sole discretion in the selection of the 75 scholars.

Deadlines:  February 15 of each year for all nominations to be received.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  February 15, of each year for receipt of nominations; April of each year for selection of scholars by Udall Review Committee; May of each year for announcement of Udall scholars.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Recipients of Morris K. Udall Scholarships may apply for another scholarship by going through the application process described above.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $5,000.

85.400 RELATED PROGRAMS:

85.400 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

85.400 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  THE MORRIS K. UDALL SCHOLARSHIP AND EXCELLENCE IN NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY FOUNDATION

Type of Assistance:  Direct Payments for Specified Use.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $350,000; FY 00 est $375,000; and FY 01 est $400,000.

Budget Account Number:  95-0900-0-1-502.

Authorization:  Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-259, 106 Stat. 78, 20 U.S.C. 5601.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  None. Informational bulletins are available upon request.

85.400 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  American College Testing (ACT), 2201 North Dodge, Post Office Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243. Contact: Jo Ann Hubble. Phone: (319) 337-1707. FAX (319) 337-1204.

Headquarters Office:  Contact: Christopher L. Helms, Executive Director, 110 South Church, Ste. 3350, Tucson, AZ 85701. Phone: (520) 670-5608. FAX (520) 670-5530.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

85.400 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  To be eligible to receive payments, a Udall scholar must matriculate full-time and remain in good academic standing. Scholar's institution must confirm in writing the cost of attendance and that the Scholar is enrolled full-time and in good academic standing. ACT will send each institution a form containing the student's name and social security number. This form will be completed and returned to ACT at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the fall semester. ACT will review forms for completeness of information and appropriate signatures from school officials. Scholars are required to submit a payment request form containing information regarding living expenses and additional costs that may be covered. Scholars may receive up to $5,000 at the beginning of the fall semester or may receive a partial payment in the fall semester and another at the beginning of the spring semester.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Assistance is intended for the use of scholars only.

85.400 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Not required.

Audits:  Not required.

Records:  Not applicable.