K-State nominates five students for Udall scholarships

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Source: James Hohenbary, 785-532-6900
News release prepared by: Keener A. Tippin II, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Monday, February 19, 2007

K-STATE NOMINATES FIVE STUDENTS FOR UDALL SCHOLARSHIPS

MANHATTAN -- Five Kansas State University students have been nominated for the Morris K. Udall Scholarship, a congressional scholarship honoring the former Arizona congressman for his legacy of public service.

The scholarship is worth $5,000. Students competing this year plan to graduate in either May 2008 or May 2009. Recipients must either seek a career related to environmental protection, or be Native Americans or Native Alaskans seeking careers in health care or tribal policy.

James Hohenbary, assistant dean for scholarship development, said the nominees are Brad Lutz, senior in electrical engineering and computer engineering, Andover; Ella Todd, junior in marketing, and Iris Wilson, sophomore in geography and natural resources and environmental sciences, both of Manhattan; Sally Maddock, fifth-year senior in architecture and natural resources and environmental sciences, Lakewood, Colo.; and Megan Bindel, senior in biology, geography and natural resources and environmental sciences, Lee's Summit, Mo.

Lutz is vice president and photovoltaic system design lead for the solar house that K-State is entering in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2007 Solar Decathlon. At K-State, Lutz has been a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Students for Environmental Action. He also works as an undergraduate research assistant in the K-State SMART Lab. Lutz, a 2003 graduate of Andover Central High School, is the son of Bruce Lutz, Andover, and Debbie Berry, Wichita.

Todd, who also is working on a minor in leadership studies, is the president of the Leadership Studies and Programs Ambassadors and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. At K-State, she has been a Relay For Life team captain, a class leader for Introduction to Leadership Concepts and a campaign volunteer for K-State Proud. A marketing assistant at Manhattan's Sunset Zoo, Todd presented at the International ChimpanZoo Conference in 2006. She is a 2004 graduate of Manhattan High School and the daughter of Mark and Susan Todd, Manhattan.

Wilson is the recipient of the 2006 Huber Self Geography Scholarship. She is currently an intern with the National Park Service, creating a digital database of lidar-derived maps for national parks in Florida. At K-State, Wilson is on the Student Advisory Board for the Women in Engineering and Science Program and has assisted with Girls Researching Our World. She has worked with the Human Environmental Regional Observatory research project, accessing climate changes in southwest Kansas where the Ogallala Aquifer is used to irrigate crops. Wilson also has worked with Shawn Hutchinson, assistant professor of geography, in K-State's Geographic Information System Spatial Analysis Laboratory, assisting with a project supported by the Kansas Forest Service.

Maddock has been active as a student senator for the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, and a member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council. She also is a member of Tau Sigma Delta architecture honor society, Students for Environmental Action and Emerging Green Builders. In addition, she is working on the solar house K-State is entering in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2007 Solar Decathlon. A 2003 graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School, Maddock is the daughter of John and Cynthia Maddock, Overland Park, and Amy and Ralph Giberson, Lakewood, Colo.

Bindel is the vice president of Students for Environmental Action. She is a board member and docent at Manhattan's Sunset Zoo, and a member of the Progressive Coalition and Kansas State Alliance for Peace and Justice. A 2004 graduate of Lee's Summit North High School, she is the daughter of Richard and Patty Bindel, Lee's Summit.