K-State sophomore earns honorable mention in Udall scholarship competition
Friday, May 13, 2016
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's Jael Whitney, a sophomore in marketing, Overland Park, has earned an honorable mention in the tribal policy category of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship competition.
The Udall scholarship is worth up to $7,000 and is awarded to sophomore- or junior-level students who are seeking a career related to the environment or are a Native American or a Native Alaskan student seeking a career related to health care or tribal policy. This year, 60 students from 50 colleges and universities were selected as Udall scholars. The 15-member independent review committee also awarded 51 honorable mentions. The awardees were selected from a pool of 482 candidates in 227 colleges and universities.
Whitney, a member of the Choctaw Nation, participated in the Fulbright-Scotland Summer Institute in 2015 and has served as president of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the vice president of the Multicultural Business Student Association. She is a member of the University Honors Program and is the chair of the K-State Library Ambassadors. A semester honors list student since fall 2014, Whitney is a Koch IMPACT scholar and a Putnam scholar.
"This award will help me potentially try for more national scholarships, learn about additional job opportunities from the Udall alumni association, and demonstrate my commitment to my tribe as I apply for more tribal-related scholarships and internships," Whitney said.
"In the future, I hope to work in a role where I can use the analytical and communication skills I am gaining from my studies in marketing to help advance an organization that is centered around tribal or natural resources," she said.
A graduate of Upward Bound Academy Homeschool, Whitney is the daughter of Nathan and Patricia Whitney.
"Jael has been a leader within the Native American community at K-State, as well as an adventurous and highly engaged student both inside and outside the classroom," said Jim Hohenbary, director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships and associate director of the University Honors Program. "This recognition from the Udall Foundation is a great affirmation of her hard work and her vision for her future."
Established by Congress in 1992, the Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships and internships to students pursuing careers in fields related to the environment and to American Indians and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy; supports the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and the Native Nations Institute; and provides assessment, mediation, training and other related services through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.
K-State students interested in applying for the Udall Scholarship next year are encouraged to contact Jim Hohenbary at jimlth@k-state.edu or 785-532-3422.
