GVSU student named Udall Scholar

ALLENDALE, Mich. — Grand Valley State University student Ashley Keller has been selected by the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation as a 2010 Udall Scholar.

Keller, of Harbor Springs, is a behavioral science major with a concentration in sociology and a theater minor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She was one of 80 students selected nationwide for this highly competitive award and will receive up to a $5,000 scholarship. Keller is the first Udall Scholar in Grand Valley history.

Keller is one of 80 students from 63 colleges and universities who have been selected as 2010 Udall Scholars. This highly qualified class of Udall Scholars was selected from a record 537 candidates nominated by 256 colleges and universities. A 14-member independent review committee selected this year's group of scholars on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; and academic achievement.

As a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Keller plans to pursue graduate study in tribal public policy. Her career goal is to help Native American children through program development or social work. She is committed to influencing the well-being of Native Americans through cultural and health awareness education and counseling.
 
The 2010 Udall Scholars will assemble August 4-8, 2010, in Tucson, Arizona, to receive their awards and meet policymakers and community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care, and governance. For a listing of the 2010 Udall Scholars and Honorable Mentions and more information on the foundation and related programs, visit www.udall.gov.

For more information about the Udall Scholarship and other nationally competitive award opportunities, please contact Amanda Cuevas, director of the Grand Valley State University Office of Fellowships at [email protected] or (616)331-3219.

About the Udall Foundation
The Udall Foundation is an independent federal agency that was established by Congress in 1992 to provide federally funded scholarships for college students intending to pursue careers related to the environment, as well as to Native American students pursuing tribal policy or health care careers. The foundation also offers a doctoral fellowship in environmental policy or conflict resolution and operates a Native American Congressional Internship program each summer in Washington, D.C. In 1998, the foundation grew to include the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, created by Congress as the federal government’s only program focused entirely on resolving federal environmental disputes.

About Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University, established in 1960, is a four-year public university. It attracts more than 24,400 students with its high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley provides a fully accredited liberal undergraduate and graduate education and has campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids and Holland, and centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. Grand Valley is a comprehensive university serving students from all 83 Michigan counties and dozens of other states and foreign countries. Grand Valley offers 77 undergraduate and 28 graduate degree programs. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. Grand Valley employs more than 1,700 people and is committed to providing a fair and equitable environment for the continued success of all.