Two New College Students Receive Prestigious Udall Scholarships
Two third-year students at New College of Florida have received Morris K. Udall Scholarships for 2009. The College’s newest Udall Scholars are Elizabeth A. Hamman from Carbondale, Illinois and Nancy Rose Spector from Marco Island, Florida. Each scholarship provides up to $5,000 for one year.
Since 2003, four New College students have received Udall Scholarships and three have received Honorable Mentions. For 2009, the Foundation selected 80 students from 66 colleges and universities as Udall Scholars. In total, there were 515 candidates nominated by 233 colleges and universities nationwide.
Elizabeth Hamman is concentrating in marine biology with a minor in applied mathematics, and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in marine biology. She is interested in the ecology of invertebrates and wants to use field research data to construct mathematical models to serve as the basis for further conservation practices and policies of fisheries. Elizabeth loves to travel and has completed independent study projects in Belize, Guatemala, Germany and Peru. This summer, she will be conducting research involving the distribution of octopus dens in Honduras. She also works as an outdoor and outreach facilitator for the Girl Scouts, and loves sailing, backpacking, and music.
An environmental studies major, Nancy Rose Spector is interested in environmental education and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in environmental science, policy and management. Growing up in South Florida, with the Everglades all around, Nancy Rose was inspired from a young age to share the excitement and wonder she experiences in the natural world with others, in hopes that it will instill a more innate desire to accept responsibility for sustaining life (plant, animal, and human) on our planet. Nancy Rose spends most of her free time outside camping, hiking, sailing, biking, gardening and taking photographs. She also loves reading in her hammock and cooking delicious vegetarian food.
The Morris K. Udall Foundation is an independent federal agency that was created by Congress in 1992 to honor Congressman Udall’s legacy of public service. 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. The review committee also awarded 50 Honorable Mentions. The prestigious scholarship has generated more than 1,000 Udall Scholars since the first awards were given in 1996.
The 2009 Udall Scholars will assemble August 5-9, 2009, 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 2009 Udall Scholars and Honorable Mentions and more information on the Morris K. Udall Foundation and related programs, visit www.udall.gov or contact Mia Ibarra at (520) 901-8564 or [email protected].
For more information on this year’s Udall Scholars from New College of Florida, contact Linda Joffe, associate director of public affairs, (941) 487-4154 or [email protected].