Luther College junior Callie Mabry named Udall Scholar

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Luther College junoir Callie Mabry

DECORAH, IA (03/29/2013)(readMedia)-- Luther College junior Callie Mabry of Fort Collins, Colo., was named a Udall Scholar on Wednesday, March 27. She was selected from a pool of 488 candidates nominated by 230 colleges and universities to receive the scholarship.

The Udall Foundation selected 50 students from 43 colleges and universities as 2013 Udall Scholars. A 14-member independent review committee selected this year's group of Udall Scholars on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, Native American health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; academic achievement; and record of public service.

Mabry, the daughter of Kevin and Kathy Mabry, of Fort Collins, is majoring in environmental studies and history at Luther. She is a 2010 graduate of Poudre High School.

Mabry's plans are to work for a nonprofit organization that focuses on advocacy and community work on environmental issues. "I find increasing clarity about my future career as I continue to take environmental studies classes, learn more about environmental issues, gain experience from internships and study abroad trips, and engage in dialogue with people who are passionate about good stewardship of the earth and point me in the direction of new opportunities," she said.

At Luther, Mabry has been named to the school's dean's list every semester and was granted the Luther College Regent Scholarship-the college's highest merit scholarship.

In her freshman year at Luther, Mabry presented a writing seminar research paper at the Luther College Research Symposium, and in 2012 presented her Spanish literature research paper at the Streamlines Conference in Dubuque, Iowa. Mabry was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society in November.

At Luther Mabry has served on Luther's Food Council, the Energy and Water Committee, the Campus Ministries FOCUS team and Model United Nations. She was the student leader for a week-long canoe trip for incoming freshmen, and is a cellist in the Luther College Philharmonia.

Each Udall scholarship provides up to $5,000 for the scholar's junior or senior year. Since the first awards in 1996, the Udall Foundation has awarded 1,364 scholarships totaling $6,820,000.

The 2013 Udall Scholars will assemble Aug 7-11, in Tucson, Ariz., to receive their awards and meet policymakers and community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care, and governance.

Selected statistics on the 2013 competition

• 488 eligible applicants were nominated for the Udall Scholarship this year

• 446 students applied in the environment category; 24 in health care; 18 in tribal public policy

• 480 applicants came from four-year institutions; eight came from two-year colleges

• 148 sophomores; 340 juniors

• 25 percent self-identified as nonwhite

• 230 institutions nominated students, and 11 schools had nominees for the first time

• 49 states had nominees

Selected statistics on the 2013 Udall Scholars

• 50 scholars and 50 honorable mentions were selected

• 42 Scholarships were awarded in the environment category; four in health care; and four in tribal public policy

• Tribal public policy and health care scholars are members of six different tribes

• 48 scholars come from four-year institutions; two come from two-year colleges

• Five sophomores; 45 juniors

• Three scholars were also scholars in 2012; four scholars were honorable mentions in 2012; 11 scholars were nominees in 2012 (but were neither scholars nor honorable mentions)

• 38 percent self-identified as nonwhite

• 43 institutions have scholars, and six of those have scholars for the first time; six have scholars for the first time in three or more years

• 36 states have scholars

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 American Indian students pursuing tribal public policy or health care careers. 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. The Foundation also operates the Parks in Focus program, connecting underserved youth to nature through photography.

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