Christina Copeland '11 wins Udall scholarship

Christina Copeland '11 has received a 2010 Morris K. Udall Scholarship for U.S. students with excellent academic records and an interest in careers in environmental public policy, health care and tribal public policy.

Copeland is majoring in natural resources in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a minor in international agriculture. This semester, she is studying at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala.

She is among 80 students selected nationwide from a record 537 candidates nominated by 256 colleges and universities. Each scholarship provides up to $5,000 for the scholar's junior or senior year.

Copeland, of Hanover, N.H., has been a coordinator for Cornell's Dump and Run Sale for the past two years; outreach coordinator and president of Cornell's Sustainability Hub; co-founder and president of Cornell's Greeks Go Green initiative; and she served as Cornell's sustainability intern in fall 2010.

"I'm very interested in the human aspect of environmentalism and how to get people excited and involved in living more sustainably," says Copeland, who is also a Public Service Center scholar. "I believe that there is great potential in the role of sustainability coordinators to teach and inspire others about environmental and sustainability issues and what changes they can make to live more sustainably. My career goals are to do this as a sustainability coordinator at a university or company level."

Jessica Bloom '11, of Huntington Station, N.Y., received an honorable mention. She majors in environmental engineering and is studying at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Founder of the Windy Island Campaign to promote effective wind turbine code on Long Island, she is a member of the Solar Decathlon team and a former member of Engineers for a Sustainable World. Honorable mentions receive a $350 award.

Since 1998 Cornell students have garnered 29 Udall scholarships. The scholarships support outstanding students committed to careers related to the environment and supports Native American/Alaska Native students committed to careers in health care or tribal policy. Students applying for the Udall scholarship must be endorsed by Cornell to participate in the national competition. Those interested should contact fellowship coordinator Beth Fiori at btf1@cornell.edu or 255-6931. Faculty members are encouraged to suggest possible applicants to Fiori as well.

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John Carberry