June 17, 2019
Two UW students selected as Udall Scholars
Juniors Helen Ganahl and Cece Hoffman have been selected as Udall scholars, joining 53 other students from around the country for the competitive award. This year’s cohort was selected from more than 400 nominees.
Udall Scholarships are offered in three categories: those pursuing careers in the environment, Native American healthcare or tribal policy. Udall scholar candidates must also demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to public service and academic achievement. The scholarship provides each student with up to $7,000 for use on tuition, room, board or supplies. The Udall Foundation also hosts a five-day orientation in Tucson, Arizona. There, scholars will meet each other and program alumni, complete a case study and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care and governance.
Helen Ganahl
Hometown: Bishop, CA
Graduation: June, 2020
Major: community, environment and planning
Helen is a community, environment and planning major at the University of Washington. Sustainable agriculture, ecological restoration, urban planning, and activist fields inform the creation of her self-guided degree. She has determined that food sovereignty and well-planned cities are essential in the construction of stronger, kinder societies. She plans to attend graduate school for urban planning or landscape architecture, where she might influence the urban sphere for the better. She dedicates her time to research on penitentiary gardens and decreased recidivism, urban farming organizations, permaculture on campus, backyard gardening and building strong community relationships.
Cece Hoffman
Hometown: Mission, OR
Graduation: June, 2020
Major: education, communities and organizations
As a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Cece Hoffman wants to make a positive impact for her community. Throughout high school and while in college, Hoffman has been involved in numerous activities which she credits with bringing a diverse perspective of the world. Some highlights include serving as the vice chair for the student advisory board, where she facilitates discussions with UW faculty on issues of diversity and equity and serving as a member of the Got Green young leaders team, where she collaborated with the community of South Seattle on programs that work towards environmental justice. Hoffman also works with ISTEAM, a summer program that is dedicated to providing STEM and art programs for indigenous youth. She holds great interest in tribal and educational policy and part of her work with ISTEAM includes analyzing and recording data to contribute to the future changes in education. She’s also interested in environmental justice, public health and other forms of organizational change. She hopes to continue these investments while maintaining strong connections to her communities and working together on transformative justice.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities at UW
The Udall Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.