Each year, on behalf of the University of Connecticut, the Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships nominates students to compete nationally for the prestigious Udall Scholarship. Named for Representative Morris K. Udall and his brother, Secretary Stewart L. Udall, this $5,000 undergraduate scholarship is awarded to high-achieving students from any discipline who are either passionate about the environment or are Native American students committed to tribal healthcare or tribal policy, following legacy of the Udalls, who supported legislation to protect both the environment and Native American interests. Recipients are also invited into a strong network of committed environmentalists and Native American advocates. If you are a UConn student and want more information about the scholarship and how to seek nomination, start here.
Nicholas Joseph Arisco (CLAS ’16), an honors student from Cheshire, CT, is a biological sciences major, McNair Scholar and member of the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), who aspires to earn an MD/PhD in infectious disease and urban ecology. Interested in epidemiology and the connection between health and a healthy environment, Nick would like to work with engineers as a medical professional to help developing communities design and implement sustainable solutions for safe water and clean energy. He witnessed the connection between health and the environment while leading an Alternative Break program with UConn’s Pre-Medical Society to the Dominican Republic where the group aided hospitals and local clinics. He also participated in a Fellowship of Catholic University Students service trip to the Zuni Reservation in New Mexico where he witnessed not only a lack of resources, but also sustainable practices while he worked to restore furniture for a local convent. Nick has also traveled to London as part of the LSAMP London Immersion Trip in Healthcare and Nursing. He has conducted biological research as part of the McNair Fellows program and in the behavioral neuroscience laboratory of Dr. John Salamone in the Department of Psychology, as well as research on disease ecology under the guidance of Dr. Mark Urban in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He is Treasurer and co-founder of UConn’s Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP) and also works as a research database specialist, editing and populating a taxonomic cestode database for the scientific community.
Christopher C. Bruno (CAHNR ’16), from Ridgefield, CT, is a junior honors student majoring in resource economics with a concentration in environmental economics and policy with minors in entrepreneurship, geographic information science and German. Chris is pursuing a career in green consulting and seeks to earn an MBA and PhD to promote environmental stewardship within the business community. Last summer, he was a Market Research Intern for TNS Global, an international consultancy firm. He is also interested in teaching environmental economics and policy at the college level. Recently, he received a 2015 Roper Award for Research Excellence (RARE) from UConn’s Office of Undergraduate Research to work with Dr. Benjamin Campbell, using Roper Center data to examine how race, gender and income characteristics influence perceptions of food and may result in inequalities within the food system and lack of environmentally friendly food production. He is also a sustainability intern at UConn’s Office of Environmental Policy (OEP), where he tracks and analyzes the University’s greenhouse gas emissions, has worked on the biennial environmental awareness survey and has organized a variety of events, such as Green Game Day 2014 and the upcoming 2015 Arbor Day Celebration. He is currently President of the Resource Economics Club, using this is a platform to help ARE majors leverage their degrees to find career opportunities in green-related fields, policy, and business. Last year, he was a campus ambassador for the GREEN program, a study abroad program focusing on renewable energy and sustainability. In addition to his numerous “green” activities, Chris has been a volunteer and volunteer manager for St. Mary’s Church in Ridgefield, through which he also participated on several mission trips in Bridgeport, Philadelphia and Ridgefield to serve the poor, assist the elderly, and act as a summer camp counselor. He has also volunteered at St. Peter’s Church in Bridgeport, tutoring underprivileged kids in math and reading. A Babbidge Scholar, he is the recipient of numerous merit awards, including a William H. Allen Scholarship, Russell Palen Fund Scholarship, Academic Excellence Scholarship and received a Certificate of Leadership from Area Council in Spring 2013. This is the second time Chris has been nominated by UConn for the prestigious Udall Scholarship.
Brianna Church (ENGR ’16), from Higganum, CT, is a junior honors student majoring in environmental engineering. After an internship with the U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Geophysics last summer, she is particularly interested in how engineers can apply geophysics and hydrological sciences to address climate and water issues. A member and mentor within UConn’s Society of Women Engineers, Brianna is also an active member of EcoHusky and an intern at UConn’s Office of Environmental Policy (OEP). At OEP, she has been responsible for analyzing data from Eco-Madness to suggest ways to decrease water and energy consumption. She also helped to plan UConn’s Climate for Impact Mitigation and Adaptation (CIMA3) conference last spring. Most recently, she took the lead to coordinate with the Sierra Club to plan and promote a bus trip for UConn students and local Mansfield residents to participate in The People’s Climate March, the largest environmental demonstration ever recorded, in New York City this September. Brianna has received numerous awards for her commitment to the environment, including the Paul Krenicki Endowed Scholars in Sustainable Energy Scholarship, the Al Geib Fund Scholarship for recognition of sustainability efforts, and the Environmental Professionals of Connecticut (EPOC) Scholarship. In addition to her environmental pursuits, Brianna is a current member of UConn’s Real Slow Food and Habitat for Humanity. She is also a two-time New England Scholar, was awarded second place in UConn’s 2014 Intern of the Year Award for her work with the US Geological Survey, and is a recipient of both an Engineering Academic Merit Scholarship and an Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Jessica Eileen Griffin (CLAS ’17), from Salem, CT, is a sophomore honors student majoring in environmental science. As a future researcher and advocate, she is interested specifically in the environmental impact of large predator removal. Last summer, she was a research intern for Dr. Hans Dam in the Marine Sciences Department at UConn’s Avery Point campus. She has also studied gene expression in stickleback fish in the laboratory of Dr. Eric Schultz in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. This spring, she will be volunteering in the laboratory of Dr. Tracy Rittenhouse in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, assisting graduate students in a variety of wildlife biology projects. In addition to her commitment to environmental research, Jessica is passionate about environmental education and advocacy. At East Lyme High School, she participated in Connecticut Envirothon and spent a summer at Georgetown University in an environmental science program for high school students. At UConn, she has served as a Research Assistant for the GlobalEd2 project with Dr. Scott Brown at the Neag School of Education, where she worked with middle school students to address the topic of water scarcity at a UN simulation. Also at UConn, she has been a member of the Geology Club and the Wildlife Society and volunteered for an anthropological dig at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. She is currently an active member of EcoHusky. This spring, she will be participating in an environmental Alternative Break to Kentucky. Jessica is a recipient of the Eight Mile River and Scenic Watershed Award for continued studies in environmental science as well as an Academic Excellence Scholarship. In addition to her environmental activities, she is a member of the UConn Archery Team and a correspondent for The Daily Campus.