Payne Receives Udall Scholarship

NC State junior Pippin Payne is one of 55 students in the nation to receive a 2020 Udall Scholarship.

A 16-member independent review committee selected this year’s group of Udall Scholars on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, Native health care, or Tribal public policy; leadership potential; record of public service; and academic achievement. The review committee also awarded 55 Honorable Mentions.

Payne is a double major in mechanical engineering and religious studies and is minoring in business administration.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award, and above all else, I found it reassuring,” Payne said. “NC State offers students so many terrific opportunities, but you can’t do everything. Especially in my first two years, it was difficult to know if I was making the most of these opportunities at NC State, but receiving the Udall helps me know that I have spent my time well. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school and obtain a MBA or similar degree. The Udall Scholarship will be a tremendous help as I apply to various schools.”

Established by Congress in 1992, the Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and Tribal public policy; provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy to conduct policy research and outreach on the environment and related themes and to the Native Nations Institute for research, education, and outreach on Native American and Alaska Native health care issues and Tribal public policy issues; operates the Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus Program, which helps connect middle school youth to nature through photography, environmental education, and outdoor recreation; and provides assessment, mediation, training and other related services through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution.

“The Udall Foundation, in addition to seeking innovative solutions for environmental issues, is eager to award scholarships to creative, motivated, and entrepreneurial individuals,” said Courtney Hughes, director of NC State’s University Fellowships Office. “Pippin embodies these criteria and is eager to use his powers for good—not only as an engineer, but as a compassionate collaborator and leader.”

Each Udall Scholarship provides up to $7,000 for the scholar’s junior or senior year. Since the first awards in 1996, the Udall Foundation has awarded 1,733 scholarships totaling $8,860,000.

The 2020 Udall Scholars will assemble August 4-9 in Tucson, Arizona, to meet one another and program alumni, learn more about the Udall legacy of public service, and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, Tribal health care, and governance.