For the past four years, Iowa State has had at least two students, from more than 500 applicants, selected to receive the Morris K. Udall Foundation Scholarship, and this year is no exception.

Iowa State continues its outstanding history with this year’s recipients – Jesse Holland and Mark Nolen – for the environmental sciences scholarship.

Each year the foundation, which was established by Congress in 1992 to honor Udall’s 30-year legacy of public service, awards undergraduate scholarships to juniors and seniors in fields of environmental sciences and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care or tribal policy.

“Iowa State University is pleased to have two students selected for Udall Scholarships,” said Liz Beck, director of the Honors Program. “This recognition attests to the high quality of education for students in the environmental sciences, and the high caliber of students who are prepared for public service.”

Beck is part of the committee that seeks out ISU students to apply for various scholarships. She has been in constant contact with Holland and Nolen since they began their application process.

Beck’s job as the university contact for the Udall Scholarship is to help applicants make their public policy statements, fine tune their resumes and perfect their applications.

“It takes a long time to get the applications ready,” she said. “Students rewrite the application three or four times and sometimes even more.”

The students were awarded the scholarship based on their continuous commitment to the preservation of the environment and good academic standings. Each student was awarded a one-year scholarship to cover academic expenses up to a maximum of $5,000.

Nolen is a senior in animal ecology from Little Rock, Ark. He plans to study ecological patterns as a research biologist with an emphasis on bird conservation and ecology. Nolen could not be reached for comment.

In his essay for the scholarship application, Nolen wrote that he started as a bird-watcher in neighborhood parks, where he “received a strong connection to the natural world.” He also wrote that he hopes to help in educating children about the natural environment.

Holland, junior in environmental science, has a different goal.

“I plan on working for an environmental advocacy organization,” he said.

Holland said he may pursue a master’s degree in environmental programs after his expected graduation in August 2002.

“I am very pleased that I won the scholarship,” he said. “One thing that contributed to my selection, I believe, is my work within the outdoors. I believe that my association to the natural environment had a lot to do with my selection for this scholarship.”

Holland has worked in Zimbabwe, Colorado and West Virginia as a white water rafting and winter trek tour guide.

“I really enjoy attending Iowa State University. It is a great school, but it is obvious that the concern of environmental issues are rapidly growing,” Holland said, “especially issues such as the arctic national wildlife refuge, global warming and issues dealing with the energy crunch. … It would be nice to see the university take an active part in these issues, especially the issue of renewable energy.”