Randolph College Junior Earns Prestigious Udall Scholarship
Ludovic Lemaitre ’11, an environmental science major, has been named a Udall Scholar by the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The prestigious award recognizes extraordinary service to the environment.
Lemaitre, of Purcellville, Virginia, was one of just 80 students nationwide selected for the honor from among a record 537 nominees submitted from 256 colleges and universities. The Udall Scholarship provides up to $5,000 to help pay for the student’s junior or senior college year.
“Being a Udall Scholar means a lot to me,” said Lemaitre. “First it means that I’m becoming more knowledgeable and affluent in the domain of sustainability. Second, it means that I found the niche I’m comfortable to work in and in which I can have a tangible impact if I keep being serious about it.”
A 14-member independent review committee selected this year’s group of Scholars on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; and academic achievement. The review committee also awarded 50 Honorable Mentions.
“These students are the future environmental and tribal leaders of our world and the Udall Foundation is proud to help them advance their education,” said Terrence L. Bracy, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Udall Foundation.
The 2010 Udall Scholars will assemble August 4-8, 2010, in Tucson, Arizona, to receive their awards and meet policymakers and community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care, and governance
“This is a national award that recognizes students who are both outstanding scholars and leaders in environmental sustainability,” said Karin Warren, associate professor of environmental studies and the Herzog Family Chair in Environmental Studies at Randolph College.
Lemaitre is a familiar face in the Randolph College environmental community — whether working in the organic garden or as a delegate to the national Powershift conference. In 2008, he was named the College’s Outstanding Environmental Studies/Science Student. He is an environmental science major with minors in math and biology.
With fellow students Megan Roberts ’10 and Karl Sakas ’11, Lemaitre worked on “A Green Master Plan for Randolph College” under the direction of Warren and Rick Barnes, professor of psychology and environmental studies. The project was part of the College’s 2008 Summer Research Program.
For his 2010 Summer Research project, Lemaitre and Warren will develop a “Climate Action Plan for Randolph College.”
Lemaitre is continuing a trend of students from the department earning Udall recognition. Naomi Hollifield ’06 was a 2004 Udall Scholar and Katelin Shugart-Schmidt ’10 earned an Honorable Mention in 2009.
The Udall Foundation is an independent federal agency established by Congress in 1992 to provide federally funded scholarships for college students intending to pursue careers related to the environment, as well as to Native American students pursuing tribal policy or health care careers.
Tags: environmental studies
