Caroline Wade is a junior, Environmental Health major who has had numerous experiences to strengthen her resolve to work in watershed management and water resource protection. She would like to be involved in developing policies to implement water quality programs. Her favorite experience related to her major was visiting the Wind Energy Farm in rural Mendota, which provided a “shining example of the future hope of environmental progress.” Caroline once worked in water quality testing and as a lab assistant on pesticide metabolism and fate research. She is also involved in constructed wetlands research at Illinois State University looking at how to optimize wastewater treatment performance.
Through an email Becky Mentzer sent to her department advisors, she learned about the Udall Scholarship and felt the self-exploratory process required to respond to the questions helped her gain personal insights into what motivates her to continue her environmental studies. She is more focused on what she wants to do and more able to see how her work, family and studies have combined to create her career goals. She said it has been a “great experience” to have applied for this major scholarship and others. Caroline is looking forward to the Udall Weekend Conference in Tucson and feels it is the critical benefit of the scholarship.
She is anxious to discuss with others what their thoughts are on current environmental issues. Her advice for future candidates is to start early to allow time to write your responses, set them aside, and come back to them for revisions. She also encouraged future students to talk with Becky to get her feedback on all aspects of the application process.
Caroline had this to say about her Udall experience:
My experience at the Udall Scholar Weekend in Tucson, Arizona was inspiring, informational and a whole lot of fun. The Udall Foundation staff and the Udall scholars were enthusiastic, supportive and shared their passions for many diverse interests - from dancing and traveling to the environment and public service. Hearing about the wonderful projects and activities of many students working across the country and around the world was inspiring and broadened my knowledge of current environmental issues. The varied experiences and backgrounds of the students brought new perspectives to our discussions, kept our group projects exciting, and made our presentations entertaining as well as informative.
The agenda included speakers, lively discussions, brainstorming, fun games, and time to socialize or explore downtown Tucson. The networking and alumni listserv also provide ongoing academic and professional opportunities as well as a nationwide network of friends which will be useful for many years to come. The Scholar Weekend was truly an amazing and memorable experience.
