By Katrina Miller
NAU Communications
The Udall Foundation has awarded Northern Arizona University student Danielle Curley the prestigious Udall scholarship. This is the second year in a row an NAU student has been awarded this scholarship.
Curley is one of 50 recipients chosen from more than 400 applicants. Udall scholarships are awarded to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service and a career commitment to issues related to the environment or Native American nations. As a 2018 Udall scholar, Curley will receive a $7,000 scholarship for educational expenses and a membership in a professional network of change-makers.
Curley is a junior majoring in social work. She plans to dedicate her career to serving the Navajo Nation, making the development of child health and social service systems a priority throughout her career to ensure trauma-informed care is accessible.
“Children are the key to our future,” she says, “so I will prioritize the development of child health and social service systems to ensure trauma-informed care is widely accessible. Through my education in social work, I plan to affect change within multiple levels of Navajo life, from individuals to widespread healthcare initiatives in hopes of facilitating a system of supports that will allow children to thrive in the face of adversity.”
The 2018 Udall Scholars will meet in Tucson from Aug. 7-12 to learn more about the Udall legacy of public service and interact with national leaders in environmental fields, Native health care and tribal public policy.
For additional information or to apply for a Udall Scholarship, contact Melissa Hatfield Riggs at natl_scholarships@nau.edu.