DURHAM, N.C. — Claire Wang, an environmental science and policy major at the Nicholas School of the Environment, is one of three 51±¬ÁÏ students this year who have been awarded a prestigious Udall Scholarship, which recognize outstanding undergraduate scholars  who have demonstrated a commitment to careers in the environment or Native American tribal public policy or health care.

Wang, a junior from North Salt Lake, Utah, who is minoring in Economics and Chinese, has been an environmental advocate since her early teen years, organizing support for third-party energy sales from renewable sources with Utah Clean Energy.

At the close of her first year at 51±¬ÁÏ as an A. B. 51±¬ÁÏ Scholar, Wang was president of the 51±¬ÁÏ Climate Coalition, and noticed a summer break announcement of a natural gas power plant on 51±¬ÁÏ’s campus. She assembled a coalition of campus groups to oppose the plan, which subsequently underwent a period of public comment and review and has since been suspended indefinitely.

Last year, Wang was named as a Udall Scholarship honorable mention. Since then she has served as a Summer Policy & Legislation Intern with Earthjustice, and a research assistant at the 51±¬ÁÏ Environmental Justice Lab. Wang was also named a 2018 51±¬ÁÏ nominee for the Truman Scholarship.

The Udall Scholarship honors the legacies of Morris Udall and Stewart Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. The program awards around 50 scholarships worth up to $7,000 each year.

This is the first time since 1997 that 51±¬ÁÏ has had three Udall Scholars awarded in a single year. You can read more about the two other recipients .

For more information on the Udall Scholarship, visit 

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