Jones junior selected for Udall

Jones junior selected for Udall

BY LINDSEY FIELDER
Rice News staff

Jones College junior Alison Takemura has been named a 2006 Morris K. Udall Scholar. The biochemistry major is the first student from Rice University to be selected for the honor in eight years.

“It’s an honor to be selected for the Udall,” Takemura said. “The application process was daunting — several short essays and one long essay — but it was worth it.”

The $5,000 scholarship recognizes the top sophomores and juniors nationwide who are committed to careers related to the environment.

Takemura, a QuestBridge scholar, wants to be a scientist and use her research to influence policy and government. She plans to spend the next academic year studying biochemistry at Oxford. “I’m interested in trying out their independent instruction system,” Takemura said. “And I’ve heard England is environmentally active, so I’m anxious to see people’s opinions and how it affects the policies over there.”

This summer she will also attend a two-day conference in Arizona to collect her scholarship. Takemura said this will provide her the opportunity to meet with other students from around the country who have the same interest in helping the environment.

Established by Congress in 1992, the scholarship program honors Congressman Morris K. Udall and his legacy of public service. Since the first Udall scholarships were awarded in 1996, three have been awarded to Rice students.