March 13, 2024

Congratulations to the four students selected as Drexel's nominees for the 2024 Udall Scholarship! The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to outstanding sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. These students have been nominated by Drexel University to participate in the national competition. They have spent the past few months working hard on their applications. We wish them the best of luck!

Hannah Dominguez
environmental science '27
Environmental category

Hannah Dominguez is a second-year student at Drexel University pursuing a BS in environmental science and a teaching certification through DragonsTeach. She is also a student in the Pennoni Honors College. This spring she will be starting a co-op position at the Academy of Natural Sciences' Diatom Herbarium, as a Curatorial/Research Assistant. Hannah is an active member of the College of Arts and Sciences' Student Leadership Council, Drexel's Chapter of Alpha Omega Epsilon, Latinos for a United Campus, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Hannah's career goals combine ecosystems ecology and conservation research with community-based education.

Calvin Keeys
environmental science '25
Environmental category

Calvin Keeys is a third year student at Drexel University pursuing a BS in environmental science and a graphic design minor. His goal is to become a wildlife biologist with a focus on wildlife conservation and protecting endangered animals. He is currently doing research with Dr. Jason Weckstein at the Academy of Natural Sciences on whether the bird species white-winged becard (Pachyramphus polychopterus) follows Gloger’s Rule.

Growing up with an African American father and a Sierra Leonean mother, Calvin is proud of his multicultural background and wants to help provide opportunities to underrepresented communities and individuals in STEM careers. Calvin is a College of Arts and Sciences BRIDGE Scholar, Aspire Scholar (2022-2023 cohort), 2022 STAR Scholar, African Fusion Dance Team Vice President, and a member of the Black Student Union, African Students Association and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. Outside of academics, Calvin enjoys drawing, learning about animation, playing video games, bike riding and playing tennis.

Alyssa Kemp
BS/MS environmental engineering '25
Environmental category

Alyssa Kemp is a fourth-year student at Drexel University pursuing accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering. They are pursuing minors in interdisciplinary problem-solving and climate change. Their interests are rooted in environmental and social justice, climate policy, and community development. As such, they have conducted research projects on community-based heat mitigation strategies, community gardens, and climate transition workforce development programs. They are a Nina Henderson Provost Scholar, a Community-Based Learning Project Lead, and a Task Member of Drexel’s Climate Action Plan. After graduation, they aspire to enter a JD program, specializing in environmental and energy law. 

Alyssa has been involved in the Pennoni Honors College through the Honors Program, as a 2021 STAR Scholar and Velay Fellow, as a 2021-22 Aspire Scholar, and through the SuperNova Undergraduate Research Fellows Program.

Atara Saunders
global studies & economics '25
Environmental category

Atara Saunders is working to complete her BA in global studies and BS in economics in Spring of 2025. She has a concentration in health and sustainability and a minor in Spanish. Atara spent Spring of 2022 studying abroad at Universidad Nebrija's Hispanic Studies Program. She is passionate about local sustainable development and has explored the field through her co-op experiences as a fundraising developer for Sharing Excess, a research assistant for Econsult, and will continue to at her upcoming co-op as a research assistant at the Nowak Metro Finance Institute. Additionally, she is involved in two research projects exploring the health impacts and ridership satisfaction of transit systems.

Atara has been involved in the Pennoni Honors College through the Honors Program and as a 2021-22 Aspire Scholar.

Special thanks to the members of Drexel’s 2024 Udall Campus Committee, who worked with Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs to review, interview, and advise the nominees on their applications:

Emily Kashka-Ginsburg, Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs
Ian Zimmermann, Communication; Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs
Jen Britton, Climate & Sustainability
Hugh Johnson, The Environmental Collaboratory
Liz Raymond, Steinbright Career Development Center

The Udall Scholarship awards approximately 50 scholarships of up to $7000 to sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. The Udall Foundation seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics.

For more information, please visit the Udall Foundation website or email fellowships@drexel.edu.