UNLV junior Zachary Billot has been awarded the prestigious Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Scholarship for 2023, marking the first time in UNLV history that a student has won this nationally competitive award.
The Udall Foundation Scholarship recognizes college students who have demonstrated a commitment to careers related to the environment or tribal public policy, or who have shown leadership and potential in the areas of Native health care or tribal public policy.
Billot, a political science major and a member of the Honors College, is one of just 55 students nationwide to win the highly competitive award. The Udall Foundation selected him from a pool of 429 candidates nominated by 209 colleges and universities across the country.
This award comes just a month after Billot won the prestigious Truman Scholarship, making him the first student at UNLV to win both awards in the same year. The Truman Scholarship recognizes college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government or public service.
“Zach is an exceptional student who has demonstrated a deep commitment to environmental policy and public service,” said Andrew Hanson, dean of the UNLV Honors College and UNLV’s appointed advisor on nationally competitive awards. “Winning both the Truman and Udall awards in the same year is an incredible achievement and a testament to his dedication and hard work.”
With a minor in Brookings public policy, Billot has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while being engaged in a multitude of organizations and initiatives on and off campus. His passion for environmental policy and international relations has been the driving force behind his work spearheading a university-wide climate action plan, as well as his research and contributions to the Data Hub at Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute.
In 2022, the U.S. State Department selected Billot for the U.S.-Africa Green Leaders Fellowship, which has allowed him to work with students in Namibia to execute environmental policies. He also currently serves as a policy analyst for the Institute for Youth in Policy, as a member of the Clark County Juvenile Justice Services Citizen Advisory Committee, and as part of several advisory councils advocating for at-risk youth.
On campus, Billot has played a number of leadership roles in student organizations, including serving as a CSUN senator representing the College of Liberal Arts, vice president of the Model United Nations, and vice president for the Honors Student Council in the Honors College. A regular volunteer with Get Outdoors Nevada, Billot loves to connect with nature through hiking and helping others appreciate our natural environment.
“Winning the Udall Scholarship is an incredible honor and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue pursuing my passion for environmental policy,” said Billot. “This award, along with the Truman Scholarship, will enable me to pursue a career that will allow me to make a positive impact on the world.”
Now backed by the potent combination of both the Udall and Truman awards, Billot plans to pursue a Ph.D. in international relations with a concentration on Africa and environmental policy. He hopes to use his experiences as a catalyst for a career in research and management of climate-related developmental aid projects for the U.S. government.
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The Udall Foundation was created by Congress in 1992 to honor Morris K. Udall’s lasting impact on this nation's environment, public lands, and natural resources, and his support of the rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The foundation has a mission to promote leadership, education, collaboration, and conflict resolution in the areas of the environment, public lands, and natural resources; and to support Native American and Alaska Native students pursuing careers in fields related to those areas. The Udall award has become one of the most prestigious national scholarships in the United States. The 55 Udall Scholars for 2023 will receive their awards in a ceremony in August.
