UArizona Udall Scholar Seeks to Build Consensus in Science Policy

May 21, 2020
By Danielle Barefoot, Assistant Director, Nationally Competitive Scholarships
Udall Scholarship recipient Kyle Kline with ocotillo cactus in background

 

The Udall Scholarship Foundation announced on May 8 that University of Arizona sophomore Kyle Kline has been named a 2020 Udall Scholar.

A total of 55 Udall Scholars were selected from more than 429 applicants and include students from 199 institutions. Of this year’s selected scholars, only 13 were sophomores. The Udall Scholarship recognizes students in the areas of leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. Scholars receive up to $7,000 to offset academic expenses, in addition to access to the Udall alumni network and attendance to a scholar orientation hosted here in Tucson.

Kline is an Honors College student double majoring in Environmental Studies and Political Science in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, with a minor in Theatre Arts in the College of Fine Arts.  He found his home at the University of Arizona after spending a summer on campus as a KEYS Summer Research Intern. Through the Flinn Scholarship program, the Honors College, and various environmental programs, Kline has built an interdisciplinary and enriching academic and extracurricular experience. 

For Kline, theatre serves as a bridge between policy and communication. Performance has emboldened him to wonder about the possibilities of consensus building and leap into experiences at the intersection of climate change and policy.

“To quote the Tony Award winning musical Hadestown, wonder can ‘make you see how the world could be, in spite of the way that it is.’ It is with this mantra that I fuel my climate activism, using that possibility to reshape the story of our world for the better.”

Currently an intern in the Arizona state senate, Kline hopes to pursue a graduate degree in law or public administration upon graduation and eventually return to the Arizona state legislature as an elected official.

“I want to dedicate my career to fighting for climate justice through equitable environmental policy. My efforts are only possible because of the incredible work of those on the front line of the climate crisis and I am impassioned to follow in their footsteps. Thank you to every mentor and friend who has armed me with the tools and support to make change. Our nation, state and university have a long way to go in addressing climate change, but I will do everything in my power to help secure our future, so the next generation can have theirs.”

If you would like more information on applying to the Udall Scholarship or other Nationally Competitive Scholarships, please contact the Arizona Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships at oncs@arizona.edu.