UF's First Udall Scholars in 13 Years

April 30, 2024
Two CLAS juniors aspire to address clean energy and environmental justice.

_{Left to right: Sofia Aviles, Natalie Triana.
Student Success/ Braden Blue}

Student Success and The Office of Prestigious Awards congratulate Sofia Aviles and Natalie Triana on receiving the Udall Scholarship. They are the first University of Florida students to earn this award since 2011, both doing so in the more competitive “Environment” category. Their accomplishment also marks the first time the university has produced more than a single Udall Scholar in the same year. 

The Udall Foundation’s Undergraduate Scholarship Program is highly competitive. After a considerable application process, 55 students nationwide are awarded the scholarship. These students are committed to public service through Tribal policy, Native health care, and environmental conservation.  

SOFIA AVILES 

_{Aviles stands in front of a light-up wall. Student Success/ Braden Blue}

Sofia Aviles’ dedication to the environment is evident. She is a junior in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) with a double major in Political Science and Sustainability Studies, President of Sunrise Movement’s Gainesville Hub, and intern at the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department.  

Aviles’ motivation to conquer her extensive workload and studies stems from a sense of community. “I get inspired when I see how many people care about climate change and environmental issues,” she says. “It helps me know that I am not alone, and we have each other to face these issues. Community is the catalyst for change.” 

Dr. Stephen Mulkey, a CLAS lecturer and environmental scientist, wrote one of Aviles’ letters of recommendation for the Udall application. He counts Aviles as among the top 5 students in his 35-year career. “[Aviles] has all the ingredients of becoming a world-class scholar and leader,” he says. “I expect that she will quickly evolve into a community activist and leader. She will bring her skills to the generation that needs her.” 

The goal that energizes Aviles’ forward momentum is developing clean power for the island of Puerto Rico through renewable microgrid projects, something deeply personal to her since she was raised in Puerto Rico and her family experiences ongoing negative effects of climate change on the island. After earning her Bachelor’s next year, she will work towards a Master’s in Environmental Management. 

NATALIE TRIANA 

_{Triana in a flower garden. Student Success/ Braden Blue}

Natalie Triana’s ambition is equally impressive as Aviles’. Triana is also a CLAS junior with a double major in Economics and Political Science and is completing an internship in Climate Adaptation for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Not content with containing her studies in Gainesville, she has also studied abroad in Australia with UF’s Sustaining Humans and their Environment program. 

Before attending UF, her passion for national parks and experiencing other cultures across the globe was already set. Triana knew since high school that she wanted a career in environmental law to preserve the Earth’s natural wonders. “…I was able to work on Tribal environmental issues with the Environmental Protection Agency, and it became a newfound passion,” says Triana. “Therefore, when Kelly Medley [in the Office of Prestigious Awards] told me about the Udall Scholarship, which celebrates students working to address both environmental and Tribal issues, I knew that this scholarship was extremely aligned with my values.” 

Dr. Anna Peterson, of UF’s Department of Religion, is one of Triana’s mentors in the environmental research field. “[Triana] has so much positive energy about her work that it’s impossible not to feel motivated,” says Dr. Peterson. “She is a community builder, which we urgently need.” Dr. Peterson hopes that Triana maintains a positive outlook and goes on to make a positive impact on the world. 

Triana intends to obtain a law degree in her mission to address climate change and environmental justice issues. Coming from a Cuban family, she is particularly interested in assisting Hispanic or Latine communities by working with nonprofit organizations.

APPLYING FOR THE UDALL SCHOLARSHIP 

While challenging, applying for prestigious awards like the Udall Scholarship is beneficial in many ways. For Triana, Udall’s application process helped her “gain clarity in the specific job” she would like to pursue. 

Aviles’ journey with the award is one of perseverance: 

A big challenge I faced was continuing the application process after hearing that I did not become a [Finalist for another prestigious award]. It was easy to become pessimistic about applying to another scholarship, but I forged ahead. I realized that this scholarship was more tailored to my interests and I should not be deterred. Overcoming this ended up with me not only getting the scholarship, but also rediscovering my self-worth. 

If you are interested in applying for the Udall Scholarship or other prestigious awards focusing on public service, talk to the Office of Prestigious Awards. You’ll learn about application requirement details, UF endorsement competitions, and more. 

Written by Braden Blue and Kelly J. Medley.