KU News Release

KU nominates two juniors to compete for Udall scholarships

LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas juniors are among about 500 students competing nationally for 80 Morris K. Udall Scholarships.

The KU nominees are Lara Elizabeth Pracht, a civil and environmental engineering major from Garden City, and Margaret A. Tran, an environment studies and economics major from Derby.

Winners of the $5,000 scholarships will be announced April 8 by the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation.

Nominees must be college sophomores or juniors who demonstrate outstanding potential and study the environment and related fields or Native American or Alaska Native college sophomores or juniors who demonstrate outstanding potential and study fields related to health care or tribal public policy. Two-year and four-year institutions may nominate a total of six students from either or both categories. Scholars selected during their sophomore year may be renominated for the next year’s competition.

Since the first Udall scholarships were awarded in 1996, 17 have been awarded to 16 KU students (one student received the scholarship twice).

Established by Congress in 1992, the scholarship program honors Udall and his legacy of public service. The Udall foundation in Tucson, Ariz., administers the program.

More information about the KU nominees is below.

FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City 67846
Lara Elizabeth Pracht is a civil engineering major with an emphasis in environmental engineering. She is preparing for a career using engineering technology for international humanitarian development. In December 2008, as a member of KU’s Engineers Without Borders, Pracht traveled to Bolivia to help a mountain farming village of 100 residents to assess their water quality, sanitation and other environmental needs. She plans to return to Bolivia this summer to implement the project that includes constructing composting latrines. Pracht is the chapter fundraising coordinator and team leader for the environmental study in Bolivia. Since 2007, Pracht has worked with Craig Adams, the J.L. Constant Distinguished Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, to develop a groundwater treatment plan for an area community whose water was contaminated. Pracht also has worked as a hydrologic technician for the U.S. Geological Survey. She is a National Merit Scholar and a University Scholar, KU’s program for the top 20 sophomores. With the Engineers Without Borders chapter, she has also helped with food drives for Lawrence food pantries and to provide holiday gifts for children of families experiencing financial hardships. She is the daughter of Willis and Connie Pracht and a graduate of Garden City High School.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Derby 67037
Margaret A. Tran is majoring in environmental studies and economics to prepare for a public service or corporate career as a policy analyst addressing sustainability for production of food and energy. In Kansas, Tran has worked to promote awareness of the impact of coal-powered energy on Kansans and to promote the economic and environmental advantages of clean energy options. As a regional director of the national nonprofit organization 2020 Vision, Tran led campaigns opposing proposals for coal-fired plants in Kansas. She is program coordinator for Environmental Action to Revitalize the Heartland, a program in KU’s Center for Community Outreach. With EARTH, she has organized students to volunteer with the local farmer’s market and to collect and recycle cans at athletic events. Money from the recycled cans was donated to charities. Tran has worked with EARTH to revitalize a campus garden project that provides area food pantries with seasonal produce and students with organic farming and campus beautification experiences. Tran hopes to educate others about sustainability through writing literature and occasionally song lyrics. She performs original songs as a vocalist and instrumentalist with Random Rain, a rock band. She was also nominated for a Udall scholarship in her sophomore year and this year is a finalist for in the national Truman scholarship competition. She is a National Merit Scholar. She is the daughter of Chinh and Lan Tran and a graduate of Derby High School.

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