Nutritional sciences junior earns Udall Scholarship

Shelbie Shelder, an Honors College junior majoring in nutritional sciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has earned one of 80 nationally competitive Udall scholarships.

Shelbie Shelder, Photo credit: MSU Honors College

Shelbie Shelder, an Honors College junior majoring in nutritional sciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has earned one of 80 nationally competitive Udall scholarships.

Shelder is specializing in epidemiology and global public health and has a 3.9 grade-point average. 

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to American Indian nations or to the environment. Each year, the foundation awards up to $5,000 for educational expenses to students in the United States.

Shelder is MSU’s 11th Udall Scholar.

"Words cannot describe how thankful I am for all the support and encouragement from my research mentors, professors and advisors that I have received throughout the application process,” Shelder said. “It is an honor to be awarded the Udall Scholarship. The Udall Foundation and I share the same passion for improving and addressing the overall well-being of American Indian people in the United States. Thank you Udall Foundation for enabling this opportunity.”

Shelder hails from Muskegon, Michigan and is a graduate of Reeths Puffer High School.

She is an intern at the Michigan Department of Community Health, and previously served as an undergraduate research assistant for the Bio-Computational Evolution of Action (BEACON) Center.

A Charles Drew Science Scholar, Shelder is president of MSU chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and a student representative for the American Public Health Association’s American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian Caucus. She is the recipient of the Future Leaders Mentoring Scholarship through the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. 

“Shelbie is interested in a career researching better ways to educate American Indians about eating healthier and reducing their risk of type-two diabetes,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, dean of the Honors College. “Her passion in this area will undoubtedly be supported by the community of scholars she is entering as part of the Udall Foundation. We congratulate her on earning this prestigious honor.”

The National and International Fellowship and Scholarship (NIFS) Office at Michigan State University, administered by the Honors College, helps interested undergraduate and graduate students to pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes. The Honors College serves academically talented, committed students who wish to pursue and achieve academic excellence. 

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