5/16/2016 National and International Scholarships Program, University of Illinois
University of Illinois student Kenneth Hoffmann, of Naperville, Illinois, was recently named one of 60 Udall Scholars. Hoffmann, a junior in mechanical engineering, was selected from among 482 candidates nominated by 227 colleges and universities.
Established by Congress in 1992, the Morris K.
Written by National and International Scholarships Program, University of Illinois
Established by Congress in 1992, the Morris K. Udall and Steward L Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to American Indians and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy.
The Udall Foundation selects scholars based on their commitments to careers in the environment, American Indian health care, or tribal public policy, as demonstrated by their leadership, record of public service, and academic achievement. Each scholarship provides up to $7,000 for the recipient’s junior or senior year. The Foundation also assembles new Udall Scholars in Tucson, Arizona, to learn more about the Udall legacy of public service and to interact with fellow scholars and community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care, and governance.
A member of the both the Campus Honors Program, and the College of Engineering James Scholar Honors Program, Hoffmann has been involved with the Illini EcoConcept Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Team since his freshman year. He was named president of this student organization in fall 2015 and leads the team to compete in competitions such as the Shell Eco-marathon and to encourage consumers to purchase alternative fuel vehicles.
Hoffmann worked for the College of Engineering as an Engineering Learning Assistant, teaching an orientation class to 20 mechanical engineering freshmen. He also spent a year as a robotics research assistant in the lab of Aerospace Engineering Professor Timothy Bretl, exploring aerial robotics, specifically using autonomous quadrotors to perform pick-and-place tasks.
After graduation, Hoffmann plans to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering to develop low-cost transportation technology using electricity and hydrogen and to advance renewable energy policy.
According to David Schug, Director of the National and International Scholarships Program at Illinois, this is the seventh consecutive year that a University of Illinois student was named a scholar or received honorable mention in the Udall competition.