Zachary Spindler-Krage Receives Udall Honorable Mention

May 12, 2023

Zachary Spindler-Krage, class of 2025, was named honorable mention from the Udall Foundation.

Zachary Spindler-Krage ’25 was presented Honorable Mention for the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship from the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The Udall Foundation awards scholarships and special honors to college sophomores and juniors for study in fields related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and Tribal public policy.

Spindler-Krage, a political science major and policy studies concentrator from Rochester, Minnesota, seeks to combat environmental injustice in Minnesota, particularly the mining proposals in Northern Minnesota that threaten Indigenous communities.

“As I reflected on my environmental experience while applying for the Udall Scholarship, I realized how much more environmental progress there is to be made in Minnesota. Beyond the protection of the Boundary Waters, I hope to contribute to efforts to preserve water quality, conserve land, and fight environmental injustices,” said Spindler-Krage.

In summer 2022, Spindler-Krage was an intern with the Save the Boundary Waters Campaign where he advocated to congressional members and federal agencies for the permanent protection for the Boundary Waters from sulfide-ore copper mining. That collective work resulted in a 20-year mining ban announced by the Department of Interior in January 2023. In summer 2023, he will intern for the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. supporting domestic research in environmental, electoral, and education policy.

On campus you will find Spindler-Krage working on the Rosenfield Program Committee, writing for the Scarlet & Black Newspaper, contributing to the Grinnell Press, and serving as a Class of 2025 Class Ambassador. While balancing his coursework and leadership, Zach-Spindler is a virtual intern for FairVote Minnesota advocating for the adoption of statewide Ranked Choice Voting in Minnesota. As a freelance journalist, he contributes articles about the necessity of land conservation in Northern Minnesota to statewide publications like the MinnPost, Minnesota Reformer, Post Bulletin, and Duluth News Tribune.

The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship honors the legacies of the Udall brothers, whose careers had a significant impact on the stewardship of public lands and natural resources and American Indian and Alaska Native self-governance and health care. It is awarded for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to the environment, health care, and tribal public policy. The newly selected undergraduate students join a Udall Alumni Network of change-makers, working in Indian country and environmental fields, sharing innovative ideas, professional advice, and job/internship opportunities.

“This opportunity to connect with equally passionate environmentalist students will be invaluable in gaining new ideas about effective advocacy strategies,” said Spindler-Krage. “I am grateful for the faculty and staff support that I had during this process, and I am very appreciative that I will have another opportunity to apply (for the Udall Scholarship) next year.” Following graduation from Grinnell in May 2025, Spindler-Krage plans to pursue an advanced degree in public policy.

In 2023, the Udall Foundation awarded 55 Udall Scholarships and 55 Honorable Mentions from 384 candidates nominated by 172 colleges and universities. Since the inception of the program in 1996 the Udall Foundation has awarded 1,898 Udall Scholarships and 1,279 Honorable Mentions. For more information about applying for the Udall Scholarship contact Ann Landstrom, fellowships and awards advisor, at email landstrom@grinnell.edu, and also visit the Udall Foundation website.