Colorado State University undergraduate TJ Knutson recently was surprised during his wildlife conservation class in the Warner College of Natural Resources.

Knutson — a junior studying fish, wildlife and conservation biology — learned during a surprise visit from Warner College Dean A. Alonso Aguirre and others that he was named a Udall Undergraduate Scholar, one of the country’s top public service scholarship programs.

“I was pretty shocked,” said Knutson of the visit in late April. “It was still kind of early in the morning, and I knew that the results would come out soon. But honestly, I was very shocked and excited, and I started encouraging all my other classmates to apply for these kinds of things because they can make a huge difference for you.”

Established by Congress in 1992 as an independent executive branch agency to honor U.S. Rep. Morris K. Udall, the Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in the fields of health care and tribal public policy. Each scholarship provides $7,000 for the scholar’s junior or senior year of academic study.

This marks the ninth consecutive year that a CSU student has been named a Udall Scholar. Since 2015, 15 students have received scholarships from the Udall Foundation. The students were nominated by a selection committee of CSU faculty through the Office for Scholarship and Fellowship Advising.

“I’m so proud to see yet another Warner student become a Udall Scholar. As a veteran, TJ exemplifies the energy and passion of our high-performing Warner Rams. I’m so pleased that he found such success in our Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology,” said Aguirre. “I look forward to seeing what he does next.”

Knutson came to CSU after serving eight years in U.S. Navy and another four years as a consultant where he led 12 teams of intelligence analysts for the Department of Defense. He explained that he was attracted to CSU because of his ties to Colorado and the strong reputation of Warner College’s wildlife biology program.

“I want to make an impact on the environment,” said Knutson who is an employee and member of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society. “More specifically, I have an interest in urban ecology and how we coexist with animals and in urban environments.”

Knutson’s passion for the environment was forged during his childhood in Colorado and Wyoming, where he hunted and fished. He explained that when he was discharged from the Navy in 2018, he noticed a stark change in the biodiversity of some of his favorite recreation areas.

This led Knutson on a trajectory at CSU that has included researching small mammal biodiversity in Pingree Park, Colorado, as well as participating in the CSU chapter of Ducks Unlimited, a conservation organization that restores, protects and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl.

Long term, Knutson hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in wildlife biology with a focus on urban ecology. He also hopes to kickstart a wildlife consulting company that would assist with wildlife management and habitat restoration.

Knutson explained that the Udall Scholarship wouldn’t have been possible without the support of faculty and mentors like Aguirre, Associate Professor Ann Randall, Professor Tanya Dewey and retired Air Force Col. Sonny LeMasters. This also included Mary Swanson, program director of the Office for Scholarship and Fellowship Advising, who was there at the surprise classroom visit with a box of doughnuts to celebrate the good news.

“Without their mentorship and assistance, I don’t think I could have gotten the scholarship,” Knutson said. “They’ve had a huge impact on how I go about life, and how I approach academics. I can’t thank them enough for their guidance.”

About the Udall Scholarship Program

Since the Udall Scholarships were established in 1996, the Udall Foundation has awarded more than 1,600 scholarships totaling more than $8.4 million. Current CSU undergraduate students interested in applying for a Udall Scholarship can contact Mary Swanson, program director of the Office for Scholarship and Fellowship Advising, at mary.swanson@colostate.edu.