Eighty second- and third-year college students across the country have been honored by the Morris K. Udall Foundation, set up in 1992 by Congress to honor Udall's length and caliber of service. Udall, an Arizona Democrat who served in the House from 1961 until 1991, concentrated his legislative efforts heavily on the environment.

Each scholarship applicant was required to submit an essay responding to a Udall speech of his or her choice, describing how the speech complements an area of interest. Lee says she was most influenced by Udall's speech at Yale University in 1976, "Energy,  Economics and the Environment: The Old Order Is Breaking Down, The Old Rules Don't Work Anymore."

Udall's message that the world can't rely on yesterday's vision for tomorrow and his belief in Americans' natural, intellectual and technological resources, Lee says, matches up perfectly with her interest in energy access in developing regions, the need for leadership in her generation, and the development of climate change awareness as a priority for her generation.

In her application essay, Lee wrote, "I believe we are deep in the transition period identified by Congressman Udall in 1976, with such a potential for impacting change. Congressman Udall's words referring to the human capacity for change can be made alive through public service, and I hope to contribute to this change by working on international climate policies that address the energy needs of developing nations."

A self-described "nature geek" from San Jose, Cal., Lee says her childhood and teenage vacations were spent largely outdoors with her family. She says she never had had any formal learning about the environment until college where she's developed an interest in climate change.

"I'm an engineering student with a passion around technology and, overall, technology transfer to developing regions to help them adapt to the effects of climate change," Lee says. She's particularly interested in India and sub-Saharan Africa.

Lee's resume is testimony to her ongoing involvement in environmental activity, both on and off campus. Last December, for example, she was a youth delegate to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali, Indonesia. This summer she'll be a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings Scholar, working on climate modeling at Woods Hole, Mass.

Come fall semester on Morningside Heights, Lee will be the editor-in-chief of "Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development." In an Earth Institute interview prior to the publication's February launch, Managing Editor Lee said, "Our aim is to utilize an online and accessible medium to promote innovative ideas across disciplines around the world."

Lee says she's looking forward to moving up to the editor's chair - and to the added work and challenge the move will entail.