Harry S. Truman Scholarship

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for public service leadership. A federally funded scholarship granted to U.S. undergraduate students for demonstrated leadership potential, academic excellence, and a commitment to public service, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship is the most highly competitive American fellowship to support graduate education and leadership development. It is administered by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, an independent federal agency besides in Washington, D.C.

The Foundation seeks future “change agents” who aspire to leadership positions in federal, state or local governments or in the not-fore-profit and education sectors where they can influence public policies and change public programs. Criteria for selecting Truman Scholars are mainly extensive records of public and community service, commitment to careers in government elsewhere in the public sector, desire to influence public policies or education programs, and outstanding leadership potential and communication skills.

The Foundation seeks students who desire careers in such public service positions as: managers, administrators, and analysts in federal, state and local agencies; Legislators, aides to legislators, and staff for legislative committees; teachers in public and private schools; foreign services officers and staff in international development and assistance organizations; profession staff in nonprofit and advocacy organizations to serve disadvantaged groups or to protect the environment; analysts and researchers for think tanks and policy research and development organizations; and attorneys for government agencies and legislative bodies.

Nominee(s) must have obtained at least two years of academic credit at a university, college, or community college and be full-time students with junior-level academic standing at four-year institutions. Students with senior-level standing who will graduate after only three years of college enrollment may be nominated.

More information regarding this scholarship can be found here:https://www.truman.gov/apply