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Truman Scholarship

* Four-year institutions are eligible to nominate up to four students. In addition, four-year institutions may nominate up to three juniors who spent their first one or two years at a community college or junior college.

* Number of awards: 70-75 annually

* Amount of award: $30,000 merit-based scholarship to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service.

Conditions of Eligiblity:

• Be a full-time junior-level student at a four year institution pursuing a bachelor's degree during the academic year. "Junior"means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study and who expects to receive a baccalaureate degree between December and August, a student in his or her second or third year of collegiate study who expects to graduate during the current academic year, or a senior-level student who is a resident of Puerto Rico or the Islands.
• Committed to a career in Public Service. Public Service is defined as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public-interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public-service oriented nonprofit organizations such as those whose primary purposes are to help needy or disadvantaged persons or to protect the environment.
• In the upper quarter of the class
• Be a United States citizen or a United States national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands. Resident aliens are not eligible.

Nomaination Procedures:

The Institution of Higher Education: All candidates are nominated by the college or university.

Nomination Materials

Nominations must include:

• Truman Scholarship Application (make sure registration number is listed)
• Nominee's Essay, which is written by the student and relates to the student's chosen career.
• Three Letters of Recommendation: 1) Faculty member who can discuss the nominee's leadership potential and abilities; 2) Faculty member who can attest to their commitment to a career in Public Service; 3) Faculty member who can attest to the nominee's intellect and prospects for continued academic success.
• Official Transcripts of the nominee's college grades.

Mandatory activities: Truman Scholars Leadership Week. The Foundation wil provide for travel from the Scholar's home, lodging and meals; Awards Ceremony to be held at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri; Truman Scholars Washington Summer Institute. Ten week seminar consisting of graduate-level workshops and assistance in finding internships in federal agencies for all members of the class of Truman Scholars.