Campus Deadline: November 22, 2024
National Deadline: February 4, 2025
Truman Info Session
Description
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation - the federal memorial to our thirty-third President - awards merit-based scholarships to college students who plan to pursue careers in government or public service. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.
The Foundation provides:
- Up to $30,000 toward a public service-related graduate degree. The Foundation has supported Truman Scholars in many fields of study, from agriculture, biology, engineering, technology, medicine, and environmental management, to fields such as economics, education, government, history, international relations, law, political science, public administration, nonprofit management, public health, and public policy. The Truman Scholarship will not fund MBA programs.
- Truman Scholars Leadership Week. This event, held at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, introduces new Scholars to the services provided by the Foundation and the many pathways to public service. Scholars participate in seminars and workshops with distinguished Truman alumni and other public service leaders, a group exercise about policy implementation, a graduate school and career fair with representatives from the schools and programs most attended by Truman Scholars, and community service events in the Kansas City area; this event is required of all Scholars.
- Summer Institute. Immediately after college graduation, Scholars have the opportunity to participate in an eight-week Summer Institute in Washington, D.C. The Foundation helps to arrange internships with government agencies and nonprofit organizations, seminars and workshops, meetings with Washington policymakers and Truman alumni, and opportunities for community building among Scholars.
- Truman-Albright and Other Fellows Program. After graduating with their bachelor's and before starting graduate school, Scholars may elect to work in Washington, D.C, for a full year in the Truman-Albright Fellows Program; Truman-Albright Fellows are placed in public service jobs while participating in workshops, seminars, and mentoring opportunities. Additional fellowship opportunities, outlined on the Truman website, are available for Scholars as they move through the early stages of their careers in public service.
Eligibility Criteria
- a full-time junior-level student at a four-year institution pursuing a bachelor's degree. 'Junior' here means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study and who expects to receive a baccalaureate degree between December 2025 and August 2026, or a student in their third year of collegiate study who expects to graduate during the 2024-2025 academic year;
- nominated by the Truman Scholarship Faculty Representative at their institution; and
- a U.S. citizen or U.S. national residents of American Samoa. Resident aliens (green card holders) are not eligible.
A good candidate for the Truman Scholarship meets the above eligibility requirements and also:
- has an extensive record of public and community service;
- has outstanding leadership potential and communication skills; and
- is committed to a career in government or elsewhere in public service, as defined by the Foundation.
The Foundation defines public service 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.
Campus Application Process
To apply for the Truman Scholarships, candidates must be nominated from LMU through the campus nomination process. LMU may nominate up to four nominees. LMU may nominate an additional three applicants if those students transferred to LMU from another institution, including community colleges. Nominees will receive feedback from a campus committee and may want to revise their applications before the national deadline.
Review the Truman 2022-2023 ppt or watch a recording of the Fall 2022 info session.
Campus Nomination Process
- Watch the tutorial series for your application cycle.
- Candidates will be invited to ONIF's Brightspace Truman module, and will gain access to the Truman Foundation's application portal.
- In order to be considered for institutional nomination, the following materials need to be emailed to fellowships@lmu.edu by LMU's campus deadline of November 22, 2024:
- Responses for all application questions (1-14)
- 3 letters of recommendation - Each of the letters should address one of the following selection criteria: Leadership Abilities and Potential, Commitment to a Career in Public Service, and Intellect and Prospects for Continuing Academic Success.
- Letters of recommendation must be sent directly from the letter writer to fellowships@lmu.edu by noon, November 22, 2024.
- ONIF will convene a Truman Selection committee to interview applicants and select nominees and provide feedback on prepared materials. Interviews will take place the week of December 16-20, 2024.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to incorporate this feedback into their final application materials. It is possible that these committees will involve an interview with the Truman applicant.
- Nominees will have until the national deadline (see top of this page) to prepare:
- Transcripts - from all colleges attended. For LMU transcripts, students must use official copies. An unofficial transcript or photocopy of transcripts from other institutions are fine.
- Policy Proposal - Prepare a convincing Policy Proposal. You will have limited space to examine a significant policy issue or problem that is in your intended area of public service as described in Question 9 of the application. Present your proposal in the form of a memo to the government official who you feel has the most direct authority to resolve the issue (e.g., President, Cabinet Officer, Governor, Chair of a Legislative Committee). ONIF may provide a workshop for this, depending on the number of applicants.
For official information on the Truman Scholarship (which supersedes any information provided here), please visit the Truman Scholarship Website.
National Selection Process
Nominated LMU candidates will then be reviewed at the national level.
At the national level, a committee examines all nominations and selects about 200 Finalists to be interviewed for Truman Scholarships. Finalists are selected on the basis of:
- extent and quality of community service and government involvement;
- leadership record;
- academic performance, writing, and analytical skills; and
- suitability of the nominee's proposed program of study for a career in public service.
The Regional Review Panels. Regional selection panels interview Finalists in March and early April and select Truman Scholars largely on the basis of:
- leadership potential and communication skills;
- intellectual strength and analytical ability; and
- likelihood of "making a difference" in public service.
Resources
Sample Application, Sample Policy Proposal Template, Contact fellowships@lmu.edu for access to Brightspace course content.