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Intent to Apply form and ONIF FERPA Waiver due: September 22, 2023
Campus Deadline: November 21, 2023
National Deadline: February 6, 2024

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 2024 and August 2025, or a student in his/her/their third year of collegiate study who expects to graduate during the 2023-2024 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.
  • Applicants should submit the ONIF FERPA Release form and the Truman Intent to Apply form by September 22, 2023. 
    • Applicants are not required to attend the workshops hosted by ONIF, but still must fill out these two forms prior to deadline.
  • Candidates will be invited to ONIF's Truman Writing Workshops, ONIF's Brightspace Truman module, and will gain access to the Truman Foundation's application portal.
  • ONIF will host writing workshops throughout the Fall 23 semester. While these events are optional, applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. Applicants who choose to participate in the workshops should consider this a standing weekly commitment between the start of October until mid-November.
  • In order to be considered for institutional nomination, the campus representative must receive the following materials by LMU's campus deadline of November 21, 2023:
    • 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 PotentialCommitment 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 lindsay.anderson@lmu.edu by noon, December 19, 2023.
  • In January, ONIF will convene a Truman Selection committee to select nominees and provide feedback on prepared materials. 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.

If a Panel judges that none of the Finalists from a state adequately meets each of these criteria, it does not select any candidate from that state. The scholarship will be carried over to 2022 when two scholarships will be available to qualified residents.

Resources

Sample ApplicationSample Policy Proposal Template