| Unlike many scholarship programs, applications
are not accepted directly from candidates. Instead,
educational institutions are allowed to nominate candidates
each year. Upon receipt of the institutional nominees,
the trustees of the Truman Foundation then select between
75 - 80 recipients.
Nominees must be:
- a full-time junior-level student at a four-year institution pursuing
a bachelor's degree (junior level means a student who plans
to continue full-time undergraduate study and who expects to receive
a baccalaureate degree between December 1999 and August 2000, a student
in his or her third year of collegiate study who expects to graduate
during the term of study covered by the third year, or a senior level
student who is a resident of Puerto Rico or the Islands.)
- committed to a career in public service as defined below
- in the upper quarter of his or her class
- a United States citizen or a United States national from American
Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Foundation seeks future "change agents" who aspire to leadership
positions in federal, state or local governments or in the not-for-profit
and education sectors where they can influence public policies and
change public programs.
- The criteria used in selecting Truman Scholars are mainly
- extensive records of public and community service
- commitment to careers in government or elsewhere in the public
sector
- a wish to influence public policies
- outstanding leadership potential and communication skills
Truman scholars are eligible to receive $3,000 for the senior year
of undergraduate education and $27,000 for graduate studies.
- Scholars in one or two year graduate programs are eligible to receive
$13,500 per year. Scholars in J.D. (Law) programs are eligible
to receive $13,500 for the second year and $13,500 at the start of
the third year's second semester if they present evidence that they
will enter public service immediately upon graduation or completion
of any clerkships. Scholars in longer graduate programs are
eligible to receive $9,000 per year for three years.
The Truman Foundation defines public service as "employment
in:
government at any level, uniformed services, public-interest
organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational
organizations, public or 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."
- The Foundation has supported Truman Scholars in many fields of
study, including agriculture, biology, engineering, environmental
management, physical and social sciences, and technology policy,
as well as traditional fields such as economics, education, government,
history, international relations, law, political science, public
administration, public policy, and public health.
Priority is given to candidates proposing to enroll in graduate and
professional programs specifically oriented to careers in public service. These
include law and master's and doctorate programs in public administration,
public policy analysis, public health, international relations, government,
economics, social services, delivery, education and human resource
development and conservation and environmental protection. Candidates
may propose joint degree programs.
- Candidates proposing to attend business, medical or law
school need to present a graduate program that is designed specifically
for a career in the public service.
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