2013 Truman Scholarship

INTERESTED IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AND A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE?

For current “juniors” interested in the 2013 Truman Scholarship competition

The IU deadline for the 2013 Truman Scholarship competition is THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2012

 

TRUMAN INFORMATION MEETINGS (You need attend only one.)

Monday, Oct. 15, 12:30-1:45 p.m.

Location:  Hutton Honors College Great Room

811 E. Seventh St.

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Location:  Hutton Honors College Great Room

811 E. Seventh St.

 

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation is expected to award 60-65 merit-based scholarships to students across the nation who will be “juniors” in the 2012-2013 academic year and who plan to attend graduate or professional school in preparation for careers in government or other public service.  (See Eligibility section below for the Truman Foundation’s definition of “juniors.”)  Each scholarship is worth up to $30,000 and the Foundation assists Truman Scholars “with career counseling, internship placement, graduate school admissions, and professional development.” To compete for the award, students must be nominated by their undergraduate institutions.  The IU Truman Selection/Nomination Committee has set 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 as the campus deadline for students who wish to be considered for the 2013 competition.  In the past, Truman scholars have come from such diverse fields as history, political science, international relations, journalism, economics, education, law, public administration, nonprofit management, physical and social sciences, and technology policy. 

 

The Truman Scholarship seeks to promote public service, which the foundation defines “as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public-interest organization, non-governmental 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.”  Scholars are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a graduate degree program funded by the Truman.

 

Eligibility: To be eligible for consideration for the Truman Scholarship, a student must have a clear commitment to a career in public service, be a U.S. Citizen or National, and be nominated by his/her university. The student must also be a “junior-level student”.  (Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Pacific Islands must have senior-level academic standing.)  See http://www.truman.gov for official eligibility criteria. 

 

Nomination and Selection Standards: Because Truman Scholarship attracts the interest of top candidates around the country, IU only nominates students with outstanding credentials. The foundation chooses scholars on the basis of their excellent academic performance and communication skills, potential for leadership, extensive records of public and community service, and commitment to careers in government or elsewhere in public service.  (See the Truman Foundation’s definition of “public service” above.)  IU’s nominating committee and the Truman Foundation selectors are looking for candidates who show promise of making a difference in the world through their public service.

 

IU Nomination Process:  The IU committee will select up to four nominees for the national 2013 Truman competition. To be considered by the IU committee, IU students must submit a completed Truman Scholarship application, including a 500-word policy proposal on a significant issue related to the candidate’s intended area of public service, by 4 p.m., Nov. 15, 2012, to Elaine Hehner in the Hutton Honors College, 811 E. Seventh Street, Room 210E, Bloomington, IN 47405. Students seeking consideration should also arrange to have ALL three letters of recommendation described in the Truman application material sent directly to Ms. Hehner by Nov. 15.  Application materials being used for the fall process at IU are available from Ms. Hehner and can be downloaded from the Truman website:  http://truman.gov/for-candidates/2013-competition/sample-landing.  For additional information on the scholarship and guidance on the application, including the 500-word policy proposal, see the Truman website: http://www.truman.gov/home. For additional information on the scholarship and the IU nomination process, contact IU’s Truman faculty representative Judy Failer, jfailer@indiana.edu, or Elaine Hehner at ehehner@indiana.edu.