Truman Scholarships: Gervase Programs: Learning to Lead

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship (www.truman.gov) was founded in 1975 to to find and recognize college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service; and to provide them with financial support for graduate study, leadership training, and fellowship with other students who are committed to making a difference through public service.

Requirements:

• GPA in the top 25% of your class. However, it is possible that the Truman will waive that requirement in light of genuinely exceptional public service.
• Applicants must be a full-time student pursuing a bachelor's degree with junior-level academic standing. (Note: you apply for university endorsement in the summer between your sophomore and junior years)
• A U.S. citizen.
• Institutional endorsement.

Georgetown University Application Process:

At Georgetown the application process for the Truman begins when you are a sophomore.  In August before your junior year begins, you will apply for nomination and the Truman Scholars Selection Committee will review applications. The Committee will invite a number of students to interview. The Committee will nominate four students for University endorsement. Endorsed students will work closely with the Office of Fellowships & Awards on his or her final application.

 The application for nomination includes the following and must be submitted to the Office of Fellowships & Awards:

• Sample Application and Policy Proposal 
• Transcript (the pdf transcript off MyAccess is sufficient)
• An up-to-date resume. No more than 2 pages, 1 inch margins, size 12 font.
• List of three references: one academic, one leadership and one public service with a description of how you know each person and what each could write about you. Please do not submit actual letters of recommendation; these will not be read by the Committee.

Please contact Ms. Maryam Henson, Associate Director of Fellowships & Awards, for further information.

Georgetown University Deadlines:

• Noon, July 1, 2011. Drafts of application essays due to the Office of Fellowships. Submission of drafts is not mandatory. But, if you would like the Fellowships Office to review your drafts and give you suggestions for improving them before you submit them to the Endorsement Committee you must submit them by this deadline.
• Noon, August 9, 2011. Applications should be either emailed to Maryam Henson at gufa@georgetown.edu. The Truman Selection Committee will then choose six applicants to be interviewed. Four applicants will then be endorsed to apply for the Truman.

External Truman Scholarship Deadline:

• February 2, 2012 (you must have first received internal endorsement in order to apply.)