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The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation

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 elsewhere in 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 mission of the Truman Scholarship Foundation is 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.

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. Criteria for selecting Truman Scholars are mainly

• extensive records of public and community service,
• outstanding leadership potential and communication skills.
• commitment to careers in government or elsewhere in the public sector,

All Candidates should be aware that the Truman Scholarship has a newly instituted service requirement. Scholars selected from 2005 on are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation funded graduate degree program as a condition of receiving Truman funds.

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Eligibility

Each nominee for the Truman Scholarship must be:

• a full-time junior-level student at a four-year institution pursuing a bachelor's degree during the 2012-2013 academic year. 'Junior' here means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study and who expects to receive a baccalaureate degree between December 2013 and August 2014, or a student in his or her third year of collegiate study who expects to graduate during the 2013-2014 academic year, or a senior-level student who is a resident of Puerto Rico
• nominated by the Truman Scholarship Faculty Representative at his or her institution
• 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. Resident aliens (green card holders) are not eligible

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Nomination

Truman Scholarship applicants must be nominated by the Dartmouth College Committee on Graduate Fellowships. Dartmouth may nominate up to four students. In order to be nominated, you must:

1. Complete the Scholarship Registration Web Form (Submit PRIOR to the campus deadline)
   This form provides Scholarship Advising with the necessary information to open an application file and communicate with you about the application process and important deadlines and considerations.
2. Complete the online application and submit the application electronically by the campus deadline. This will go to Scholarship Advising and NOT to the Truman Foundation.  (To receive the online application and instructions, you must contact Scholarship Advising to be registered with the Truman Foundation.)
3. Submit the following to Scholarship Advising:
4. • Three letters of recommendation on or attached to the appropriate letter of recommendation forms.
   • Official Transcript (with Fall grades).  Please request an official transcript online to be sent to scholarship.advising@dartmouth.edu. You can do this through the Registrar.   For any other non-Dartmouth transcripts, please request official copies to be sent to: Scholarship Advising, 6201 Parker House, Hanover, NH 03755

The Committee on Graduate Fellowships will read your application materials and decide on nominations. You will be informed of your status via email.

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Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required; one of each with the emphasis on the following:

1. Commitment to a Career in Public Service
2. Intellect and Prospects for Continuing Academic Success
3. Leadership Abilities and Potential

Print out the appropriate Truman Letter of Recommendation Cover Sheet from your online application.

Letters of recommendation should be sent by email (preferred) to scholaship.advising@dartmouth.edu or mailed to Scholarship Advising, 6201 Parker House, Rm 106, Hanover, NH 03755 or HB 6201.

For more information on recommendation letters, click here.

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Final Application Submission

Nominees will submit final applications online by January 28, 2013.

The Scholarship Advising office will:

1. Upload your 3 letters of recommendation and transcript to your online application to the Truman Foundation for receipt by February 5, 2013.
2. Attach the letter of endorsement and nomination to your online application
3. Officially submit your application online to the Truman Foundation

The Truman Foundation will send you an email confirming each piece of the application (one for all three letters of recommendation and the transcript) once it has been received.

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Truman Application Schedule

January 7, 2013	Campus Deadline
January 28, 2013	Nominees will submit final applications online
February 5, 2013	Application deadline for all materials
February  2013	Finalists announced on the Truman website
March 2013	Mock Interviews for Finalists
March 2013	Finalist Regional Interviews
March 2013	Truman Scholars announced on Truman website

 

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Additional Information

Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation Website

Email Scholarship Advising

Frequently Asked Questions

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