Truman Scholarship
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is the federal memorial to President Truman. The Truman Foundation awards 60-65 scholarships annually to juniors interested in careers in public service and with the potential to be “change agents.”
The Scholarship provides up to $30,000 in support for graduate study and the opportunity to participate in a Truman Scholars Leadership Week and a Summer Institute in Washington, D.C.
Eligibility
Applicants should:
- be U.S. citizens
- be excellent students (strong GPA, typically 3.7 or higher)
- have strong records of both public service and leadership
- be planning to attend graduate school to earn any degree other than an MBA and pursue a career in public service
“Junior” criteria in terms of the application means:
“At the time I apply, I will be a full-time student pursuing a bachelor's degree with junior-level academic standing; I have senior-level standing in my third year of college enrollment; or I am a senior and a resident of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or a Pacific Island.”
Notice: Students who have completed their bachelor's degree or are already attending graduate school are not eligible for the Truman Scholarship.
Selection Process
Students apply for nomination in the fall of their junior years, and KU may nominate up to four students.
For the campus nomination process, KU will use the online application system provided by the national organization. Please refer to the Truman Scholarship information for candidates for more information.
Email the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships at curf@ku.edu to express your interest and gain access to the application.
Deadlines
Campus deadline: November
National deadline: first Tuesday in February
KU Recent Award Winners
Eighteen KU students have been named Truman Scholars. Recent Scholars include Ashlie Koehn in 2015, Taylor Zabel in 2017, and Sam Steuart in 2019.