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Haas Center for Public Service

Truman Scholarship

Truman Scholarship - Anderson & Wheeler

The Truman Scholarship seeks juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education, or elsewhere in the public service. The scholarship supports graduate or professional study, leadership training, and fellowship with other scholars who are committed to making a difference through public service.

  • Campus Deadline: Friday, October 21, 2022, 3:00 pm. PST  **SUBMIT EARLY: This deadline is strict.** 
  • Award:
    • Up to $30,000 for the Scholar's graduate studies toward a public service-related degree, open to many fields of study
    • Truman Scholars Leadership Week (mandatory for Scholars)
    • Summer Institute (10-week program immediately after college graduation)
    • Truman Fellows Program (after Summer Institute, a full year of public service work and study in Washington, DC)
    • Scholars 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 funding
  • Student advisor: Querida De La Stukes (querida@stanford.edu). To schedule an appointment with Querida or the other members of the Cardinal Careers Team, please select the "Public Service and Social Impact" category on Handshake. 
  • More information at: The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation

Eligibility

  • Nomination by Stanford through the Haas Center for Public Service
  • U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Full-time Junior expecting to receive the bachelor's degree between December 2023 and August 2024.
    • Students who plan to confer their degree between December 2023 and August 2024, would be eligible to apply this year.  If you plan to earn your degree between December 2024 and August 2025, you would apply next year. 
  • Minimum GPA of 3.6
  • Commitment to a career in public service
  • Strong record of leadership, public and community service
  • Able to attend the Truman Scholars Leadership Week
  • Complete online application
  • Must be available for a Stanford interview, if shortlisted, in November 2022.  

Application

The following steps must be completed for an application to be considered for campus nomination:

1. Fill out this Truman Scholarship Profile form to acquire your unique login for the Truman website.

2. Consult with Truman campus advisors regarding the content and writing of your application (Make an appointment on Handshake by selecting Public Service and Social Impact and then choosing a time to meet with Querida De La Stukes, Juaquín Sims or Leslie Garvin.)

3. Using your unique username, complete the online application at the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation website. A sample application is provided to help prepare for the online submission.

4. Request 3 confidential letters of recommendation, one for each of the following topics:

  • Academic achievement: Intellect and prospects for continuing academic success
  • Commitment to a career in public service
  • Leadership abilities and potential

It is recommended that you review Tips for Soliciting Letters of Recommendation and confer with the Truman campus liaison before finalizing your choices for recommendations. You may also find it helpful to use the cover sheets in the Foundation's sample letters. Begin this process early to allow for creation and submission by the deadline.

5. Submit the following materials to the Haas Center Cardinal Careers Team via email by the campus deadline, 3:00 PM PST on October 21, 2022:

  • Unofficial Stanford transcript;
  • Request an electronic version of other official college transcript(s) to be sent to querida@stanford.edu. If you can only obtain hard copies of a transcript, submit one original and five copies;
  • A pdf of your online application;
  • A longer, annotated resume that provides rich details for the experiences/achievements that you list; 
  • Three letters of recommendation (no copies of these are required). Please have your recommenders submit their letters at this  link. As a backup, letters may be sent electronically from the writer to Querida De La Stukes - querida@stanford.edu;
  • Signed Scholarship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver.

Note: Late applications will NOT be accepted without prior approval.

Selection Process

The Truman Scholarship is by nomination through Stanford only.  A committee of Haas-affiliated staff and faculty will review applications to shortlist candidates for interviews, and select up to four campus nominees.  Campus nominees will work with advisors in preparation for the regional finals in March.

Additional Resources

You are strongly encouraged to consult with your faculty mentors on the application and with Academing Advising staff who have experience with this competition. To schedule an appointment with the Truman campus liaison, please visit here.

 

Questions? Schedule a one-on-one advising appointment with Leslie Garvin, Querida De La Stukes, or Juaquín Sims on Handshake by selecting the "Public Service and Social Impact" category.