What is the Truman Scholarship?

The Truman Scholarship Foundation awards up to $30,000 toward graduate school expenses to college juniors with demonstrated leadership potential who aspire to a career in public service. In addition to receiving funding, winners participate in the Foundation’s scholar enrichment programing.

Immediately following their junior year of college, scholars attend a mandatory Truman Scholars Leadership Week in Missouri. During the week, scholars attend seminars and workshops with distinguished Truman alumni and other public service leaders; work on community service projects at local Kansas City nonprofits; learn about different paths to public service; conduct a group policy project; and begin to prepare for their graduate school education.

Additionally, following their graduation, scholars are invited to participate in a ten-week long Summer Institute in Washington, DC, where they undertake internships with government agencies and nonprofit organizations. During their time in DC, scholars join in seminars and workshops, attend meetings with Washington policymakers and Truman alumni, and have opportunities for community building among their cohort. Following the Summer Institute, scholars may elect to stay on in Washington, DC for a full year through the Truman-Albright Fellows Program. For this program, scholars are placed in public service jobs mostly within the federal government.