The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is a highly competitive and prestigious scholarship for college juniors who have outstanding leadership potential, plan to pursue careers in public service, and wish to attend graduate school to prepare for their careers. The scholarship carries an award of $30,000 plus a variety of educational and leadership development opportunities.
Jamie Kwong, a Warren Bennis Scholar and Schaeffer Fellow at USC, has recently been chosen as a finalist for the Truman Scholarship from a national pool of more than 600 applicants. Jamie is majoring in international relations while concurrently pursuing a master’s degree in public diplomacy. She has served as an intern at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, conducted nuclear security research in Washington, D.C. and immigration research in France. This summer she will be working at the State Department’s Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism. Jamie plans on earning a second master’s degree in nonproliferation and international security with the long-term goal of helping the world move towards Global Zero (international elimination of nuclear weapons). Meanwhile, she is editor of Glimpse from the Globe, an undergraduate journal on international affairs, president of the Panhellenic Council, vice president of Society 53 and manager of the Peer Leadership Team at USC’s Campus Activities Office.
As many as 65 Truman Scholarships will be awarded among the interviewed finalists. Truman Scholars:
- have extensive records of public and community service which include volunteer efforts, community organizing, and/or local political involvement;
- are committed to careers in government or elsewhere in the public or not-for-profit sector as demonstrated by previous internship or work experience
- wish to influence public policy;
- have outstanding leadership potential as demonstrated by elected positions in student government and clubs, organizing and implementing special programs or group projects; and
- possess intellectual strength in their written, analytical and communication skills
Jamie applied for the Truman Scholarship because of its commitment to supporting the growth and development of future public service leaders. She aspires to work for the federal government within the niche field of nonproliferation, but finds great value in the community the Truman Scholarship fosters amongst its recipients. She hopes to join this esteemed group of passionate, driven Scholars who are ready to commit to public service in order to incite positive, global change.
Congratulations Jamie on all you have achieved thus far!