WFU student named Truman Scholar

Harris is one of 76 students from 63 colleges and universities named as scholars. Twelve Wake Forest students have been named Truman Scholars in the past 16 years.

In 2002, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation recognized Wake Forest with a Truman Scholarship Honor Institution Award. The award recognized Wake Forest for “active encouragement of outstanding young people to pursue careers in public service” and “sustained success in helping students win Truman Scholarships.”

Established by Congress in 1975, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards merit-based $30,000 scholarships to college students who plan to pursue careers in government or other public service, and wish to attend graduate or professional school to help prepare for their careers. Each Truman Scholar receives $3,000 for the senior year of college and $27,000 for graduate studies.

Specific selection criteria include outstanding leadership potential, an established record of public and community service, intellectual strength, analytical ability and a commitment to a career in public service.

Harris, who is majoring in economics and political science, plans to pursue a master’s degree in public administration and a law degree. She plans a career in diplomacy or international human rights law.

As an undergraduate, she has helped officials in Latvia develop political asylum laws based on the U.S. model of asylum protection and has worked with refugee programs in Croatia.

The 2003 Truman Scholars will assemble May 18 for a weeklong leadership development program in Liberty, Mo., and receive their awards in a ceremony at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo., on May 25.