Recipients of the highly competitive Truman demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.
Martin, a public policy major currently studying at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, intends to pursue degrees at Harvard Law School and Harvard Graduate School of Education. His interest in public service stems from his desire to increase direct student involvement in local and statewide educational bodies’ decision-making, and to increase young people’s involvement in the reproductive freedom movement.
“I believe our right to our body and voice are fundamental democratic principles that must be upheld,” he said. “School boards were created as democratic bodies to address the specific educational needs of local communities better than disconnected federal authorities — they represent the actualization of democratic freedom. So, in the case of student representation on local school boards, students should not be mere witnesses but active participants in the manufacturing of their reality. And in the case of reproductive freedom, people should have the freedom to choose what is best for their bodies and access to resources that meet those needs.”
Dewayne Martin ’24
Major: Public Policy
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High school: American Senior High School
Martin, a Posse Foundation scholar from Miami, is the founder of Youth Education Coalition, Miami, an infrastructure for youth engagement in education politics within the local political landscape of the third largest school board district in the nation.
“Without my community, I would not have been blessed to be honored with this recognition,” Martin said. “I’m excited to return to Miami and continue the work necessary to protect and better the lives of my people throughout the state.”
The 62 new Truman Scholars were selected from 705 candidates nominated by 275 colleges and universities. They were recommended by 17 independent selection panels based on the finalists’ academic success and leadership accomplishments, as well as their likelihood of becoming public service leaders. Regional selection panels included distinguished civic leaders, elected officials, university presidents, federal judges, and past Truman winners.
When approached by a bipartisan group of admirers near the end of his life, President Truman embodied his commitment to the future of public service by asking Congress to create a living memorial devoted to this purpose, rather than a traditional brick-and-mortar monument. For more than 40 years, the Truman Foundation has fulfilled that mission: inspiring and supporting Americans from diverse backgrounds to public service.
Fellowships and Scholarships
Each year our students compete favorably for some of the country’s most prestigious and competitive national fellowships and scholarships.
