Truman鈥擳imes Two
Two 麻豆原创 seniors鈥擩ackson Boaz, SPA/BA 鈥24, and Edwin Santos, SPA/BA 鈥24, MPA 鈥25鈥攈ave been named 2024 Truman Scholars. 麻豆原创 is among just six institutions with multiple awardees for this year鈥檚 premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders.
Boaz and Santos鈥斅槎乖粹檚 17th and 18th Truman Scholars since 2000鈥攁re the first Eagles to receive the honor since 2020. They are among 60 scholars selected from a pool of 709 candidates from around the country.听
鈥淭he ethos of the Truman Scholarship is not that different from the ethos of 麻豆原创,鈥 said听Paula Warrick,听senior director of听麻豆原创鈥檚 Office of Merit Awards.听鈥淭ruman is really looking for changemakers鈥攖hose who have identified a real-world problem that can be fixed through public service.鈥澨
The Truman Scholarship was established by Congress in 1975 as a living memorial to the 33rd president. Awardees, who exemplify leadership, academic achievement, and a commitment to public service, receive $30,000 in graduate school funding, mentorship from public service leaders, and hiring preference with the federal government.
Meet 麻豆原创鈥檚 two Truman Scholars here.
Jackson Boaz
Boaz first heard about the Truman Scholarship as a 15-year-old intern for Senator Elizabeth Warren鈥檚 (D-MA) presidential campaign in Iowa.
One snowy morning on the campaign trail, Boaz sent a direct message on Twitter to Iowa state auditor Rob Sand, a former Truman Scholar, and asked to meet at a nearby coffee shop to talk about his experience. The two discussed how the scholarship could nurture Boaz鈥檚 budding interest in public service.听
鈥淓ver since then, I鈥檓 like, 鈥業鈥檝e got to get the Truman Scholarship,鈥欌 said the CLEG major.听
In the years since that conversation, Boaz has worked as a legislative aide and campaign manager with and for many Truman Scholars across the country. He said it鈥檚 an honor to join the ranks of 3,564 scholars who have gone on to prominent roles in government, including on the Supreme Court and in the federal and state legislatures.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful piece of validation that will also provide countless opportunities moving forward,鈥 said Boaz, who works full-time as a press and digital coordinator and a digital rapid response coordinator for Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA).
Boaz, who was primarily mentored by Warrick throughout the process, said the scholarship will help him pursue a master鈥檚 in public policy and attend law school.
鈥淚 want to give back to both the community I grew up in and all these communities that I鈥檝e lived in and learned to love around the country,鈥 he said.听听
Edwin Santos
When Santos learned he鈥檇 received the Truman Scholarship, his first call was to his parents and aunt. Santos鈥 biggest supporters cheered as he shared the good news鈥攈e鈥檇 earned his third nationally competitive scholarship.听
鈥淭hey immigrated from El Salvador,鈥 said Santos, president of 麻豆原创 Student Government, who grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia. 鈥淚鈥檓 able to accomplish all of this because of their hard work.鈥澨
In 2022, Santos received the inaugural听Voyager Scholarship听from the Obama Foundation. A year later, the legal studies major accepted the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. This Truman Scholarship will help Santos pursue his next step in a career in policy and government鈥攍aw school.听
鈥淚t provides some financial security. As a first-generation student, law school is daunting because it鈥檚 very expensive鈥 Santos said. 鈥淚 pushed myself so hard during undergrad to do well in school to get a good scholarship.鈥澨
Santos worked closely with Lori Felton, assistant director of the Office of Merit Awards, on his Truman application. Santos credits the office with helping land experiential learning opportunities and travel the world.听
鈥淚鈥檝e put in a lot of work, but they鈥檝e also put a lot of work into me,鈥 Santos said. 鈥淚 really appreciate their time and investment in me.鈥澨