Washburn Rural graduate interviews for Truman scholarship

LAWRENCE, KS (03/16/2012)(readMedia)-- University of Kansas student Alex Rose has been nominated and interviewed for a prestigious 2012 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. More than 600 students were nominated nationwide, and only a select group receives interviews for the 60 awards. Winners will be announced March 30.

Rose, a junior political science major with a peace and conflict studies minor, is a native of Topeka. She graduated from Washburn Rural High School and is the daughter of Mark and Monica Young and Ray Rose.

An active member of the campus community, Rose is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and participates in the Up 'Til Dawn benefit for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. A member of the University Honors Program, she also volunteers for Ronald McDonald House Charities, Adopt-A-School and the Kansas African-American Affairs Commission in Topeka.

The Truman scholarships provide up to $30,000 for graduate study. They are awarded to students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership potential and a commitment to a career in public service, government or nonprofit. Rose said she hopes to attend law school at the University of Texas-Austin after her graduation from KU. She plans to launch a career as a prosecutor.

"Winning a Truman, to me, is more about the honor of being recognized by such a wonderful foundation than it is receiving money for law school," Rose said. "As a Truman scholar I would take advantage of the summer programs and conferences hosted by the foundation in Washington, DC. I would also make it my mission to honor the man as well as the foundation by serving my community to the best of my ability whether as a lawyer five years from now or simply as a citizen today."

Since 1981, 16 KU students have become Truman scholars. The Truman Scholarship Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 and made its first scholarship awards in 1977.