Out of 576 applicants, Jessica Schumacher ’11, a political science major at the College, has been named a 2010 Truman Scholar by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. This prestigious honor is awarded to 60 college juniors across the country who are passionate about working in public service and have the potential to commit to this type of career. Each individual scholarship provides up to $30,000 for students pursuing graduate degrees that will later lead to a career in public service.
The Truman Scholarship website says its mission is to find students with, “exceptional leadership potential, who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service and to provide them with financial support for graduate study, leadership training and fellowship with other students who are committed to making a difference through public service.” The Truman Scholarship Foundation was first established in 1975 and has awarded 2,730 students this honor since the first awards were created in 1977.
Schumacher first became aware of the scholarship during her first-year at the College after her advisor, Associate Professor of Political Science Angela Bos, initiated a conversation with her about the award. She knew what the award and application process entailed, but it wasn’t until last spring when Schumacher spent a semester in Washington D.C. where her interest in pursuing a career with public service began to blossom. Schumacher worked at the American Jewish Committee in D.C. and it was the first-hand experiences she had that helped fuel her passion to get involved.
“I was able to work [first- hand] with immigration legislation and contribute to AJC’s advocacy efforts for a comprehensive immigration reform bill. I really saw how these bills would impact so many lives around the country in a positive way.” Schumacher said. Her volunteer efforts at a rally for the DREAM act, a bill to help children of illegal immigrants find proper legislation, also intensified her involvement in different activities. Schumacher added, “Participating in that rally really gave me insight into the human element of immigration reform, which drove my passion to change the system.”
Schumacher has also utilized her leadership skills on-campus, when she stepped up to help organize the volunteers and student leaders campaigning for the Obama administration during the election last fall. Her “boss” was the Wayne County organizer for the campaign. Together, they canvassed, helped raise awareness, assisted to register 700 students to vote and especially helped organize the rally for Joe Biden.
The actuality of receiving this award has already set in, especially with the numerous networking connections that have appeared from this award. A Wooster alum, who is also a past Truman Scholar, has already gotten in touch with Schumacher, and it has only been a week since she received the news. These connections make Schumacher excited for what is to come, especially in terms of networking for jobs.
For now, Schumacher is very focused on the future. She’s taking the LSATs this coming June in preparation for law school after graduation from Wooster and is hoping to return to D.C. where her interest in public service really began. And thanks to the Truman Scholarship, her hopes for the future are much more solid and achieveable.