Periodically we ask Scholars to provide a "Status Update" and let us know what they are doing. Lauren Finzer's story about how she and her friends "walked the talk" to raise funds for Haiti relief shows that public service can be ad hoc!

From Lauren Finzer (CA '08):

This Sunday, five friends and I walked the length of Manhattan - 15 miles - to raise support for Partners in Health in Haiti. The ideas was hatched the night before, when we were sitting around the dinner table feeling sad and powerless. We wanted to do something to help, but weren't sure what we could contribute. After brainstorming extensively, we decided to fundraise by spending Sunday walking the length of Manhattan and asking people to sponsor us per mile. We set what we thought was an ambitious goal of raising $500. We never would have dreamed that we would end up raising - as a conservative estimate - more than $7,000, much of which was matched by other donors!

The walk itself was wet - it started raining at mile 6 - but eye-opening and inspiring. Throughout the stormy day we had many conversations with people of all ages, in different communities, and in multiple languages. The outpouring of support from friends and family was tremendous, as we "tweeted" and emailed about our progress throughout the day. It was one of the most rewarding days of my life.

Truman Scholars throughout the United Kingdom braved the drizzle and cold just blocks from Arthur Conan Doyle's Baker Street in London for an evening of camaraderie and conversation on November 21st, 2009.  Coordinated by Kuong Ly and hosted by Brian and Terry Babcock-Lumish, the evening provided an opportunity for Scholars to reunite with old friends and meet new ones.  Represented were Trumans from six classes spanning the nineties and the noughties.

pictured l-r (back row): David Bauer (NY-08), Sheila Korth (NE-07), Megan Brand (AZ-07), Kurt Herzer (NY-08), Ellen Feingold (Honorary Truman, WI), Alex Dewar (OR-05)
seated in chair: Scott Moore (KY-07)
seated in lap: Andrew Hammond (NJ-06)
sitting l-r: Yoonhee Ha (OH 06), Brian Babcock-Lumish (MD-01), Terry Babcock-Lumish (PA-96), Kuong Ly (MA-07), Trudy Repert (PA-06), Bre Detwiler (VA-08)

President Harry S. Truman popularized the slogan, "The Buck Stops Here," with a sign on his desk in the Oval Office. (Read history here.)

More than 60 years later, these words are still popular. President Barack Obama, referring to the failed Christmas Day bombing plot, said: "the buck stops with me."

Post your favorite Truman quotes or sayings in the comments below!

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation requests nominations and applications for positions as Senior Scholars at TSLW 2010.

Senior Scholars are required to attend the entire Truman Scholars Leadership Week (May 24 through May 30, 2010) and make themselves available to the new Trumans in both formal and informal capacities.  Senior Scholars serve as role models for the recently selected Scholars and introduce them to new and different ways of service. Senior Scholars conduct presentations on a variety of topics during TSLW - both personal and professional. Senior Scholars work with a small group of new Trumans on a policy topic with which the Senior Scholar has some expertise, and help the Scholars to understand the complexities of issues and the contributions all political ideologies can offer to the search for solutions.

Senior Scholars should have completed a graduate school program at least one year prior to TSLW (exceptions may be made for students currently in medical residency or finishing PhD programs). Seniors should currently be working in public service and be able to commit to the entire week.  Senior Scholars can come from any discipline - as the best cohort is one that has a mix of disciplines represented.

Nominations and applications should detail the candidate's educational, professional and personal experiences that the candidate feels would be appropriate to share with the Scholars. These materials also should explain why the candidate would be a good Senior Scholar and whether the candidate has any prior experience in either a teaching or counseling environment.

Please email this information to Fred Slabach (fslabach@truman.gov) no later than February 15, 2010. We will consider nominations and applications as they arrive.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation requests nominations and applications for the 2010 Stevens Award.

The Stevens Award was established in 1999 by the Board of Trustees of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in honor of the late U.S. District Court Judge, Joseph E. Stevens, Jr.  Judge Stevens was from Kansas City and was the former Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

The Stevens Award is granted annually to a Truman Scholar attorney who has made significant contributions in the public sector and who has provided extraordinary service to the Foundation.  The Stevens Award is presented in a ceremony at U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. in June.

Nominations and applications should include a brief biographical sketch of the candidate and a letter outlining the candidate's contributions to the public sector and to the Foundation.

All nominations and applications for the Staats Award should be forwarded to Executive Secretary Slabach at fslabach@truman.gov by February 15, 2010.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation requests nominations and application for the Elmer Staats Award.

The Staats Award was established in 1993 by the Board of Trustees of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in honor of Elmer Staats, the former Comptroller of the Currency and Chairman of the Truman Board of Trustees. The Staats Award is granted annually to a Truman Scholar who has made significant contributions in the public sector and who has provided extraordinary service to the Foundation.

The Award is presented at TSLW in Liberty, Missouri at the end of May.  Nominations and applications should include a brief biographical sketch of the candidate and a letter outlining the candidate's contributions to the public sector and to the Foundation.

All nominations and applications for the Staats Award should be forwarded to Executive Secretary Slabach at fslabach@truman.gov by February 15, 2010.