Dear Scholars,

Over the last two months, the Truman Scholar community has become larger and stronger. Sixty 2010 Scholars have joined our community, Scholars from every decade have attended events across the country, and soon, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Truman Scholars Leadership Week with a Reunion Weekend for Scholars from all years of selection.

It is always exciting to watch our community expand. On March 30, Truman Scholarship Foundation President Madeleine K. Albright announced the selection of 60 new Truman Scholars from among nearly 600 candidates. The students come from diverse background and will graduate from some of the country's largest public universities and smallest private colleges, but they all share a commitment to public service. We welcome these talented young people to our community of more than 2,500 Truman Scholars and look forward to watching them advance in their academic and professional lives.

This year, Truman Scholar selection season served as an opportunity to reconnect more Scholars than ever before. In addition to the finalist dinners hosted in many cities around the country, the Truman Scholars Association organized a number of informal meet-and-greet events for Scholars. It was my pleasure to meet with nearly 150 Scholars over the course of my travels for regional interview panels. A number of photographs have been posted on the Truman Scholars Association website. Due to these events, and the launch of this newsletter, Scholars have reached out to let us know what they are up to (see Class Notes) and to contribute pieces to the Truman Scholars Blog (see Harry and Health Care). If you would like to contribute something - an update about yourself or a piece for publication - please reach out to TSA@trumanscholars.org or to me directly. 

The excitement continues to grow with the Truman Scholar Reunion Weekend, a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Truman Scholars Leadership Week (TSLW), fast approaching. Scholars from all classes are welcome to attend, and I am proud to announce that at least one other member of the Class of 1977 (besides me) has already registered! For those Scholars who have fond memories of TSLW, either as a Scholar or Senior Scholar, or who've always wanted to see what it's all about, this Reunion will be a great opportunity to experience TSLW, either again or for the first time. We are excited to welcome Jeffrey Toobin (NY '80), noted legal analyst and best-selling author, as our keynote speaker, and to work with the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum to arrange special behind-the-scenes tours for Reunion Scholars. The registration deadline of April 29 is fast approaching, so register right away!

Thank you for all you do to support the Truman Scholars community. I look forward to reconnecting with you soon - hopefully as early as the Reunion in May!

Sincerely,

Frederick Slabach (MS '77)
Executive Secretary
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation