03/12/2025

Saint Louis University’s Sam Aitchison has been named a finalist for the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

Aitchison is a junior majoring in finance, leadership and human resource management, and Catholic Studies. He hopes to pursue an MA in Educational Transformation and would like to eventually work for the U.S. Department of Education. 

The final round of competition takes place in March.

The Harry S. Truman Foundation was created in 1975. The Act authorized the Foundation to “award scholarships to persons who demonstrate outstanding potential for and who plan to pursue a career in public service,” and to conduct a nationwide competition to select Truman scholars. The Foundation awarded its first scholarships in the 1977-78 academic year.

Each year hundreds of college juniors compete for roughly 60 awards. The rigorous selection process requires that good candidates have a strong record of public service, as well as a policy proposal that addresses a particular issue in society. 

Each Truman Scholar receives up to $30,000 toward a public-service graduate degree, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.

In the history of the award, SLU has had five Truman scholars. 

Those interested in applying for a Truman or another nationally or internationally competitive scholarship or fellowship should contact Rebecca Muich, Ph.D., at rebecca.muich@slu.edu or visit the Office of Competitive Fellowships and Scholarships webpage for more information.