UA Receives Prestigious Selection as a Truman Foundation Honor Institution

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama is being nationally recognized for academic excellence and service as one of four schools named Truman Foundation Honor Institutions this year.

Dr. Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and current president of the Harry Truman Scholarship Foundation, has named UA as one of four institutions designated Harry S. Truman Foundation Honor Institutions for success in the Truman Scholarship competition and consistent production of excellent public servants.

“This is a marvelous honor for The University of Alabama,” said Dr. Robert Halli Jr., dean of the UA Honors College. “It certainly commends our students for their commitment to public service and the good work they have done and are intending to do in the future.”

On Monday, Oct. 22, Frederick G. Slabach, executive secretary of the Truman Foundation, will present a Truman Scholarship Information Session at 3 p.m. in 205 Gorgas Library, open to all freshman, sophomore and junior UA students, followed by a panel discussion on “How Can I Change the World?” from 4-5:15 p.m.

Panelists will include Slabach; Joseph H. Halli, program development specialist for Umoja Corp.; William “Brother” Rogers, assistant director of the Stennis Center for Public Service at Mississippi State University; P. Adam Harbison, current UA Truman Scholar; and Stephen F. Black, director of the UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility.

The information session and panel discussion are sponsored by the UA Honors College.

Truman Scholarships are awarded to college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in public service. In the past three years, six UA students have been finalists for the Truman Scholarships, and two have received the award. Adam Harbison of Crane Hill is UA’s current Truman Scholarship recipient. UA graduates have included 10 Truman Scholars.

UA has been named among the four 2007 Truman Honor Institutions along with Michigan State University, the University of Georgia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Honor Institution award recognizes colleges and universities which have made exceptional contributions to the Truman Scholarship Foundation. These universities boast a large number of Truman Scholars and promote the values of public service. They are selected on the basis of: active encouragement of outstanding young people to pursue careers in public service, effective promotion of the Truman program on their campuses, and sustained success in helping their students with Truman Scholarships.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 as a living memorial to the former president who was dedicated to education and public service during his life. The scholarships, first awarded during the 1977-1978 academic year, provide up to $30,000 for graduate study to students who want to be “change agents” in society through public service careers in nonprofit organizations, government agencies or educational institutions.