Sherman & Irene Dreiseszun Scholarship

The Harry S. Truman Foundation has invited the University of Kansas to submit nominations for the Sherman and Irene Dreiseszun Scholarships. The foundation recognizes the awardees of these scholarships at their annual banquet each May, which the awardees must attend. Graduate students in programs such as international relations, history, political science, diplomacy, or a related field or discipline that reflects President Truman's dedication to promoting public service and international peace are eligible. In addition, nominees may be either US citizens or international students and must demonstrate potential for a career in or contribution to international service.

Truman Foundation Scholarships Page

NOMINATION PERIOD

January 20 - February 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM CST

Eligibility

Each nominee must be a graduate student currently enrolled in the Lawrence or Edwards campus and meeting the following eligibility requirements:

Good academic standing at the time of nomination, as determined by the Graduate Studies Policy on Good Academic Standing
Continuing enrollment in their graduate program through the Fall 2025 semester
- Note: Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and early Fall 2025 graduates are not eligible for nomination
Studying international relations, history, political science, diplomacy, or a related field or discipline that reflects President Truman's dedication to promoting public service and international peace.

Additionally, scholarship recipients should be available to receive their Scholarship Certificates at the Truman Foundation's annual luncheon that will take place in May 2025 at the Kansas City Marriot Downtown.

Award Details

Two (2) scholarships of $5000 each are available to be awarded the following fall semester.

Nomination Process & Documents

Departments with eligible graduate students can nominate up to two (2) students per award cycle. Nominations should be completed by the department's chair, DGS, or graduate support staff. Nominations are submitted via an online form which can be accessed below.

Nominations should include the following components (all uploaded as PDFs).

Please include an evaluation of the nominee's background and academic record.

Please include a discussion of the student's research as it relates to President Truman's dedication to promoting public service and international peace, as well as their potential for a meaningful career or contribution to international relations or public service.

Nominee's personal essay should address their research or scholarly work in international relations, history, political science, diplomacy, or a related field or discipline and how it supports or informs the promotion of public service and/or international peace. Nominees should also discuss their long-term research and career goals as related to international relations and public service. Please limit this to two (2) pages.

Please make sure to upload a current CV for the nominee, which highlights any curricular or extracurricular activities, awards, or other academic honors that may be relevant.

Selection Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Academic excellence.
Research or scholarly work conducted in international relations, history, political science, diplomacy, or a related field or discipline that supports or informs the promotion of public service and/or international peace.
Potential impact on international relations and public service beyond their program of study (e.g. long-term research, career goals, etc.).

Nominations are reviewed by a committee of staff and faculty from units associated to international relations and public service. While time is required to process award decisions, we aim to notify all nominees and nominators via email by early March.