Helen Hare '09, an economics major with career goals in public service, has been named a 2008 Truman Scholar. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation provides up to $30,000 in funding to college juniors who plan to pursue graduate degrees in government or public service fields.

Hare is one of 65 scholars chosen from 595 candidates nominated by 283 colleges and universities. Truman scholars are elected on the basis of leadership potential, intellectual ability, and likelihood of "making a difference."

In addition to funding, scholars receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at premier graduate institutions, as well as leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government. Recipients must be committed to careers in government or the not-for-profit sector.

"I'm flattered and really excited to receive a Truman Scholarship," says Hare, a Connecticut native. She says she plans to pursue a master's and JD in public policy, then apply for an entry-level position in the Department of Education in the Connecticut Attorney General's Office.

"There are many exciting experiments going on in public education right now. After gaining some experience in the attorney general's office, I'd like to be part of the process of applying successful models on a statewide or national scale," Hare says.

In 2006, Hare worked on the campaign and transition team for Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty '92. Since her internship, Hare has worked to initiate the Oberlin Club of Washington DC Fund, which will offer stipends to Oberlin students pursuing unpaid public service internships in D.C.

With the support of Oberlin alumni John Charles and Ted Gest, Hare hopes to raise $50,000. The fund will cover students' housing and living expenses.

"Washington has a ton of great but often unpaid internship opportunities," Hare says. "The cost of living in D.C., especially if you have to pay rent, is very high. I'm hoping the stipends will make internships more financially feasible by covering a substantial part of students' housing and/or living costs."

Hare also reaches out to the Oberlin community. She tutors Oberlin school district first-graders in reading and writing.

The 2008 Truman Scholars will assemble on Tuesday, May 13 for a leadership development program at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. They will receive their awards during a special ceremony on Sunday, May 18 at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo.

The Truman Scholarship Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 as the federal memorial to the 33rd U.S. president. The foundation awards scholarships for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service.