UNL Student Jonathan Jones Named Truman Scholar
Released on 04/02/2004, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The Truman Scholarship is a $26,000, merit-based grant awarded to undergraduates who plan to attend graduate or professional school in preparation for careers in government. It provides $2,000 for the senior year and $24,000 for graduate study in addition to leadership training, career counseling and internship opportunities. Jones said the Truman Scholarship would help him go to law school and pursue public interest law.
"It will really enable me to pursue the path of public service that I want and to be a more effective agent of change when I do enter public service," Jones said.
UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman made the surprise announcement of the honor during Jones' March 25 political science class. The announcement drew applause from classmates and a contingent of Jones' UNL advisers and co-workers.
Jones is one of 77 scholars from 67 colleges and universities and the only winner at a Nebraska school. The 77 scholars were selected from among 609 candidates nominated by 300 colleges and universities. Jones is the 12th UNL student to win the Truman Scholarship.
A native of Fremont, Jones is a 2001 graduate of Fremont Senior High School and is first in his class in UNL's College of Arts and Sciences with a 4.0 grade point average. He does undergraduate research in the UCARE program, is a member of the Honors Program, and received the Robert G. Muchemore Scholarship and the David Scholarship. He is involved in Nebraskans for Peace, UNL Human Rights Committee and Amnesty International.
During the summer of 2003, Jones was a volunteer intern for the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest. As an intern, he worked for three months contacting more than 100 county, state and federal correctional facilities in Iowa and Nebraska to determine where detainees were being held and why. He said he is passionate about the treatment of immigrants and refugees coming to Nebraska.
"That research has really been a springboard for us to develop a project to encourage pro bono attorneys to do representation for immigrants detained in Nebraska," said Danielle Nantkes, staff attorney with Nebraska Appleseed. "Jonathan is the cream of the crop and he enabled us to really further our work."
Laura Damuth, UNL academic programs coordinator, worked with Jones on his Truman Scholarship application for almost a year.
"It has truly been a privilege for me to work with such a bright, committed, socially conscious student," Damuth said.
Congress established the Truman Scholarship Foundation in 1975 as the federal memorial to President Harry S. Truman. The Foundation provides additional press materials at www.truman.gov.
CONTACT: Laura Damuth, Academic Programs Coordinator, (402) 472-5024