Truman Foundation to recognize MSU as an honor institution

Contact: Kristin K. Anderson, University Relations: (517) 353-8819, ander284@msu.edu

Sept. 10, 2007

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University is one of four universities to be designated a 2007 Truman Foundation Honor Institution.

The award recognizes institutions that 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.

MSU’s Board of Trustees and President Lou Anna K. Simon will accept the award on behalf of the university at the board’s Wednesday, Sept. 12, meeting in the Hannah Administration Building. Fredrick Slabach, executive secretary of the Truman Foundation, will present the award at the meeting and meet with groups of students and faculty.

Former and current recipients of Truman, Rhodes and Marshall scholarships have been invited to attend the presentation. Former Truman Scholars have come from James Madison College, Lyman Briggs College, and the colleges of Social Science, Arts and Letters, Engineering and Natural Science. Since 1979, MSU has had a total of 15 Truman Scholars.

“This prestigious award is made in recognition of sustained success of our students in winning Truman Scholarships,” said Cynthia Jackson Elmore, dean of the MSU Honors College. “MSU faculty, students and staff have every reason to be excited and proud that the strong tradition of MSU students winning national and international competitions is being recognized.”

Besides MSU, institutions receiving the awards for 2007 are the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia and the University of Wisconsin. Previous recipients of the award include Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Truman institutions 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 campus.
• Sustained success in helping their students with Truman Scholarships.

Truman Scholars must have extensive records of public and community service; are committed to careers in public service; and have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills. Congress established the Truman Scholarship Foundation in 1975 as the federal memorial to the 33^rd president. The activities of the foundation are supported by a special trust fund in the U.S. Treasury.

For additional information on the Truman Scholarship program, visit the Web at www.trumanscholars.com.