Riding on a Port Authority bus near campus last spring, Amelia Nichols hears her cell phone ring. Listening to the voice on the other end, she realizes this could be the big news. "Can you make it to Warner Hall tomorrow?" she is asked.
Nichols (HS'10), a dual developmental psychology and urban history/education policy major, was vying for one of 60 Harry S. Truman Scholarships, established by Congress in 1977 and presented annually to students across the country based on leadership qualities and the potential for a career in public service.
After an intense application process, she was informed by Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon of the committee's decision. "Of course, he didn't tell me at first," she says, laughing.
The scholarship, offering up to $30,000 for graduate study, provides leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and internship opportunities within the federal government. All of which suit Nichols as she eyes a career as a legal advocate dedicated to helping inner-city children and parents navigate the family court bureaucracy. As a recent intern with the Pittsburgh-based KidsVoice, a child legal advocacy non-profit, the senior knows how crucial it is to make sure that those less fortunate are not swept aside.
"I'm drawn to the field to make a more personal connection with kids and parents so they can tap into the federal system and use it to their advantage," she says. "There are so many resources available for education opportunities, health care, and other services, but people need help to make sense of it all. That's what I want to do."
—Chris A. Weber
