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April 2008
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CAMPUS NEWS |
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For the second straight year, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation has named two American University students to its prestigious class of 65 winners. Molly Kenney and James Valvo, both School of Public Affairs students, won the award in recognition of their commitment to a life of public service, leadership, and academic accomplishments. The Truman Scholarship Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 as the federal memorial to the 33rd president. The foundation awards scholarships for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Kenney and Valvo each won $30,000 for graduate school and will take part in a week of activities, including leadership training. They are deserving winners. Valvo, 29, was a chef at a four-star French-Asian fusion restaurant in Detroit before heading to Washington in pursuit of a public service career. He works full time with Americans for Prosperity, a grassroots nonprofit organization that educates citizens on tax policy, and plans to pursue a law degree. Ultimately, Valvo would like to one day affect policy as a congressional staff member on Capitol Hill. “I’m really committed to doing something in public service,” he said. “The Office of Merit Awards is absolutely top notch in the amount of support they gave me, and the professors and faculty were an incredible help in the mock interviews and throughout the whole process.”
“For me, the Truman is an incredibly generous opportunity to learn how to best be a change agent in my field,” she said. “I am grateful to the foundation for having faith in my desire and ability to create dialogue where one is lacking and to work for smarter criminal justice policy that benefits society as a whole.” AU has produced 15 Truman Scholars, including eight in the past eight years. This year the university is one of only nine to have two winners. “We are a university that attracts students who are deeply committed to public service,” said Katherine Stahl, executive director of the AU Career Center. “Since I came to AU in 1991, I have always felt that the Truman was the perfect match. We’ve had wonderful institutional and faculty support and commitment to mentoring the Truman nominees. This award is one we really understand to be consistent with AU’s strengths.” Both Valvo and Kenney were effusive in their praise for the Office of Merit Awards, which helped shepherd their nominations. “This is a huge team effort,” said Paula Warrick, director of the Office of Merit Awards. “Beyond the Career Center there are a lot of faculty and staff who have helped to mentor these students on a volunteer basis. But the main thing is to congratulate the students. They have worked so hard.” - Mike Unger, previously published in American Today.
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Two AU Students Win Prestigious Truman Scholarships 
Kenney is a law and society major studying this semester at the London School of Economics. The junior from Medway, Mass., also is minoring in communications, and is copresident of the student Peace and Empowerment Project. She also has her sights set on law school. She’s interned with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and participated in an alternative spring break trip at AU focused on prison justice, one of her interests.