The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs is pleased to announce that Jory Fleming and Haley Yaw have been named Truman Scholar Finalists. Highly competitive and prestigious, the $30,000 Truman Scholarship is awarded to approximately 60 juniors nationally for superior academic ability, a strong record of service and leadership, and plans for careers in public service.

Fleming will interview in Atlanta, GA on March 9, and Yaw will interview in Seattle, WA on March 21. This year, 197 finalists have been named from 130 institutions across the US. 

A Capstone Fellow, Fleming is pursuing a double major in Geography and Marine Science, with a minor in Geophysics. He is actively involved in research, and has interned for the SC Air National Guard and will intern with NOAA this summer. An advocate for literacy and science education, he was Co-Founder of Cocky's Canine PAALS, volunteers with PAALS and Cocky's Reading Express, and served as Education Outreach Coordinator for SEAS. Fleming has been a U101 Peer Leader and is now a Senior Peer Leader. A 2015 NOAA Hollings Scholar, he plans to pursue a PhD in Oceanography and a Masters in Marine Affairs, studying the nexus of science and policy in order to deepen people's connection to the oceans and protect U.S. interests at sea.

Yaw is a member of the South Carolina Honors College, majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Psychology. A McKissick Scholar, she was a finalist for the Mount Vernon Fellowship in 2015. She is the Service Director for Omega Phi Alpha and a U101 Peer Leader. She was a data collector for Policy to Practice in Youth Programs, and a Physical Therapist Aide for Peak Sports and Spine Physical Therapy. The daughter of a Naval officer, Yaw plans to become a physical therapist and policy maker, with a focus on improving veterans' health care.

University of South Carolina Truman candidates are evaluated and nominated by a USC scholarship committee, co-chaired by Professors Shelley Smith (Sociology) and David Simmons (Anthropology and Public Health). Other members of the University Truman Committee include: Steven Burritt (USC 1995 Truman Scholar), Don Fowler (Political Science), Hamid Khan (Rule of Law), Robert Oldendick (Political Science), and Kirk Randazzo (Political Science).

Fleming and Yaw were assisted by the university's Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs which provides advisement and support to students competing for national fellowships. USC has had six Truman Scholars. Recent USC Truman Scholars include Asma Jaber in 2007, Thomas Scott in 2006, Jeremy Wolfe in 2004, and Lara Bratcher in 2003.