Kate Burckle ’25, LMU’s first Truman Scholarship finalist since 2016, hopes to pursue a career in global affairs. It only seemed fitting then that she received word of her finalist status when she was studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
“Since I am currently studying abroad, the notification came in the middle of the night,” said Burckle, a philosophy major and bioethics minor. “I woke up, checked my phone, and had to reread the email several times before I believed I was actually a Truman finalist.”
The Truman Scholarship is a prestigious national scholarship for college juniors who intend to pursue a career in public service. Established in 1975 as a living memorial to President Harry S. Truman, this highly competitive award provides recipients with $30,000 to fund graduate education. This cycle, the Truman Scholarship Foundation received 709 applications, with 191 students selected as finalists. Staff from the Office of National and International Fellowships (ONIF) provided valuable support to Burckle throughout the application process.
“As the daughter of veterans, I have always been interested in global affairs, and knew I wanted to pursue graduate school with a public service focus,” said Burckle. “The amazing ONIF staff directed me to apply to Truman because of my desire to become an effective global citizen through pursuing a career in public service. Applying to Truman allowed me to recognize the potential impact I could make in my community and beyond.”
Burckle, an active and engaged member of the LMU community, is a student in the University Honors Program and served as an associate justice on the Associated Students of LMU Supreme Court. Additionally, she has served as the recruitment chair, vice president, and president of the pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta.
“Kate is an excellent example of how the LMU campus fosters leadership in Lions,” said Lindsay Anderson, Fellowships Adviser at ONIF. “By rekindling the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and spearheading the Legal Education Access and Development mentorship program to match law-interested students and mentors, she has demonstrated the kind of leadership that the Truman Scholarship seeks to identify and cultivate. Furthermore, her engagement in the application process is a testament to the benefits of applying for national fellowships, regardless of the outcome.”
After graduation, Burckle hopes to pursue a Masters of Global Affairs degree. She credits the Truman application process for helping refine her post-graduate plans.
“Applying for Truman allowed me to redirect my focus to international affairs and public policy,” said Burckle. “Truman’s mission to create the next generation of leaders in public service aligns with my personal desire to resolve global conflicts. If I am selected as a Truman scholar, I look forward to working alongside other young leaders to create a more peaceful and just world.”
Finalist interviews will take place between March 1 and April 3. Truman Scholarship winners will be announced on April 19.