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Heather Day ´09 named finalist for prestigious Truman Scholarship

Heather Day ´09, a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship, poses on a mountain top in Mali, where she is studying this semester.

March 21, 2008

Heather Day, a junior at Connecticut College, has been named a finalist for the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship, a federal scholarship awarded to college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in public service. The scholarship provides up to $30,000 for graduate school.

Day is one of 211 finalists from 139 institutions. Each year, more than 600 students are nominated for this highly competitive scholarship, awarded to 60 to 65 students each year.

Day, an American studies major from Williamsburg, Mass., is one of four finalists from Massachusetts. She says she plans to pursue graduate degrees in social work and public policy, which will prepare her for a wide range of careers related to social change.

Day says she is particularly interested in addressing issues related to domestic violence, a prevalent social problem that sparked her interest in community service and social action when she began volunteering at a battered women´s shelter in high school. At 16, she became a certified domestic violence and sexual assault counselor and helped develop a training program at her high school for student volunteers interested in working with children living in shelters.

"This initial volunteer experience had a tremendous impact on my development as a feminist, child advocate and community organizer, inspiring my lifelong commitment to domestic violence advocacy," Day said.

At Connecticut College, Day is a scholar in the Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy, a multidisciplinary academic center that prepares students for civic engagement and leadership through research, service and collaboration with community partners. This three-year certificate program requires students to complete a comprehensive project that integrates research and course work addressing a particular community challenge. Day´s project focuses on hip-hop´s activism and advocacy potential for at-risk youth.

"I love hip-hop for its revolutionary nature, its diversity, the glory of its art and the feel good funk that makes you want to live, breathe, speak and listen with more intent," Day says. "I believe hip-hop - too often blamed for creating or perpetuating violence and negativity - can be a catalyst for positive social change."

This summer, Day will intern with Art Start, a nationally recognized program that uses the arts for expressive and healing purposes with homeless and other at-risk youth. Currently, she is studying abroad in the Republic of Mali, a country in western Africa.

After completing her graduate studies, Day hopes to work for a social service organization for children or victims of domestic violence. "I enjoy direct service jobs and am committed to advocating for the disenfranchised," Day said. She added that she also wants to help create broad-based solutions to social problems and may eventually pursue a career in non-profit leadership or public policy.

The Truman Scholarship Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 as the federal memorial to the 33rd president of the United States of America. The Foundation awards scholarships for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service. The activities of the Foundation are supported by a special trust fund in the US Treasury.

For more information contact: Amy Sullivan (860) 439-2526; amy.sullivan@conncoll.edu